ST-HM design section: Strategy and working methods

The design section of the ST-HM group is devoted to realise all studies for new transport and handling equipment to be procured and installed according to the needs of CERN. In year 2002, the design section has gradually passed from strong engagement in few huge projects to a multitude of ‘less expensive’ projects that require a fast solution and procurement for the LHC installation. The future tasks of our section will be feasibility studies of transport and handling manoeuvres as required for the installation of LHC components and the calculation of lifting tools. In addition the procurement of not yet defined items to solve problems that will occur during the LHC installation. This document gives an overview of the organisation of the design section, the projects and will also underline some problems, such as the incompatibility between the urgency of the users and long CERN purchasing procedures, the work overload, the increasing design requirements for handling tools and operations that were originally not foreseen.