Tag: Machine Movers

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.

Why Do Pneumatic Systems Continue To Dominate Industrial Operations?

Pneumatic systems are tools that use compressed air as a source of energy. Through capturing air, they carry it around a circuit and, in doing so, complete designated tasks with the generated energy. Making their presence felt, pneumatic systems are found to be effective in different industries. These systems are operative in moving around heavy loads around an assembly floor, a logistical warehouse or a manufacturing unit. Referred to as the fourth utility within industrial settings, pneumatic systems offer tremendous lifting power, without any of the drawbacks associated with electromotive systems.

Being highly useful tools, machine movers such as a skating machine is a modern take on moving around machinery. Fitting snugly underneath a load, a skating machine works to assist industrial locations in a comprehensive manner. The powerhouse of the entire process is the black diaphragm fitted at the bottom of each load.

With compressed air creating a film or seal between the load and the surface, the load virtually floats across the assembly floor. Such tools typically outperform overhead cranes and forklifts, as they offer versatile applications. Be it an awkwardly shaped load or be it uneven load distribution, moving casters cover all grounds.

The Reasons for This Sustained Dominance

  • Workplace Safety: Given how industrial units operate, there is a huge score of personnel working on the ground at any given time. Due to lacking an electric-drive motor, pneumatic systems are more compact and safer for working around with. Being reliable and durable, there is no possibility of explosions and sparks when operating such systems. Reducing user fatigue, or any potential injuries that may arise from fatigue, air-powered systems work to uphold the standards of workplace safety. Additionally, air-powered systems deter the development of hand-arm vibration syndrome, which is caused by exposure to vibrating tools.
  • No Maintenance: Unlike other systems, air powered systems such as machine skates don’t require regular lubrication and don’t entail a maintenance schedule. Less likely to overheat or cause any glitches, these systems typically tend to have a longer service life when compared to electrical systems.
  • Potential Savings: Air-powered systems don’t cause any damage to the flooring of the manufacturing unit. Saving the operator hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, air-powered systems work to cut down costs. Requiring no electrical source and operating purely on compressed air, the operator gets to benefit from a limitless energy source.
  • A Clean System: With compressed air flowing through, there are no possibilities of blockages occurring. Such a system keeps the instrument free from containments, which can play a part in breaking down the system.
  • Inexpensive: Saving the operator or manufacturer the initial cost, pneumatic systems are relatively cheaper than their counterparts. This leads the operator to not just save the initial cost, but also save ensuing costs that arise with other electromotive systems.
  • Requires No Specialized Training: At the end of the day, the operator aims to increase the productivity, profitability, and efficiency of its manufacturing unit. Facilitating this need, unlike other systems, pneumatic systems don’t require specialized training. Along with this, such systems also increase a unit’s productivity, as the job carried out by several people, can easily be carried out by one person.
  • No Dangers If It Leaks: If working within a food-processing unit, it is extremely important for the manufacturer to ensure their unit is squeaky clean. Thus, even if a pneumatic system leaks, it won’t cause any harm to the external atmosphere. Being a cost-effective and hazard-proof system, an operator gets to benefit immensely.

Pneumatic systems play an instrumental role in ensuring an assembly floor stays safe, efficient, and resourceful. Owing to this, they have continued to dominate industrial spaces for ages now.

Why Choose Hovair?

Hovair understands the science behind harnessing compressed air for powering systems. Experienced in providing the material handling industry with air bearing systems for the past 50 years, Hovair works to provide innovative and quality pneumatic systems. Be it industrial turntables, vehicle turntables, or air handling systems, Hovair is well-aware of all matters pneumatic systems.