Operational Experience with LHC Collimation

A first sub-set of the collimation system has been installed for the 2008 first beam commissioning of the LHC. It included 88 collimators around the ring and the two injection lines. Each collimator has two jaws for which must be controlled and monitored with high precision. The LHC collimation system was put into operation from July to October 2008. The installed system is described and first results from system operation without and with beam are presented. It is shown that the LHC collimation system achieved the specified accuracy and reproducibility of jaw positioning. Next steps in collimation commissioning are described and planned system upgrades for high beam intensities are outlined.