[en] Storage rings of third generation synchrotron radiation facilities pose severe challenges for lowering the beam emittances and increasing the lifetimes, requiring thus increasing positioning and alignment precisions that must be preserved over long time spans. This work describes the SLS storage ring mechanical support, alignment and disturbances compensation systems that allow to meet these requirements. In particular, their design, the tests done on the respective prototypes and the applicability of the developed arrangement to beam-based alignment are addressed

[en] SwissFEL requires the monitoring of the photon spectral distribution at a repetition rate of 100 Hz for machine optimization and experiment online diagnostics. The Photon Single Shot Spectrometer has been designed for the photon energy range of 4 keV to 12 keV provided by the Aramis beamline. It is capable of measuring the spectrum in a non-destructive manner, with an energy resolution of Δ  E / E  = (2–5) × 10"−"5 over a bandwidth of 0.5% on a shot-to-shot basis. This article gives a detailed description about the technical challenges, structures, and considerations when building such a device, and to further enhance the performance of the spectrometer.