Benefits of Investing In Industrial Moving Machinery
Weight often invokes a sense of value. Even as children, we would feel how heavy the present was before unwrapping it to determine whether or not it was “one of the good ones.” The principle holds up into adulthood but in no more obvious scenario than dealing with heavy machinery. These machines, or other heavy pieces of industrial equipment such as shipping containers, can have a price tag of anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars, making them costly and difficult to repair or replace.
After investing potentially millions of dollars into a new machine, why would you be careless with the way you handled it? Not only can you risk damage to the machine by trying to move it without the proper industrial machine moving equipment—you could risk the safety of your employees. Instead, opt for high-quality industrial lifting and moving equipment that allows for the effortless and safe transfers of heavy machinery.
How to Safely Move Production Resources with Heavy Machine Moving Equipment
To safely move heavy machinery with specialized heavy machine moving equipment, it’s essential to take stock of what you need to move and your intended route before you take action.
Start with a risk assessment. Before moving heavy equipment, look over the machinery you need to move. Does it have an irregular shape? Are there any parts that protrude? Are there any loose pieces? Will you need to take it apart before moving?
Consider the object’s weight, too. Do you know its exact weight? Is that weight distributed evenly, or is the weight concentrated in one area? This may impact what type of equipment you use since some types are better suited to uneven loads.
Next, plot out your path and take stock of your resources. Where is the machinery located now? Where does it need to be? What’s your deadline for getting it there? What resources—people, money, trucks, equipment—do you have available? Is there anything you need that you don’t have?
Once you clearly understand what, where, and when you’re moving heavy equipment, you can start thinking about the equipment itself.
Types of Heavy Moving Equipment From GKS
A complete industrial moving solution will likely rely on a combination of heavy machine-moving equipment, machinery, and other tools. Confirming every element’s carrying capacity and performance limitations is vital before proceeding with the move.
Machine Skates
A machine skate is a platform with wheels or heavy duty rollers for moving equipment. The platform is generally relatively small, and the rollers are multidirectional, offering 360° of spin for easy maneuvering around corners and obstacles. Usually, machinery moving skates are not motorized. Multiple machinery moving skates can be simultaneously positioned under different parts of a large object or container. Because of this, machine skates can be an excellent option for moving heavy equipment of irregularly shaped loads.
Toe Jacks
Toe jacks are ideal for moving palletized loads. A toe jack will lift a pallet or other level load vertically and roll for easy transport. A toe jack may also be used to aid in the moving of heavy duty equipment. For example, you can use a toe jack to elevate the load so that machine skates or dollies can be placed underneath. One significant benefit of using a toe jack is the reduced strain on your employees. Toe jacks can elevate weighty items, saving operators from moving heavy equipment themselves.
Rigging
Rigging is a fairly broad term for the many tools and items traditionally used for heavy equipment solutions. It may include cranes, forklifts, and straps and cables to secure the load in place. Rigging is particularly helpful when moving heavy objects over tough terrain.
Dollies
Like machine skates, dollies are akin to a platform on wheels. Dollies come in all different sizes but are generally rectangular or square, with a wheel at each corner. Many machinery moving dollies will have a pulling handle or tow eye so that a person, truck, or other equipment can pull the dolly.
Some machinery moving dollies are two-part systems that give you more control over a considerable load. These are often called “tandem dollies” or “container dollies.” The “tandem lead” dolly, or TL dolly, will usually be shaped like a long rectangle, with wheels or rollers at each edge and a pulling handle with a tow eye. The “follow” dolly, or F dolly, will look much the same without the pulling handle. An operator might use a toe jack to lift an intermodal container or large load and fit the TL dolly under one and the F dolly under the other. The entire load is more secure, with support at each end and no large overhangs. Plus, since the tandem dolly comes in two parts, the system can be customized to the load size.
Robots
Robots offer a fully motorized option for moving heavy equipment. A robot can carry a load from Point A to Point B with no manpower apart from the effort required to lift the load onto the robot. Robots are driven via remote control and can handle hefty loads.
GKS’s Moving Equipment In Action
GKS has been in the business of moving heavy equipment for nearly 60 years. In this time, we have learned what works and, perhaps more importantly, what doesn’t. With decades of experience we are confident in our abilities to accomplish nearly any heavy moving equipment task. However, what good is experience if you can’t learn from it? Learn more about how GKS nails down the right customer solutions – Check out this case study to see how we faced one customer’s challenge of moving heavy but also delicate equipment with precision.
Invest in Your Company With Moving Machinery Solutions
GKS has been the leading expert in heavy equipment solutions for moving machinery since 1967. We’re proud to offer various moving solutions for many industries and applications. GKS products are German-engineered. Every product is carefully tested for safety and performance and has a five-year warranty.
Our customer support team in the United States is always available to answer questions and get you the help you need. Talk to one of our experts about what type of machinery moving equipment is best for your situation! Contact us today.
