The skies above Gates Corporation?s Iola plant were abuzz with activity Saturday morning, as crews installed four new air control systems onto the facility?s roof.
The $1 million project was made substantially easier through the use of an Erickson S-64 Sky Crane Helicopter.
The Siskorsky S-64 Sky Crane Helicopter
In the span of less than an hour, a crew of about 20 assisted the helicopter flight crew in removing four old air handling units and replaced them with the new ones.
A steady line of curious onlookers drove by the Gates facility south of Iola to get a closer look.
Crews were on hand for traffic control Iola firefighters were on hand as well to monitor the project.
Brad Bradberry, plant manager, expects the new units to be operational by the end of the month.
Crews attach cables to a new air handling unit so it can be lifted via helicopter to the roof at Gates Corporation Saturday.
Iola?s Gates plant employs a workforce of about 400.
The Iola plant focuses on the manufacture of hydraulic hose for the oil and gas, agriculture and automotive markets.
Bradberry said workflow has not been affected with the new HVAC project.
