Relocating or transporting all or some components of a business always involves careful planning. When you are involved with heavy or sensitive equipment, such as plant relocations or during medical lab equipment relocations, this adds an additional layer of preparation. Moving delicate or heavy equipment and machinery can be challenging due to size, sensitivity, or shape.
While you can choose any mover that advertises plant, medical, lab, or industrial equipment relocations, not every company will be qualified to safely do so. When selecting a mover for your project, you want to go with a company that specializes in how to transport heavy equipment and is equipped to provide the exceptional handling that is involved.
Read on to learn more considerations, tips, and tools for moving heavy objects and equipment during a move.
Key Considerations When Planning to Move Heavy Equipment
When planning to move large objects and/or machinery, you’ll need to give ample thought to the logistics involved when it comes to volume, weight, sensitivity (e.g. medical and lab equipment), or oddly-shaped items that require special moving preparations. Key factors to consider when planning include:
- Budget, including the cost of labor and materials
- Access points at both pick up and delivery locations
- Permits required for transport, if applicable
- How heavy equipment will be secured
- What route will be taken
- Risk and hazard assessment
- How to hire an experienced and reliable moving company
Start your research to learn how to move heavy equipment as soon as possible. Learn what’s involved so you can ask the right questions before you begin to explore moving companies.
For instance, you might need rigging services or special transportation logistics for frozen specimens associated with a lab moving project. This is an important consideration because not all movers offer these types of services. Additional factors to think about include safety ratings, and customer reviews.
What Equipment and Tools for Moving Heavy Objects Are Needed?
Moving heavy objects to a new facility requires special equipment to accomplish the job. Most businesses do not have the internal capabilities to move things like a full production line, CNC machines, conveyor systems, MRI machines, or other large pieces of machinery. They all require a different level of expertise in handling and care that only specialty moving companies possess..
Generally, the following types of equipment and tools are used to move heavy objects on/off the transport vehicle while maneuvering into place at both ends of the move.
- Forklifts
- Versa-lifts
- Gantry systems
- Jibs
- Scissor lifts
- Toe jacks
- Lifting straps
- Tarp trailers
- Flatbed trailers
- Single-step and Double-drop trailers
- Skates (Utility, Compact Swivel, Straight Line – depending upon your needs)
While companies may have access to some of these tools and equipment, most average movers probably don’t. This is why so many facilities opt to work with an expert moving company that has access to the right tools and possesses the necessary skills to operate them.
How Can Professionals Ensure Safety When Moving Heavy Equipment?
When it comes to big-lift jobs, ensuring the safety of workers is a key priority. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cites four primary causes of death in construction, typically referred to as “the fatal four”. Some of these can also apply to moving heavy equipment, particularly struck by or caught in or between.
Moving heavy equipment is not an everyday task. Not all companies have the proper in-house knowledge and skill to ensure worker safety even if they can obtain the equipment necessary to manage such a large undertaking. The best way to preserve the health and safety of employees is to hire experts to handle the project safely.
When considering how to move heavy equipment, deferring to experts who have the right training, safety gear, equipment knowledge, and awareness of load maximums will significantly reduce the risk of injury or death when relocating or transporting heavy equipment.
How Can Moving Heavy Equipment Affect a Project Timeline?
Large-scale moves cannot be done overnight, they take extra planning. By not scheduling and figuring out logistics as soon as enough information is obtained to begin to plan the move, you could inadvertently set back your transportation or relocation timeline. This costs both time and money. Planning for materials, labor, weather, and potential barriers is critical.
Safely Move Your Heavy Equipment and Machinery with Meyer
When researching how to transport heavy equipment or large objects you’re going to find a lot of information. Meyer is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated company that possesses the knowledge, experience, and expertise you need.
Our company proudly services the entire northeast corridor using the latest tech and efficient processes to help you through any transition or change you’re facing. To learn more about how we can help you with your upcoming project, contact us today or visit one of our service area pages below:
