How to Move Heavy Machinery: Planning, Rigging and Downtime

Before anyone lifts anything, walk the full path from the machine’s current spot to its final position. Note:

• Doorway widths and heights, ramps, stairs and elevators.
• Floor condition and any limits on floor loading, at both sites.
• Overhead obstacles: beams, sprinkler lines, lights and cranes.
• Dock heights, truck access and turning room.
• Utilities near the machine and the new location.

Photos and a simple sketch with dimensions are worth far more than a verbal description.

For every machine, write down the make, model, serial number, weight, overall dimensions and the center of gravity if the manufacturer lists it. Also note:

• Parts that should be removed before the move, such as tooling, guards, tables and attachments.
• Lift points, forklift pockets or eyebolts the manufacturer specifies.
• Whether the machine must stay upright or level.
• Anything fragile, such as screens, sensors and controls.

The manufacturer’s manual or support line is the best source. Do not guess at weight.

Electrical, gas, compressed air and hydraulic connections should be disconnected and reconnected by licensed or qualified technicians, or by the machine’s manufacturer. Calibration, leveling and commissioning often need them too.

Build their visits into the schedule. A good mover will plan around their availability. Be cautious of any company that offers to handle everything, including regulated utility work, without involving the right trades.

Heavy machinery is moved with the right equipment for its weight and shape: dollies, pallet jacks, skates, forklifts, and for the heaviest machines, a crane or specialized rigging crew. The method depends on the survey results.

• Use the manufacturer’s lift points when specified.
• Never lift from parts that are not designed to bear the load.
• Strap the machine to its pallet or skid so it cannot shift.
• Secure it in the truck against sudden stops, with the load balanced.
• Protect floors and doorways along the route.

If a job needs a crane or specialized rigging, tell your mover up front so it can be scheduled and included in the plan.

Machines with delicate controls, exposed ways or sensitive surfaces benefit from protection. Options include padding and wrap, rust-preventive coatings where needed, and custom crating built to the dimensions of the machine. Cover or remove loose parts and tag them with the machine they belong to.

Our packing services and custom crating protect equipment in transit.

You do not always have to shut down the whole plant. A phased move relocates one line, one room or one machine group at a time while the rest of the operation keeps running. To plan one:

• List machines in the order your production needs them in the new space.
• Identify the machines that other machines depend on and move them together.
• Schedule evenings and weekends where possible.
• Hold equipment in climate-controlled storage if the new space is not ready.

See our guide to relocating with minimal downtime for a planning checklist, and our storage services for holding equipment between sites.

At the new site, place each machine on your layout, then give your technicians time to level, anchor, connect and test it. Reconnect utilities in the order the manufacturer recommends, run a test cycle before production, and keep a punch list of issues. Do not skip testing under pressure to restart.

Machinery can be worth far more than standard mover coverage. Ask your mover about valuation options, check your own property policy and read our guide to released value vs. full value protection. Ask for the scope and price in writing, and understand binding vs. non-binding estimates.

Relocating a whole shop or plant? Use our factory and shop relocation checklist.

Correira Brothers’ Moving & Storage handles industrial and machinery moves with trained crews, custom crating and phased plans. See our industrial and machinery movers page, our commercial movers page and our specialty items service.