Ergonomic Equipment: Film on the Roll

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IMAX Projectors use large cell film to produce high-fidelity images on their expansive screens.

Big screens take big film. The Great Lakes Science Center’s Cleveland Clinic OMNIMAX® Theater takes some of the largest in the world.

When the Great Lakes Science Center originally purchased the IMAX® projection equipment, the design was for 40-60 minute length educational features. However, as time went on, more and more full-length films are being produced in the IMAX® format.

To accommodate the longer format Great Lakes Science Center had to purchase larger platters for the film. These platters, as opposed to their smaller variants, can weigh up to 600 lbs. Maneuvering and positioning them became a problem; causing concern that injury could occur, as the original equipment was not designed to handle such a load.

The Great Lakes Science Center staff contacted Conveyer & Caster – Equipment for Industry to help solve the problem. The projection room is in plain sight of the public, the final solution needed to be clean, simple, and not look out of place. Further, it needed to help provide faster reel change out, so shows could be spaced on a more tight schedule. Working together, the engineering team at Conveyer & Caster – Equipment for Industry and the projection team at Great Lakes Science center decided that a custom scissor lift cart would do the job perfectly.

The scissor lift cart, manufactured by Presto Lifts, is able to level its table top to both levels of the spindle that take the larger platter. The team no longer has to lift the platters into position, they simply slide them off the cart. The unit was designed with floor locks to ensure stability and a variable relief valve to provide fine leveling adjustment. According to Jeff Johnson, Chief Projectionist at Great Lakes Science Center, “This solution really hit the nail on the head.”

A Presto foot-pump operated scissor lift cart was specially modified to hold the large diameter film rolls

Great Lakes Science Center is one of the nation’s leading science and technology centers, providing more than 400 hands-on exhibits, themed traveling events, daily demonstrations, the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX® Theater, and the William G. Mather steamship. The Great Lakes Science Center is generously funded by the Citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

When you have a tricky handling situation, call the solutions experts at Conveyer & Caster – Equipment for Industry. Our team of engineers work with our clients to develop sensible, innovative solutions. Contact us at 844-863-4542.

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