Tour of GE MRI Magnet Plant

Short notice, but a great tour.  Have you every wondered what makes an MRI so special?  In large part, it is the magnet.  The supercooled MRI magnet is many times more powerful than the earth's magnetic field - so strong in fact that it would collapse the building that it houses it if the magnetic fields were not shielded and contained. 

GE manufactures its MRI magnets in Florence, SC.  And GE has graciously agreed to give up to 50 SCBA members a tour of the plant on the evening of April 4.

• ·         GE Healthcare Super-Conducting MRI facility in Florence is where GE manufactures all of GE Healthcare’s superconducting full-body MRI scanners. The largest singular plant of its kind in the world.
• ·         This plant produces and ships MRI magnets all over the world.  Last year, over 70% of GE’s MRI shipments were outside the US, shipping to over 40 different countries.
• ·         Over 350 people are employed by GE at this site, including more than 100 scientists and engineers that design the product and processes.
• ·         During the tour, participants will see testing for all of GE production magnets, including the top selling MR450w 1.5T wide-bore and the new MR750w wide-bore 3.0T magnet.
• ·         Tour will include winding and magnet assembly, cryostat fabrication and welding, vacuum retention, cool-down and fill, and full testing of the magnet, gradient, RF body coil, and related electronics.

So if you are an MRI servicer, or just curious about the manufacturing of this most impressive (and expensive) part of 21st century imaging equipment, sign up today for this plant tour.

The tour size is limited to 50 people.  The tours will be in groups of 10 each.  Because GE will have to have special tour guides working after their normal hours, it is important that we have an accurate number of attendees.  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

NOTE:  no meal will be provided - Please eat before the tour.

Please visit the SCBA website to register.