Tag: Machinery Moving

Moving heavy machinery, sometimes called machine shifting, requires a defined sequence covering assessment, dismantling, lifting, transport, reassembly and testing. The exact method depends on the machine, the route, the site and whether production continues around the work.

How do you move heavy machinery safely?

A safe machinery move follows a planned sequence: assess the equipment and route, define the lifting and transport method, dismantle and protect the machine, rig and move it, transport it where required, reassemble and align it, then complete inspection and testing before production restarts.

The International Labour Organization estimates that 395 million workers worldwide sustain a non-fatal work injury each year. A heavy machinery move combines lifting, stored energy, moving vehicles, suspended loads and changing work zones, so hazards and controls should be agreed before work begins and reviewed as site conditions change.

1. Complete a pre-move assessment

Record the machine dimensions, weight, centre of gravity, lifting points and any manufacturer instructions. Check the route from the existing position to the loading area and from delivery point to final position, including floor loading, door openings, turning space, overhead restrictions and access for lifting equipment.

2. Build the moving plan

Define responsibilities, sequence the move and identify the equipment, labour and permits required. The plan should include electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic isolation; dismantling; packing; lifting; transport; unloading; reassembly and testing.

Transport and lifting requirements vary by country, so the move must be checked against the rules that apply at the origin site, the destination site and along the transport route. Cross-border projects may also need customs clearance, escorts, permits or route approvals, depending on the machinery and journey.

3. Dismantle and protect the machinery

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and record the machine condition before work starts. Match-mark components, photograph connections and isolate electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Sensitive assemblies may need separate crates, shock protection, moisture control or other packaging selected for the equipment and journey.

4. Plan and execute the rigging

Select lifting equipment and rigging hardware from the verified load data and site conditions. The method may involve cranes, forklifts, gantries, skates, jacks or combinations of these systems.

For a deeper explanation of load handling and positioning, see our guide to rigging services and riggers.

5. Transport the machinery

Use a transport provider and vehicle configuration suitable for the loaded weight and dimensions. Route surveys may be required for bridge capacity, road width, overhead restrictions, street furniture and delivery access. The transport plan should also account for the receiving site’s unloading sequence so lifting equipment and installation teams are ready when the load arrives.

6. Unload, position and reassemble

Unload onto a prepared route and move the machine into its final position using the approved lifting or movement method. Reassemble components from the match-marking records, reconnect services and complete mechanical checks before energisation.

Where positional tolerances are tight, precision measurement and alignment can support floor marking, levelling and verification.

Reinstallation at the new position follows the same stages as machinery installation: assembly, alignment, connection and testing.

7. Test and hand over

Inspect the machinery for transport or handling damage, verify guards and connections, and complete the required mechanical, electrical and functional checks. Any issue identified during inspection should be documented, assessed and resolved before the machine is returned to production.

A machinery-relocation example

For a relocation from Germany to Trutnov in the Czech Republic, Beck & Pollitzer unloaded and moved production equipment to a fourth-floor installation area. The seven-person team worked from risk assessments, method statements and lifting plans, using 5-tonne forklifts and two 55-tonne mobile cranes. The work took 528 project hours.

The same end-to-end scope can cover machine relocation from dismantling through reinstallation, with lifting, transport and installation planned as one work package.

Hospitals, laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturers move equipment when departments expand, facilities are rebuilt or production transfers to a new site. For sensitive medical assets, the move has to protect the equipment, its calibration and cleanliness, and the services that depend on it.

Why does moving medical equipment need specialist engineering?

Medical and laboratory equipment combines sensitive electronics, calibrated sensors and vibration-sensitive components with strict installation tolerances. A diagnostic scanner, an analytical instrument or a pharmaceutical production line may also be heavy, difficult to access and subject to manufacturer and regulatory requirements before it can return to service.

Specialist medical equipment movers plan each move around those constraints: the route, the lifting method, protection during transport, and the alignment and checks needed at the new location.

What equipment do medical equipment movers handle?

• Medical imaging systems: MRI, CT and PET scanners, which combine heavy components with sensitive alignment requirements.
• Therapy systems: linear accelerators, cyclotrons and proton therapy equipment.
• Laboratory and diagnostic equipment: analytical instruments, testing equipment and scientific apparatus.
• Pharmaceutical production equipment: fill-finish, inspection and packaging lines, autoclaves, lyophilisers and isolators.

Beck & Pollitzer relocates and installs equipment across all four areas, including MRI systems, as part of its life sciences and pharmaceutical work.

The medical equipment relocation process

1. Technical survey

A pre-move engineering survey checks floor loading, transit dimensions, access routes and the electrical and utility requirements at both locations. Manufacturer requirements for decommissioning, transport and recommissioning are confirmed at this stage.

2. Asset tagging and traceability

High-value components, fragile peripherals and connections are mapped and tagged so every part can be traced through the move and returned to the right position during reinstallation.

3. Rigging and transport

Lifting plans are prepared for each heavy or sensitive item, in line with the lifting regulations that apply where the work takes place. Transport is chosen to suit the equipment, including vibration-controlled vehicles where the manufacturer requires them. Heavy items such as scanners often have to pass through tight internal routes or be lifted through openings in the building.

4. Reinstallation and alignment

At the new location, the equipment is positioned, levelled and reconnected to its utilities. Where geometry and calibration are critical, precision measurement and alignment verify its position before the manufacturer or the client’s team completes recommissioning and validation.

Working in regulated and cleanroom environments

In pharmaceutical facilities and laboratories, the move has to respect the site’s contamination controls. This may include clean-build procedures, non-marking lifting equipment, controlled access zones and site-specific gowning requirements, depending on the cleanroom classification and facility procedures.

Where production is regulated under GMP or GDP, the move also needs documentation that supports traceability and audit-ready handover. Beck & Pollitzer teams work to each site’s procedures and coordinate closely with equipment manufacturers throughout.

Medical and lab equipment relocation checklist

• Inventory: list every asset, including serial numbers and current calibration status.
• Manufacturer coordination: confirm warranty requirements and any specialist decommissioning or recommissioning steps.
• Utilities: identify power, gas, water and data requirements at the new site before the move.
• Floor loading: confirm the new location can support heavy diagnostic or production equipment.
• Contamination control: for cleanroom moves, agree clean-build procedures and gowning requirements.
• Risk assessments and method statements: including plans for vibration control and fragile components.
• Regulatory documentation: make sure activities are recorded for GMP or GDP requirements where they apply.
• Contingency: agree downtime windows and backup arrangements for critical samples, data and services.

Large medical systems in practice

Some medical systems are as large as industrial machinery. On a proton beam therapy installation in Spain, Beck & Pollitzer handled more than 220 tonnes of equipment, using 400-tonne cranes to lift components in through the roof. The team also completed the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation integration and installed more than 40 km of cabling.

For individual assets and complete departments, medical equipment moves are delivered through Beck & Pollitzer’s machine relocation services.