Request for advice: transporting very heavy machinery - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2017, 09:14:51 pm
content: Has anyone here had any experience moving very heavy machinery? Say in the one to four metric tons range.I've been looking for a second lathe, much bigger than my current one. Seehttp://everist.org/NobLog/20171004_buying_lathe.htmAt the moment there's a CNC lathe possibility that is about 500Km away. But even if closer I still have the problem of transport and then at this end unloading and shifting it into place.This will involve hiring a large flatbed truck. Depending on the machine size, I can go for a truck with a built-in crane (Hiab), or also hire a forklift for the unloading and moving at my end. Some of the moving at my end will require use of a custom-built sled and rollers, but that's no problem. It's the commercial transport stuff that I know nothing about.So I'm asking if anyone in NSW Australia has ever used large truck hire services, and what were your experiences?Names of heavy load transport companies that you can recommend would also be appreciated.Edit to add: Also is there anyone with CNC lathe experience, who'd be willing to offer advice in email? I have some specific questions. But it's very much metalworking related, so best not for this forum.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2017, 09:27:33 pm
content: What helps is to get the lathe on a flatbed which can be put onto the ground so you don't have to lift it up (and down) very high. A crane on a truck may have problems lifting several metric tonnes. Once the flatbed is on the ground you can put rollers / load skates under the lathe like these:The next thing you need is a winge and you can pull it in place. That is how my uncle and I moved similar piece of machinery many decades ago.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 05, 2017, 09:54:40 pm
content: YouTube is full of videos that go though the do's and dont's of moving heavy machines especially lathes.

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2017, 10:02:13 pm
content: For the truck+crane service, I have to ask a friend living in your area.But about moving it into place - here in Europe we have several companies renting out aircushion devices for heavy loads. They come as several small units , but there are larger, unitary ones too. All you need to operate them is a very long air line or a compressor that can move with you. They operate mostly on standard industrial air supplies. 4 tons is well within the range of the more common kits with 4 pads. I've seen them in action and it is not very complicated.Just keep it level and do not push it faster than you can brake it. For additional safety, hang a flexible thick mat where a collision is most likely to occur. As this technology is at least 20 years in use, the chances are good that someone offers a similar service in your country and area as well.Here is an example, so that you can get an idea of the devices:http://luftkissen-transportsysteme.biz/284-2.htmlhttp://www.directindustry.de/prod/its-europe/product-38103-410470.htmlhttp://www.a-vt.be/en/heavy-load-solutions/standard-air-cushion-systems.aspxhttp://delu-gmbh.de/de/produkte/modulare-systeme

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2017, 10:17:55 pm
content: Hiab, they don't have any trouble lifting 5 tonne especially if they can get close. This you'll need to sort for the pick up end so to determine how bigger rig you can get close by/within reach. Ask the truckers how far out/away they can handle 5 tonne. 8W units have the best lifting capacity as they have bigger cranes and still not impact massively on their carrying ability.Contact those local AND those where the lathe is, asking each to factor the shift in as a backload for a job they might be doing close to either end of the shift. That's how you'll get a reasonable rate as your shift will be the cream on their other job.I recently contacted the guys just down the road to get some heavy beams home from ~25km away and they slotted it into the end of their day just nicely and at a reasonable rate.....after waving some Clive Ash at them.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2017, 04:41:59 am
content: The auction just opened their bidding, and I'm pissed off that now they have a very large "fixed removal fee" on all the lots. Even for lathes that look like there's no disassembly required. They insist on handling the loading onto customer transport, which given the size of the factory is fair enough, but methinks they are putting minimum prices on everything via the back door of 'loading fees'.I've been asking around, and these CNC machines are all quite old and VERY heavily used in a continuous production environment. So will be quite worn, mostly look bad, and might have gone reasonably cheaply. Hence transport could be the major cost. But no...Anyway, I'd intended to keep the auction details quiet (don't want to have to compete with a lot of people with much more cash than me) but what the hell. Here it is:http://tigerassetgroup.com/sales/dsi1/It's near Albury, NSW. Runs till Oct 11th. Inspection Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th October - I'll probably drive down for a look, if only for fun.Note the Metrology and Laboratory section. I'm only interested in the CNC lathes section.Btw, I know _how_ to move heavy objects, and would be OK moving something heavy around here. Some of the move at this end will be over uneven lawn, small bumps etc, so improvised wooden sled, log rollers and winching would be the go.It's trucking companies I was hoping for recommendations about.Quote from: AF6LJ on October 05, 2017, 09:54:40 pmhttp://www.lathes.co.uk/lifting-a-lathe/The shed it would go into here has a ceiling lift I-beam, but it's too lightweight for something like a 2 tonne lathe. So, rollers.To make things more complicated/comical, the entry to this shed is over a concrete slab that is the cap on a large stormwater retention pit. Which I built, and I'm pretty sure it would not support a forklift plus heavy lathe. Fingers crossed a sled and rollers with a lathe on top won't fall through it. I did not plan to have really heavy things in that shed.Edit later: Ha ha. Suddenly crickets. No posts in chat for hours.I think everyone is sitting scrolling astonished through the hundreds of listings in that vast auction.Btw, that factory was by far the largest in Albury-Wodonga (on the NSW-Victorian border) and went broke due to the Australian car manufacturing industry collapsing. No more Australian-made gearboxes. Sad.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 06, 2017, 01:03:14 pm
content: Some disassembly would be good in order to make moving this lathe easier.If a sling is going to be employed to pick up the lathe, the threads on YouTube address the issues involved in doing this without damaging the lathe.Most of these videos are for manual lathes but the same cautionary suggestions apply.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:43:59 am
content: So, is anyone else going to Lavington (Albury) for the inspection Monday and Tuesday?I'll be there on Monday, not sure about Tuesday.Oh, and I've been recommended Border Express for trucking. They are based in Albury.Pretty sure these things are going to be out of my price range, but we'll see.

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 01:01:27 pm
content: I used to sell heavy machinery and for long haul transport you want to ship on an air-ride trailer and even then you should protect against vibration damage to any sensitive parts of the machine. The lifting is the easy part as long as the equipment used is rated for the weight. In the USA we use riggers or "movers" with rollers and other specialized equipment to locate the equipment in place. Before buying and placing the equipment be sure the floor of your building is rated for the localized weight of each pad or foot or you might need to reinforce or use steel plates to spread the weight load over the concrete floor. A CNC machine needs to be stable and that starts with the floor. Local building codes may have special concerns regarding mounting - earthquake codes etc.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 02:09:51 pm
content: In the UK, a post on anyvan.com will get people bidding where they have spare capacity to move pretty much anything.

author: mathsquid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 04:05:43 pm
content: To move something that heavy, you need to hire a rigging company.