Machinery moving
Moving machinery - a complex task
Many details need to be taken into account to ensure that a machinery moving goes smoothly. For example, possible difficulties during transport or the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling at the new machine location. This is where careful planning pays off. In addition to inspection and planning, SCHOLPP offers you all services for machinery moving: Dismantling and removal, loading and unloading, transport, transverse transport and installation, setting up and aligning, making ready for operation. You choose whether you would like to order the 'all-in-one package' for moving your machinery or just individual service modules. Whatever you decide, one thing is certain: you can rely on SCHOLPP one hundred per cent for your machinery moving.
Customised solutions for your machinery varies in every project
Machinery moving. That's why we develop customised concepts for you and have creative solutions for even the most unusual problems. Our experience from over 65 years and almost 5,000 relocations per year helps us to do this. On the other hand, we have the right equipment for every machinery moving. And if our industrial cranes, forklift trucks, lifting frames and highly professional tools are not enough for your moving machinery, special constructions can be designed. This enables us to take your needs and the conditions of your machinery moving into account and make your order a complete success, even in difficult spatial conditions.
Example: Moving Machinery for the plastics industry
SCHOLPP has many years of experience and technical expertise in production systems for the plastics industry, for example in technologies and systems to produce plastic films. These film products are used primarily for functional protection and packaging solutions in all industrial sectors worldwide. Machines for the production of plastic films are very complex technical systems that consist of several machine components.
Expertise in complex systems with multiple components
This complex production technology, consisting of several components, is usually surrounded by a steel structure that supports all the associated system parts: extruder, lay flat, film take-off unit and winder. The size of these steel construction towers is approx. 15 metres in length, approx. 5 metres in width and approx. 15 metres or more in height. The total weight can be up to approx. 80 tonnes. Comprehensive assembly, transport and technical skills are required to handle the moving of such plastic production machines. Transport is usually carried out by semi-trailers or low-loaders. SCHOLPP realises dismantling before and reassembly after the machinery moving as well as commissioning support in cooperation with the manufacturer of the system.
Installation in confined factory halls
The most difficult part of this type of project is the assembly of large and very heavy machine components. Mobile truck-mounted cranes are used here and have to lift the machine parts into load-bearing steel structures. One of the main challenges here is the limited space available in many factory halls, which means that the mobile crane only has limited manoeuvring room. The aim of machinery moving projects is to ensure that the systems can resume production on time at the new location just a few weeks after dismantling.
Inside tips
11 tips for your machine move
For successfully moving machines, good preparation of many details plays a crucial role. SCHOLPP has 11 tips that you should consider before moving machines. This will make your work and ours easier and set the right parameters for a smooth machine move.
1. Define responsibilities before and during the machine move
The key to good cooperation during machine moves is that the interfaces and responsibilities are clearly defined. What tasks does SCHOLPP take on? And what tasks do you take care of? We will discuss these aspects and interfaces with you on site so that both sides have clarity about the responsibilities in assembly and transport tasks during the machine move.
2. Check the transport route and unloading/loading place for the machine move
Think about how your machine should be transported into or out of your hall well in advance of the machine move. Where could the machine be brought in and out? Would it be an option to lift the machine through the roof? Also consider the transport route from the unloading point to the assembly area and to the final machine location. Are there edges, inclines or steep gradients that could hinder the machine move? Door heights, lintel heights, maneuvering areas, building supports, the width of the roads and gates as well as the areas for material, equipment and machines must also be sufficiently dimensioned for the machine parts.
Also important: the load-bearing capacity of the floor coverings (e.g. asphalt or paved) both at the installation site and on the way there. Asphalt floors in particular reduce their load-bearing capacity at higher temperatures. Once all of these aspects have been clarified and checked, we will discuss your considerations, check the feasibility and work with you to develop a concept for the machine move.
3. Record the machine dimensions before the removal begins
Before moving, record the dimensions of your machine as precisely as possible. How heavy is it? How big is it? How is the weight distributed? Are there installation instructions? Are there transport locks? Ideally, you have lifting and transport instructions for your machines. There you will find, for example, the adapting positions for the heavy-duty rollers, the machines center of gravity and the requirements for loading or unloading with a crane or forklift. If you have pictures or layouts of the machine, we would be happy to take a look at them. Based on this information, we can then assess how we should carry out your machine move.
4. Scheduling dismantling and machine relocation
Good scheduling is everything, because many aspects must be taken into account when timing your machine move. How much time takes the transport and assembly of the machine? How much time do the individual trades need, for example, to create foundations for the machine, coat floors or connect media to the machine?Also determine by when your machine must be moved at the latest and should be put back into operation at the new location. Please bear in mind that SCHOLPP needs several weeks in advance for a machine move including assembly work in order to prepare all the work and the service providers. This is because offices and authorities often have an input in transport permits for machine moves.
5. Check the load-bearing capacity of the floor before moving the machine
The floor at the new location must be able to withstand the load when we move and assemble a machine. This applies to the area where the machine will be located in the future, but also to all areas where we place SCHOLPP's cranes and forklifts for the machine move and installation. The load-bearing capacity is reduced, for example, if there are additional floor or basement ceilings below the surface or if pipe and cable ducts have been laid. The actual material of the floor also plays an important role when moving the machine. In many cases, SCHOLPP will find a technical solution for how to optimize the load-bearing capacity of the floor when moving the machine, e.g. with plates for load distribution, reinforcement or beams to transport the load.
6. Keep equipment sites and maneuvering areas free for the machine move
A machine move requires space. Not only for the machine, but also for the machine parts to be installed and all the assembly equipment that will be used during the machine move. Have enough space available for tool containers, forklifts, lifting platforms and in-plant cranes. Your SCHOLPP project manager will explain to you exactly which equipment and which dimensions will be used for your machine move. We are in the position to calculate the space required for your project.
7. Back up machine data before moving machinery
Your machines have digital control data that is essential for smooth operation. It is best to back up this machine and program data twice before the machine move (locally and in the cloud if necessary). This way you can ensure that the machine can be easily assembled and put back into operation at the new location.
8. Switch off the machine before dismantling
Switch off the machine before dismantling. This means that the machine must no longer be connected to any operating media when we start moving the machine. For example, the machine must be disconnected from the power supply and the liquid operating media must be pumped out. Especially when moving the machine by truck, ship or plane. This work is essential in order to be able to dismantle and load a machine at all.
9. Register moving staff
Not only our assembly equipment must be on site ready for operation, but also our staff. If your security precautions require registration of every person for your company premises involved in the machine move, please ensure that our personnel is registered in good time. This includes, for example, company ID, safety instructions and other access authorizations.
10. Prepare customs procedures
If a machine is being moved to a non-European country by truck, rail or ship, you should prepare the customs documents in time. This way, the customs clearance abroad can be processed quickly and your machine can arrive at its destination on schedule. Assign a customs agent who is familiar with the destination country.
11. Provide machine-specific lifting equipment
Has your machine already been transported during a move and do you still have machine-specific lifting equipment, transport frames or transport locks from that time to secure the moving parts? Then now is the time to get these out of storage for the machine move and check them for load-bearing capacity and functionality. Such transport locks ensure that your machines are not damaged during the move.