Once you set up your business you never think you’ll need to move everything to a new place. However, sooner or later you’ll be faced with moving heavy machinery. Perhaps you’ll want to upgrade a piece of equipment or even move to a new space. At that time you’ll find yourself facing a conundrum – heavy machinery lifting and relocating. Moving heavy machinery is definitely a big deal. You have to take the right precautions to prevent any damage from happening. Additionally, you’ll want to keep everyone safe during the relocation process. Here are some tips to make heavy machinery lifting and relocating go smoothly.
Hire professional movers for heavy machinery lifting and relocating
When it comes to moving production line equipment, it really isn’t worth taking the risk of moving it yourself. Usually, the equipment you want to relocate is too big and you have to dismantle it to smaller parts. Smaller pieces will be easier to handle. Once you take apart your machinery it still needs to be relocated to the new space. Here professional movers can help you. Some moving companies specialize exactly in heavy machinery lifting and relocating instead of moving homes. Hiring movers who can take care of heavy machinery will make your business relocation much easier. They have the right experience, knowledge, and supplies. Hiring mover can be more costly than moving the equipment yourself. However, the time you save is worth it. And not to mention you won’t have to deal with the stress of moving.
Professional movers have the right equipment
Do it yourself
As discussed above, leave the moving of large equipment to the professionals. However, for smaller machine moves, you can decide to self-move. In this case, there are some things you need to consider before the move itself.
Plan before you start heavy machinery lifting and relocation
Planning is the key to organizing your office relocation. No matter how small the machine is it can still be very heavy. So, when moving your production line think about the floor layout in the new space. Make a plan of the equipment arrangement in the new space ahead of time. This way you won’t have to move the pieces multiple times.
Look beyond a single piece of equipment. Assess the whole production line and consider the whole workflow. Think about what processes come before and after that machine. The product should move from one production phase directly to another. This will give your team more efficient environment to work in. Also, you’ll see the results of the new layout reflect on higher productivity. In addition, you’ll also prevent accidents and injuries by reducing unneeded traffic through the operating area.
Plant the layout of the new workspace in advance
Before you make your new layout don’t forget to check the electrical grid. Make sure the right power supply will be available for each machine. Otherwise, you might have to do some remodeling before the actual move. Also, inspect the floor in the new production space. It has to be suitable to take the weight of your equipment.
Don’t forget the machine operator
It may sound obvious, but you’ll be surprised how often it happens. When measuring the new location to see if a machine will fit make sure to include the surrounding workspace. The equipment itself may fit nicely into space you intended for it but someone needs to operate it. You don’t want to get into the situation where your worker can’t get to the machine because there isn’t enough room. In addition, make sure that space is not too tight. This will also create difficulties for your worker.
Remove any obstacles before heavy equipment lifting and relocating
Again, it seems obvious, but it happens more times than you think. People just seem to forget that they need a clear path when moving or reorganizing their workspace. When moving or carrying heavy equipment people often can’t look down. Keep the entire route clear so they won’t trip on something and injure themselves. Also, when conducting heavy machinery lifting and relocating, you may need to use special moving equipment, but you will need the space for said extra equipment.
Assess the height as well as the weight of the machinery
Weight isn’t the only factor to consider when moving machinery. Pay attention to the height as well. You need to know if the machine will be stable once it’s lifted in the air. Also, check if it will fit through the door.
Consider potential risks and hazards
Before you start to move the machinery it’s important to assess the potential risks regarding the machine. Planning ahead and thinking through the risks will help you avoid injuries during a move.
Firstly, people can be stuck and injured by the moving machinery. Additionally, any unsecured loose parts can also cause harm. Furthermore, body parts can be drawn in or trapped between rollers, belts, and pulley drives.
Secondly, sharp edges can cause cuts and pose a risk for severing injuries. Pointed parts can puncture the skin. Additionally, rough surfaces can cause abrasion and scrapes. So, make sure all similar surfaces are properly secured.
Secure all dangerous parts of the machine before moving
Next, make sure that all of the equipment is turned off properly. Some parts of the machine can be hot or cold. Wait until they return to the regular room temperature before handling them. Additionally, if some machines release steam or water during production, make sure they are empty before moving them.
Check if you will invalidate warranty by moving heavy machinery yourself
When you install the new equipment you get a warranty period from the manufacturer. The warranty clearly states what the manufacturer will be responsible for. So, before you move check if you should move it without the manufacturer’s advice.
If you damage the machine during the move, you risk injuring your staff and delaying the production. Even if a move looks easy, check whether you are allowed to do it yourself. What looks like a simple move can easily turn into an expensive emergency. In case of damage to the machine, you’ll have to call the specialist to fix it. Usually, the warranty doesn’t cover these fixes and the move will end up costing you more than planned. To be sure, give the supplier a call and cross one worry off of your list.
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