Manufacturers face countless uncertainties when moving sensitive and complex industrial equipment from one facility to another. Using heavy machinery movers for manufacturers can help address these challenges through careful planning and expert equipment-handling practices.
When heavy machinery is being moved, there is no substitute for a contractor’s experience. Proper planning, qualified personnel, and an understanding of the equipment and site conditions are essential to mitigating risks throughout the relocation process.
Risk of Delays and Unplanned Downtime
Machinery relocation will affect production. The question is, how much? Minor downtime can be anticipated, and orders can be frontloaded to compensate. But when equipment removal, transportation, or installation activities do not proceed according to plan, the uncertainty can pose a serious risk.
Risk of Equipment Damage During Relocation
Heavy machinery movers for manufacturers understand that production equipment requires careful handling throughout the relocation process. The equipment’s dimensions, weight, load bearing points, and other engineering specifications provides valuable information for developing an appropriate relocation strategy to avoid damage. Considerations must also be made for facility constraints and floor load ratings and ensuring that the rigging equipment is in excellent condition before deployment.
Risk of Missing or Misidentified Parts
Missing or misidentified parts can render sensitive equipment useless without a proper replacement. During offloading, all equipment should be verified by the mover against packing lists and inspected for transit damage before being delivered to the correct staging location.
Risk of Penalties from Regulatory Bodies
The specific regulatory bodies involved in a relocation will depend on several factors depending on what is being transported, how it’s being transported, and whether or not it’s crossing state lines, or even crossing the border.
A professional machinery mover will know the ins and outs of regulatory guidelines set forth by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) among others.
Risk of Improper Installation and Commissioning
Improper installation and commissioning may compromise the accuracy of machine as well as the length of its remaining usable life. All leveling and anchoring work must be well documented to ensure successful and reliable commissioning.
Risks to Worker Safety
Lastly and most importantly, moving heavy machinery requires a certified rigging crew that is trained in both rigging geometry and worker safety. Misjudging load dynamics or equipment limitations can lead to devastating results.
The benefits of using experienced heavy machinery movers for manufacturers far outweigh the risks. A turnkey approach means that one contractor will be responsible for coordinating every stage of the relocation rather than having to manage multiple handoffs where each party has the potential to point fingers at the other.
Whether you’re moving across town across the border, heavy machinery movers for manufacturers can provide the specialized capabilities needed to plan and coordinate a complex moving project every step of the way. To learn more about moving industrial machinery or to start planning your next relocation, visit AKIC.us or call 501-268-7827.