Overcoming Complex Installation Challenges with Trusted Technical Expertise
DKSH’s outstanding service capabilities and efficiency enabled the Department of Geology at Chulalongkorn University to rapidly overcome site challenges and achieve full operational readiness of their new analytical instrument, all within an exceptional timeframe.
The Department of Geology is an academic institution committed to generating knowledge and training personnel in geology and earth sciences. It is dedicated to:
- Serving as a thought leader in the field
- Providing quality education to produce well-rounded graduates
- Advancing and developing academic knowledge
- Transferring knowledge in geology and earth sciences to meet both societal and academic needs
Challenge
Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Geology urgently needed their newly acquired Malvern PANalytical XRD Empyrean 3 fully installed and operational by Saturday, June 22, 2025.
Normally, the installation, acceptance testing, and verification processes for such sophisticated laboratory equipment require between seven to ten days. Adding complexity, the installation faced significant site limitations, including limited space, narrow access points, and the substantial challenge of placing the 1.6-ton Empyrean 3 on the second floor. This was a scenario the university had never previously encountered.
Although crane equipment was available to assist with lifting, substantial coordination was required, including extensive negotiations and leveraging relationships with university officials and external stakeholders to facilitate the operation. This is because it’s necessary to temporarily close crucial university entrance and exit roads for extended periods and would impact the university operations.
Any installation delays would significantly impact the department’s research timelines, course schedules, and financial processes, particularly invoice closures within the first half of the year.
Approach
DKSH quickly mobilized a dedicated team composed of service engineers, application specialists, and sales representatives. They began with an immediate, in-depth site survey, quickly identifying physical constraints such as narrow access points, limited workspace, and the structural challenges posed by the second-floor installation requirement.
Recognizing the urgent timeline and complexity, DKSH proactively coordinated with the university’s facility management and local authorities, even going as far as temporarily removing a steel fence to create safe and efficient access for the heavy equipment. Due to the size and weight of the instrument, DKSH negotiated effectively with the university and local stakeholders, carefully orchestrating the temporary closure of key university entrance and exit roads to facilitate crane access, ensuring minimal disruption.
DKSH engineers showed exceptional commitment by willingly sacrificing their weekend, working tirelessly on non-working days. Given only 48 hours to complete an installation that would normally span eight to ten days, the team strategically divided tasks based on each member’s unique expertise and skill set.
This precise delegation of duties and meticulous coordination enabled simultaneous execution of multiple installation stages, including equipment setup, comprehensive Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and verification processes.
Despite the unprecedented pressure of a tight schedule, the DKSH team’s efficient planning and seamless teamwork enabled them to complete the entire installation, testing, and verification processes within the extraordinary two-day timeframe.
Result
Thanks to DKSH’s proactive and exceptionally efficient approach, Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Geology received their fully operational Malvern PANalytical XRD Empyrean 3 instrument exactly as scheduled. Successfully meeting the stringent deadline ensured uninterrupted progress for their critical research activities and sample analyses, greatly satisfying departmental expectations.
This swift and flawless installation significantly boosted the customer’s confidence and satisfaction, opening doors for future collaboration opportunities, including the potential sale of additional equipment.
Notably, this successful installation also marked an important milestone, as it represented a significant shift in the university’s purchasing behavior. For over 20 years, Chulalongkorn University had primarily relied on competitors’ instruments. DKSH’s outstanding service performance has now created strong customer satisfaction, influencing faculty members to choose DKSH services and setting a strong foundation for a lasting partnership.
Completing the installation ahead of the stringent deadline also allowed the customer to immediately proceed with critical research activities without interruption.
