Aspects to Consider When Moving Large Machinery

When you are working with very heavy plant, it is often the case where the item has to be relocated or is in need of major repairs, and lifting something that weighs 200 tonnes is no easy task. There is a very specialised crane industry, companies with many years of hands-on experience relocating heavy equipment, and when a heavy piece of machinery has to be moved, here are a few aspects to consider.

  1. Weight – Both the crane and the transport vehicle must be able to handle the weight of the load, and when looking for cranes in Perth, there are companies that have cranes of all sizes that are capable and ready to go. The crane driver must be sure that extending the boom does not compromise the lift in any way, and that the crane has a solid platform on which to work.
  2. Dimensions – There can be some very unusual shapes, with large boilers, vertical concrete kilns and other huge items, and it is the role of the crane driver to check the size of the load and make sure it can easily be manoeuvred into place.
  3. Terrain – If the ground is sloping, for example, this could have a dramatic effect on the lift, and the crane would have special legs that can level the platform, which is vital for any lift.
  4. Slings & Chains – The crane driver would decide the best slings to use for the job, and the ground crew would attach and remove these as and when necessary. Slings must be regularly inspected, looking for tears or rips in the webbing, while chains are suitably lubricated and checked.
  5. Lifting Points – It is important to select the right locations for the slings or chains, as these will be pivot points, and if the load is not balanced, movement could occur and that could be disastrous.
  6. Loading – Once the crane has lifted the machinery, it must now be taken to the vehicle and placed in exactly the right location on the vehicle. Of course, there would be a ground team, who guide the load into position, and they would be very experienced at all aspects of relocating heavy plant.
  7. Wind – Windy conditions could cause the load to start swinging, and this can be very difficult to stop. Of course, you should try to avoid the lift in windy conditions for obvious reasons, and if there is too much wind, the crane driver would abort the lift.
  8. Potential Damage – The load to be lifted would be very costly, they always are, and the crane driver would be looking for bits that protrude, that might get knocked or collide with something. He would also be very careful about how the machinery touches the bed of the truck, as there might be a need for some supports, to protect the machinery.

There is much at stake when lifting heavy plant and machinery, and if ever there was a time when you need professionals on the job, this would be it. If you type ‘crane hire near me’ into a search engine window, this will bring up a list of crane hire firms that service your area.

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