Tag: Air Bearings

Reasons, Risks and Precautions to Practice When Moving Heavy Machinery

Heavy machinery forms a substantial part of the everyday operations in every notable industry around the world. Whether you run a manufacturing company, construction business, manufacturing sector, pharmaceutical, or beverages, machinery and equipment remain vital for production.

Companies take great care and consideration when deploying machines to ensure the best placement possible. That said, there comes a time when businesses call Machine Movers to relocate such heavy equipment for various situations.

Machine moving is not an easy activity, as it requires professional knowledge and expertise to prevent damage to delicate parts. With the advent of technology, new machine moving equipment like air bearings and other heavy-duty transporters have made the job relatively easy. Still, companies that want to relocate heavy machinery must have a strong reason for such high scale movement. They need to consider various factors like state laws regarding the use of moving equipment and route usage.

Here we will discuss some major scenarios that compel companies to consider massive machinery relocation. We will also try to give some tips for professional machine movers to consider adding their relocation expertise:

Major Reasons for Machinery Movement

  • Replacement or Removal

Like other systems, machines also have a lifespan. After crossing that threshold, machines need part replacements or, in some cases, complete removal. The equipment also needs replacements when it becomes obsolete or damaged beyond repairs. Running any damaged or old machinery will do more harm than good. As it will not only hamper the production time and costs, it will also pose hazardous threats for everyone. At this point, businesses need professional machine movers to remove the machinery and bring in new equipment.

 

  • In-House Movement

Sometimes businesses need an in-house movement of various machine parts and equipment to accommodate space. Businesses have limited space to perform their operations and sometimes undergo massive redesigning to enhance efficiency and production. For such movement, companies usually have their equipment like forklifts or air bearings and moving teams that they use for in-house movement. In some other cases, companies erect new buildings to accommodate the machinery. The in-house movement also carries out for such phase to transfer anything heavy. This idea is also applicable for companies that manufacture machine parts, as they need to move them from production to warehouse and further.

 

  • Cross Country Movement

While this is a rare scenario, companies sometimes transfer their operational and production hubs across the country. While they may have their relocation reasons, such as operating costs or taxes, they cannot buy new machinery when moving. They want to have their old equipment transported to the new place, and they call professional machine movers like Hovair for the job.

 

  • Discarding Old Equipment

Just as a machine reaches its performance level and starts to lose its efficiency, companies have to decommission and discard them. However, the size of discarded parts may vary, and they need removal from the facility before scrapping. Such large-scale movement needs professional movers so they can take it out for proper discarding.

 

  • Upgrades

Machines and their parts need regular upgrades for optimum performance. The size of upgrade parts may vary, from small size like a screw to large ones like dynamos and generators. Companies need all the upgrades transported and unloaded with utmost care to avoid any damage. Movers use equipment like air bearings or crane systems to load and unload, depending on the part size.

 

  • Sold Equipment

Companies downsize, relocate or make changes regularly, and take care of their old equipment by discarding or selling. Discarding takes place when the machine has complete its life cycle and has outlived its usability. However, if the machine is still working or needs a few repairs, companies take the best action by selling. Once they sell the machinery, they need professional machine movers to take it to the new owner’s facility.

Risks Involved

Companies have various reasons to move heavy machinery and equipment wherever needed. They call in professionals for the job with expertise and experience. However, as the activity involves working with equipment like air bearing, forklifts, etc. there is always a potential risk present.

 

Some Common Risks include:

  • Certain machines have sensitive parts that need careful considerations during transportation. Failure to exercise caution will result in damage to the machinery.
  • Workers involved in machine moving need to take precautionary measures to avoid sustaining injuries during operations. Machines can crush a person if any body parts are stuck inside or have sharp edges that can give a lethal injury.
  • There is always a chance of burns or shock damage due to extreme heat or the presence of open electrical circuitry.

Risks and accidents can cause serious injuries or, in worst cases, deaths if proper precautions are not taken into consideration. The best bet here is to have professional machine movers like Hovair to perform the activity. They have skilled and trained personnel to handle heavy equipment with ease.

Tips for Effective Movement

Although professional movers have the skill and expertise to carry out heavy machinery transport, they can still use some tips for making their job easier. Companies that hire such professionals can also take these points in focus for an accident-free movement.

 

  • Planning

Planning before any activity is a recipe for success and is the first step. Have a clear plan of moving the machinery and the equipment to use like Air bearings or pulleys etc. Professional companies with a reputation in the industry take the planning phase very seriously for efficient machine transportation.

 

  • Scheduling

Keeping a clear schedule makes the process transparent and east for both the company and movers. With the plan in hand, you need to place a deadline for machine transportation. Having an exact schedule ensures that the transportation completes before the deadline without disrupting production operations.

 

  • Consider the Costs Involved

Just like everything, machine movement requires a sum of money because it involves heavy parts and equipment. Companies need to have a clear budget in mind with an idea about the amount that machine movers usually charge. Also, keep any extra carrying cost in mind and include them in the budget before commencing the activity. Movers also have various costs to consider as they use equipment and personnel for the job. Both companies and movers should negotiate the price and fees involved to avoid any inconvenience later.

 

  • Using The Right Means

Movers need to add the means of carrying out the transportation activity in their planning. They need to use different resources for various size parts and equipment. In addition, they need to take care of if they transport any fragile item. Once loaded, movers have a responsibility to transport the machine in the right condition without damage.

 

  • Open Communication

Communication is a necessary part of every industry, and this idea applies to machine movers. Always keep the channels of communication open at all times to have everyone in the loop. Communication will guide the movers about the correct location while giving companies a peace of mind knowing their machinery has reached its destination.

Precautionary Measures for Movers

  • Always have trained personnel for the job with skills and experience to handle heavy machinery movement
  • Ensure that the equipment used for the job, such as air bearings, have a perfect working condition to complete the task
  • Make a habit of checking safety features like locks, grills, or guardrails for protection during movement
  • Wear appropriate safety gear like goggles, helmets, gloves, etc. at all times
  • Carry a safety device that can raise alarms in case of any emergency or accident

Always Avoid:

  • Using machinery with danger signs attached and have a concerned person certify it before usage or transportation
  • Wearing loose clothes, jewellery, chains or have open hair that moving machine parts might pull and cause fatal injuries
  • Never distract a person operating loading, unloading, or equipment handling activity
  • Removing safety grills or locks before reaching the destination

Final Word

Professional machine movers take every bit of care and professionalism to carry out a transportation activity. However, it does not hurt to have some extra knowledge to equip themselves for a job better. Professional like Hovair, have all the necessary resources and expertise to carry out heavy machinery transportation with ease. They use concerned equipment like air bearing, pulley system, etc. that suits the transportation needs. Rest assured, with such professionals on the job; you would receive a quality transportation job unmatched by anyone in the industry.

Everything You Need to Know About Air Bearings

What are Air Bearings?

When it comes to the visualization of bearing, an immediate image of ball bearing comes in mind. This simple device has movable and static parts separated by small-lubricated balls that rotate the shaft. In contrast, air bearings are the heavy-duty caster wheels that replace balls with bags or cushions of air. The device has a thin layer of pressurized air film that supports the weight or load. It provides a low-friction load-bearing interface between the surfaces. The surfaces do not touch, thus eliminating friction as well as the need for constant lubrication for effortless working. These bearings mostly apply for use in heavy precision or high-speed machinery.

Ball Bearing Vs. Air Bearings

A conventional ball bearing system cannot deliver the high-speed industry demands while maintaining precision, thermal stability, and service life. This is because of the contact between mechanical parts with bearings and friction production that opposes the speed. The generation of excessive heat at a high ratio can also cause a loss of accuracy and bearing failure.

On the other hand, Air Bearing has no metallic balls present to cause friction. Instead, it uses air films for a friction less movement resulting in smooth, linear movement.

Advantages of Air Bearings

The following are the most prominent advantages of using air-supported heavy-duty caster wheels:

  • Friction less Performance

The most beneficial factor of using air-supported bearings is that it delivers low friction or friction less performance. The lack of friction and contact means there is a lesser chance of reversal. Friction is a non-linear effect that affects the servo controls and movement. The absence of friction gives a higher static and dynamic functioning with better performance.

  • Higher Moves Per Second

With the elimination of friction, motor controls achieve a higher rate of moves per second with air bearings. This is because the absence of friction provides a shorter settling time and no waiting time for eliminating friction. In this way, the feed forwarding can apply directly to the servomotors with better accuracy.

  • Servo Tuning

The presence of air-supported bearings does not have contacting parts that allow better servo tuning for any given stage. The resulted tuning is a robust and smooth performance. Stages with the same mass of payload do not need fine-tuning every time, as they remain identical to match unit-to-unit variation. The simple yet effective design leads to a high-performance servo tuning.

  • Low Count of Particles

With the absence of friction in air bearing, every stage is a perfect result from the perspective of particle contamination as long as the air used in bearings remains dust-free.

  • Straight Motion

The absence of friction means that there is nothing to block the straight motion and smooth velocity. Processes like surface profiling or inertial sensor testing work best with the air bearing system.

  • Low Maintenance

As there are no movable parts for contact that results in wear and tear, air-supported bearings require low maintenance. With the high stability of the system, the performance cannot change throughout the life cycle.

  • Clean Functions

With no generation of airborne particles, air bearing is a clean system to operate. In some cases, the use of nitrogen gas can give about 99% cleanliness function.

Major Industries Using Air Bearings System

  • Flat Panel Display (FPD)

Air BearingsThe standard application of air bearings in Flat Panel Display is for non-contact material handling in Automated Optical Inspection (AOI). AOI input and output system uses air pressure for floating glass. For other areas like inspection or coating, a combination of air pressure and vacuum happens for greater control and precise positioning.

  • Optics

Many precision tools and machinery, including grinders and lathers, use air-supported bearings for optical lens production. With no need for lubricants, these bearings provide ultra-positioning and movement ideal for the application.

  • Aerospace

The aerospace industry uses air bearings to make a simulation and replica of a friction less environment. This feature helps design and develop testing parts needed for satellites and other parts critical for mission success.

Unsuitable Environment for Air Bearings System

Even though air bearings have become a part of significant industries, some operating environments still cannot utilize the system. These settings include:

  • Environments with Vacuum

While this air-based Heavy Duty Caster wheel system can operate in vacuum environments, the process is a highly challenging one. For vacuum environments, ball or magnetic bearings should replace the air support system.

  • Dusty Setting

Environments with high dust, dirt, and debris are not suitable for the air-bearing system. This is because a dusty setting causes accidental punctures, causing failure in system functions.

  • Inconsistent Air Pressure

Avoid using air bearing in areas where operators cannot provide constant air pressure. The constant air supply is a necessary aspect of this system, and without it, the system fails in functionality.

Final Word

The air bearing is a highly efficient and effortless system that results in precise machine functioning. The functions and benefits of this system are highly sought in the modern-day application of various industries. However, the system does have its drawbacks, but the high resulting function always mask their shortcomings.

Best Practices for Heavy Equipment Transportation

Transport of equipment and heavy machinery requires skill, experience, and knowledge. Not only do you have to take care of the loaded equipment, but you also need to take precautions and avoid accidents during transit. Heavy machinery is an indispensable part of every industry today, and adhering to safety standards will save you from any serious offence. Additionally, you need to take safety measures to limit other road users’ risks during the machinery movement.

Skills and expertise are necessities to operate equipment involved in the loading and unloading process. Equipment like Air Bearings, pulley systems, forklifts has a specific purpose during transit procedure. Therefore, observing machine moving’s best practices becomes critical for the safe transportation of heavy machinery and equipment.

You need to take some aspects and consider them as best practices for safe delivery. These practices include:

• Prioritize Safety Measures

Before commencing the transport of heavy machinery equipment, the first factor to consider is taking safety precautions. Use every means of protection at your disposal to ensure that workers, machinery, and on-road people stay safe. Workers involved in the loading/unloading process should have safety gear (goggles, helmets, gloves, and boots) at all times. Heavy machinery varies in size and hence has different safety needs for handling. Have the right protective equipment present that adheres to safety rules and regulations.

• Appoint The Right Person

Appoint the right personnel for the transportation job with the necessary skills and training to handle every phase. For instance, the use of loading equipment like air bearings requires expertise, and a person trained specifically for the purpose will likely provide better results. Similarly, appoint a team that has the expertise of handling every phase from start to finish. Careful planning before the job will guide the team regarding which equipment to use and the expertise required.

• Inspection

Have the appointed team inspect the surroundings to identify any potential hazards or obstruction that may affect the procedure. Once identified, take care of the issue first and then commence transportation. Everything and everyone involved in the transportation job is prone to accidents or any other hazard. A prior inspection of the area before the job will give an easy time to handlers to perform effectively. Handlers can also notify the owner about the current machinery condition through inspection and inform them of any issue present before loading. In short, a prior review will save much time and hassle for both owners and movers.

• Consider Loading Capacity

Always have an idea about the loading capacity of your equipment and vehicles. Equipment as air bearings and forklifts have specific weight capacity and overloading it will disrupt the whole process. Similarly, overloaded vehicles will increase the time taken for transportation and enhance the risk of potential failure. The best solution for such a problem is prior planning, giving you an approximate weight for loading. You can then proceed to appoint the team, equipment, and vehicle needed for the activity.

heavy Transport

• Always Secure the Machinery

Always have the machinery for transit reinforced and secured using support equipment like belts, grills, steel rails, etc. Whenever you transport equipment and machinery, there is always a chance of a possible accident due to the negligence of safety standards. Always strap the loaded machinery with support equipment and commence movement when the security feels satisfactory. Machinery movement is a necessary aspect of the business, and to ensure timely delivery, provide secured support for the machinery. Additionally, have all the open machine parts that you feel have sensitivity against rain or sunlight covered. Vulnerability to elemental damage will make the whole effort useless.

• Consider Owner’s Manual

Professionals hired to Transport Equipment and heavy machinery have the necessary expertise for the job. However, consulting the owner’s manual before loading will give them added knowledge regarding handling specifications. You can find specific details regarding the preparation, securing, and movement of equipment. You can also find out about weight and dimensions to appoint respective expertise.
Safety Tips for Machine Haulers
Just like best practices, machine haulers and transporters need to consider some safety tips.

 

These tips include:

• Wearing safety gear at all times to secure themselves against potential hazards. Once the workers feel secured, they can focus on all the other phases of the transportation process.

• Always have updated training ready for handlers who work with specific equipment like air bearings. Every equipment needs a different type of expertise, so always have them trained and prepared to tackle any situation.

• Train the workers in exercising emergency procedures in case of any mishap during the process.

• Have the transport equipment and vehicles inspected and maintained regularly for maximum efficiency and performance.

• Have clear visibility for transporters during transit and use helpers if necessary.

• Travel at safe speeds and maintain distance between other moving objects, vehicles, and people.

Transportation Checklist

Before Transportation

• Verify the weight handling capacity of air bearings, forklifts, and vehicles.

• Consult owner manual for determining handling requirements.

• Balance the weight distribution.

• Inspect the surroundings and machinery for identification of issues.

• Maintain low friction between the machine parts or use the material to lower friction.

During LoadinG

• Let the person expert in operating machinery handle the activity. Avoid operating equipment if you have no training.

• Always confirm support attachments to reinforce the machinery loaded.

• Use covers and edge protection to prevent any environmental damage to transported machinery.

• Use extra tie downs to support loaded machinery.

After Loading

• Remove all the equipment, cranes, hydraulics, air bearing, etc., after loading the machine.

• Confirm the actual height and weight of the machinery.

• Have all the route permits ready and follow all the necessary state regulations for heavy machinery movement.

Final Word

Transportation of equipment and heavy machinery is a difficult task that only professionals should handle. However, professionals also need a checklist with which to determine whether they remain on the right course. The safety tips and brief checklist will give you an idea about carrying out the transportation job efficiently. Remember to adhere to all the necessary rules and regulations to prevent any mishap during transit and ensure a safe delivery or the owner.

A Guide to Heavy Equipment Movers

The highest rates of fatal accidents are recorded while moving industrial objects to and from large-scale workstations. Most of these accidents happen while operating the Heavy Equipment Movers. Even a minor oversight can turn the situation from bad to worse. In a nutshell, the transportation of heavy equipment is a complicated task and performed only after gaining necessary awareness about the type of movers.

Which Heavy Equipment Mover should I Buy?

The most crucial part of the process while you move the heavy equipment is to look around the inventory and choosing the right equipment that suits the job. Every other thing comes later. If you are using the wrong equipment, your personnel are most likely to get injured or damage the equipment. Using the right inventory is essential to ensure stress-free and safe transportation. Here are some commonly used heavy equipment movers, along with some of their potential benefits.

1: Air Bearings/Air Casters

In a plain environment, there is often a need to move heavy machinery to either optimize the floor space or for maintenance purposes, this is where the air bearings come in handy. Also known as the air casters, the Air Bearings are zero friction lifting devices that work similarly to the hovercrafts. These air bearings are used to lift and move heavy equipment on non-porous surfaces. They use compressed air to lift the equipment and help to move them around a flat surface with minimal force.

Benefits

  • Easy motion: Unlike the wheel casters, the loads carried on air bearings are way easier to maneuver because of the minimal force that is required to move them around. You just have to apply force in the direction that you want to move.
  • Compact: Air Bearings can fit and move comfortably in tight and compact spaces, saving a lot of time and effort.
  • Minimal Damage to Flooring: Loads carried on air bearings are suspended into the air with no contact to the ground. There is no friction, which greatly reduces the chances of damaging the floor.

2: Machine Skates

The load-moving or machine skates are quite popular and most frequently used in nuclear workplaces. They typically use nylon or steel wheels. This is an economical equipment option. If your business goes ahead with this option, your personnel would only have to transfer the load on the skates by lifting it with jack, heavy machinery can be transported with minimum input.

Benefits

  • Easy to Operate: The machine skates are quite easy to use as no specialized training is required to operate them. There are, however, straightforward safety checks that you need to keep in mind. An added advantage is that the steering can be easily controlled by the steering bar.
  • Versatile: There is a wide range of machine skates available in the market. They are designed to carry overweight machines and other loads. Machine skates can also be combined in a setting to carry heavier loads or to make tricky moves.

3: Moving Casters

This heavy equipment mover contains a wheel and caster. It is fitted at the bottom of the machine or equipment that is meant to be moved, and then the force is applied. It is a straightforward device that is highly effective, especially when it comes to transport heavy machinery within the intended workplace.

Benefits

  • Time-effective: With the frequent need to move around equipment in a facility or a working space, moving casters save a lot of time as the loads can be moved faster using them.
  • Durability: The most notable advantage of a moving caster is the durability, and industrial casters can handle up to 100,000 pounds of weight. They are known to last longer than the alternatives.
  • Multipurpose: almost anything can be moved once a wheel is attached to it.
  • Frequent use: if you have a business where moving is a norm within your organization or to newer places, then this is the best option.

It is also a good idea to talk to a consultant or book or free appointment when you plan on investing in heavy equipment movers. They usually have trained staff, and often, certified personnel to look into these matters. Whether you plan on moving machinery from the construction industry, to and from a factory, a powerhouse house or anywhere else, it is always better to gain some insight about the weight of the objects you intend to move and then choose a mover. Not only do they have the right amount of knowledge, but they understand which equipment can be transported hassle-free with their complementary movers. Remember that heavy equipment movers are massive, of course, and prone to accidental damage. When your moving is in process, make sure the task is done with safety standards above everything.