The numbers are impressive: Over the past twelve years, SLK clinics Heilbronn GmbH has invested around 430 million euros in the new building of the Clinic am Gesundbrunnen in the north of Heilbronn. A state-of-the-art hospital with over 2012 beds, 16 operating rooms and six delivery rooms was built in two construction phases from 970 to November 2024 on a floor area of around 130,300 m². However, in order to ensure emergency care and in particular nocturnal helicopter approaches in the future, a further investment was needed, which concerns the old building from the 90s: The technical building of the hospital.
Here you will find not only the complete systems for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology, but also a chimney almost 20 metres high with a visible light for the helicopter. This chimney has now received a special safety upgrade: A 19.5-metre-high fixed ladder with anti-climb rail according to DIN 18799-1 of the Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik. The two-level roof areas of the technical building were also secured in this train – with corresponding roof ascents and a surrounding safety railing made of aluminium. Here, 134 linear metres are used for the roof railing and 20.8 linear metres for the railing protection of the light domes.
Well-rehearsed team
When awarding the project, the SLK hospitals' managers relied on a well-coordinated team: Rala Dexis (Ludwigshafen), a long-standing specialist dealer and specialist for operating equipment, with its own branch in Heilbronn, and the climbing technology manufacturer MUNK Group, with the Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik business units and the MUNK Service service unit. This took over not only all assembly work, but also the anchor loading tests in the run-up to the ladder installation.
Climb without leash
The evaporators of the air conditioning units and of course also large components of the ventilation systems are located on the roof surfaces of the technical building, because in the future the SLK hospital will continue to be supplied with energy and air conditioning and ventilation technology from the existing technical building. "The components of the equipment on the roof must be regularly maintained and cleaned. Without railing protection, this was only possible when leashed and correspondingly time-consuming for our service providers. It is great that we have found a sustainable solution here with our partner Rala and the MUNK Group, so that the teams can move more comfortably and freely when working on the roof than before," explains Sven Blum, master construction and operating technology at SLK clinics Heilbronn GmbH
New ladders for the chimney
A safety upgrade was also necessary for the chimney, which still had an almost 30-year-old, outdated ladder. "Once a year, the chimney sweep must be high and of course, the beacon at the upper end of the chimney must also be inspected by the electrician and replaced if damaged. This is the basic requirement for the rescue helicopter to be allowed to approach the hospital at night. Now we have installed a modern ladder solution with a riser guard rail and parapet crossing, which makes climbing and descending particularly safe," explains Blum.
Partnership between Rala-Dexis and Munk
The project was in the best hands of Rala-Dexis, the specialist for operating equipment, and the MUNK Group. "I always rely on the project competence of MUNK Group for orders of this scope. Here not only the product quality is right, but also the quality in the execution of the service. We have already worked together on several projects, so I knew that I could rely fully on the specialists from the MUNK Service division to carry out the order. This has once again worked out excellently and underlines our excellent partnership," says the responsible project manager Markus Dexheimer, product manager for operating equipment and warehouse technology at Rala-Dexis.
All-round service from MUNK Group
The MUNK Service team not only took care of the complete dismantling of the old riser system and the installation of the new safety rails, roof risers and riser components, but also of the anchoring tests required in advance. "Load tests had to be carried out both on the chimney and on the technical building itself to ensure that the selected anchorages are suitably load-bearing," explains Dexheimer.
Security made in Germany
Ferdinand Munk, the owner and managing director of MUNK Group, is pleased that all work was carried out in specialist shops to the satisfaction of the client and of course the partner: "This is both an award and an honour for us as a quality manufacturer and service provider. Our team stands for security made in Germany and we love it when we can implement this claim together with our partners in projects such as in Heilbronn."
Even already assembled
Not only Markus Dexheimer, but also Sven Blum, appreciates this high quality standard of Ferdinand Munk and his team: "I used to work with my uncle in the locksmith's shop and therefore know the products of Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik very well. I have already assembled platforms and bridging steps as well as one or the other special construction. I therefore know from my own experience that you can rely on the solutions from Günzburg."
