Moving machinery: the new and different way minimizes your downtime

Moving a piece of machinery such as one or more production lines seems simple, but there are many snags. Typically, it goes like this: "Our heavy machinery needs to be moved to our new location. We need wheels for that, so we call a moving/transportation company."
That seems like a good plan, however... It involves specialized machinery and entire production lines. Once the plug goes out, production is at a standstill until the machines are repositioned and installed in the right place and in the right way. And therein lies the problem. A transportation company picks up the machines as they estimate is the best way. They move them to the truck, transport them to the new location, unload the machines and put them ON THE RIGHT PLACE....
Then it's up to you, as the owner of the machines, to make sure the machines are working properly again. Sound like a good way to handle your expensive machines and costly downtime?

The 5 biggest machinery relocation blunders:

• There is no planning, there is chaos and much ambiguity
• Damage occurs
• Unsafe situations arise
• The move costs much more than the price on the quote
• Production shut down (much) longer than promised

Moving machinery by the responsible and fast method:

There is a totally different method of moving that guarantees your downtime is minimal. In fact, you can choose to hire skilled industrial movers with specialized mechanical and electrical engineers who work according to a fixed roadmap. They ensure that all matters surrounding the move are also optimally taken care of. Think about having a wall or other obstacles professionally removed so that the machines can be moved. And the power points at the new location.
Expert movers work responsibly and ensure that your machines are up and running again as quickly as possible. That you can resume production as soon as possible after the move... That sounds expensive, but experience shows that at the bottom of the line it is actually (much) cheaper.

How does such a relocation of Industrial machinery work?

After the telephone conversation during which the request is briefly discussed, we visit you for an (introductory) meeting and a global inventory of the machinery to be moved. It is valuable if immediately at the first meeting the relevant persons, such as the Head of TD, are at the table. Then all parties know who they are dealing with and everyone can immediately ask their questions.

Confidentiality regarding the production process must often be taken into account. We are used to that. We have fixed protocols for that. If you indicate this in advance, it is taken into account immediately. And no company clothing is worn with the Yourtech logo on it. However, we never enter your premises unannounced and unannounced!

How often does it happen that a "mechanic" checks in at the front desk, indicating that he is coming for installation work on the sprinklers. He gets a pass and walks into your company. Before you know it, there are several "guests" walking into your company that you don't know and haven't invited....

Machinery relocation according to a fixed roadmap gives certainty

By working according to a method with a fixed roadmap, nothing is overlooked. The dismantling, moving, and assembly time is accurately estimated. There is no guesswork, so you know where you stand.

At this stage, we determine whether a project is a good fit for us. The safety of your and our employees is paramount in this consideration. In addition, it may be that the job is so simple that it is recommended that we use a carrier that we often work with.

After agreement on the price indication, the machinery to be moved is carefully mapped out by means of a fixed checklist. Then you will receive the actual quotation, in which all points are clearly written out. Without fancy talk and small print....

Such a move, that can easily be done for a nice price....

"This transport company had a competitive price, I thought... On moving day, one person spoke Dutch or English. Op zich verliep het inladen van de machines snel. Het uitladen en plaatsen van de machines was echter een ander verhaal: wát een chaos! Lang verhaal kort: Uiteindelijk stonden de machines ongeveer op de juiste plek, zonder ernstige ongelukken...
All in all, it took another 3 days before we could start production. And that was not all... Then came the invoice from the transport company. Including additional work (mentioned in the many small print in the quotation) the invoice came out considerably higher than the competitive price of the quotation...."

There is a totally new and different way to have such an Industrial relocation performed....

After the "cheap" move described above, our Yourtech specialists were called in to get the production line running again. The owner regretted not knowing earlier how we handle such a move. Hence this article to inform manufacturers of the risks involved in a relocation. There is an expert way to do such a move with a pre-agreed, justified price and with guarantees.

Yourtech's skilled and experienced service and maintenance engineers work mainly for the food & beverage, cardboard and mechanical engineering industries. Because these are usually complex machines, our mechanics are now multi-deployable. This enables us to move all kinds of (heavy) machinery. If a job does not suit us, you will be told this immediately during the first interview.

24 Years of experience in machine technology

Getting the production line to work as well (or even better) after the move as it did before the move requires experience, knowledge and a thorough intake.
At the intake, the following points are examined in detail:

• All machines to be moved, so that we know PRECISELY how they are standing and working now
• All relevant issues in the environment, such as room for movement during transport
• The situation in the new space

This centers on a few questions: Is it a 1-to-1 move? That is, Will the line in the new space be exactly as it was in the old space? Or will something change, and if so, what? And what is all needed in the new space to get the line running again as soon as possible after the move?

The 7 most common variations of machinery relocations

Moving 1 On 1 is a different story than when you are going to change something. There are many variations possible such as:

• One or more additional machines
• Omission of a machine
• Replacement of 1 or more machines
• An additional "kink" in the line
• A straighter arrangement
• An additional distance must be covered
• Part of the line will rise one floor higher

With a professional move carried out by Yourtech, you are fully included in the moving process, so you know exactly what to take into account. For example, with regard to the layout: Where will the machines be placed and how? How accessible is that place? What is the starting position and what is the new situation like? Are there other production lines or machines nearby that are in operation at the time of relocation? Because we follow a fixed checklist, you know exactly what is expected of you and where you stand. Everything is discussed in detail beforehand.

Thorough preparation prevents unpleasant surprises

After approval of the offer, preparations are started. Here, we create the schedule and project sheet, prepare the safety plan, order materials and assemble the team with all the necessary specialists. Third parties we regularly work with are called in. And we check that everything is carried out as agreed, both at the existing and at the new location.

Because we take responsibility for the entire move, everything is taken care of from A to Z. You don't have to worry about the move and the preparations. This approach prevents unpleasant surprises on moving day....

This is why engaging "your buddy" is not a good plan:

"We often get the comment that clients have a brother-in-law in construction, for example, who can take down the wall. With this we have 1X turned our nose up: On moving day, all the people and equipment were ready to move the machines to the new location. But... the wall that had to be removed to do so was still in place.... Since then, we haven't "stepped in it. No matter how nice and skilled your brother, brother-in-law, cousin, friend, mate, acquaintance and so on is, we arrange the removal of the wall. This is carried out exclusively by companies we have experience with (if necessary, we can use your in-house supplier if necessary). Because ultimately, we are responsible for ensuring that the move goes well and on time."

Moving specialized machinery can get tremendously out of hand

Modern machines consist largely of fragile electronics. You don't move those just like that! At least ... if you want them to work optimally for years to come. This requires thorough preparation and expertise.
As a result, we know exactly at what points we can elevator the machine, how much the machine weighs and what to pay attention to. This information is needed to determine the right elevator trucks. We may contact the machine builder before the move if necessary.

Because we map and prepare everything extensively in advance, the move goes quickly and smoothly. And the downtime is as low as possible. Count your profits...

Real-life story: how working fast can take a lot of time....

"The moving day was already messy, it was not a streamlined whole. Work was done quickly until my fear came true: A loud bang sounded and our mixer was on its side... The weight distribution had not been correctly assessed! The damage was such that it was no longer usable. So like crazy we had to look for a replacement machine. As best as we could, with a lot of extra costs and much later than agreed, we were able to resume production at the new location."

Thorough preparation makes the difference between success or failure

Usually manufacturers think like this, "I need wheels to move my machines," but it's actually, "I need engineering knowledge and the wheels are part of that." Engineering is essential to get your industrial machinery running optimally again after the move. If you are running 300 packs per minute before the move, the same must happen at the new location. Our thorough preparation ensures that the same production capacity can be achieved at the new location. Even better: We have regularly experienced that the machines run even better at the new location....
And speaking of the new location, we have the specialist knowledge to create the most optimal layout for your production space. Please let us know if you want to know more about this or want to make use of this knowledge.

Real-life story: What a mess!

"To move our cheese cutting and packaging line, we had hired a carrier who said he had the right knowledge and experience to do the job. Well, I don't know what knowledge and experience he was talking about, but at least the moving of our production line was not professionally done! The loading, transporting and unloading otherwise looked fine. However... after connecting and testing the machines, it turned out that a lot was wrong! One of the sub-machines was positioned the wrong way round (!), which caused the conveyor belt to run in the wrong direction... Next, the machines were not connected and aligned properly at all, causing packages to fall on the floor or end up at an angle with the next machine. What a mess!"

Here's why it's not a good plan to move your machines yourself...

We often see manufacturers moving their machines themselves... Moving yourself sounds logical when you have the right knowledge, time (!) and means of transportation. But whether it is so wise... Even when moving your machinery, i.e. an internal move, a lot can go wrong. A job that seems very simple can unexpectedly cause a lot of problems. Are you willing to take that risk?
In addition, manufacturers often want to use their own technical department to disassemble and disconnect the machines. However, this is not at the level and speed at which we do it. You then run the risk that the efficiency of your production process will no longer be optimal. That you therefore achieve a (much) lower production capacity after the move than before the move. Calling in your own technical department sounds logical, but that's not how we work. We take responsibility from A to Z. That is why our mechanics dismantle and disconnect the machines, reconnect them at the new location and then hand them over to the operation.

Meanwhile, 460 machinery relocations completed

Being a specialist means staying critical. After every move, the roadmap is discussed with the Yourtech team to see if anything can be improved. Specialist knowledge is something you build up. You only get that after a large number of relocations. We have already carried out more than 300 relocations of machinery. So call on us for your external as well as your internal removals. For the large-scale and small-scale relocation of your industrial machinery. Even if it is only for advice on moving a single machine.

The biggest risks you face in doing the move yourself or using a transportation company with a very competitive price are:

• Duration
• Safety
• And the hidden additional costs

Why choose a specialist in machinery removals?

Modern machines are not just mechanical, but consist largely of fragile electronics. Because of this, the risk of damage is very high. If you just rent some wheels, then the risk of damage is huge. Then the chances are very high that your machines will not perform as they should after the move.

Therefore, it is unwise to hire an ordinary transport company for this job. It often goes wrong, they don't have the technical know-how. Transporters can hoist and transport. And so that's exactly what they do: they unplug the machine and make sure it's disconnected from the floor and from other machines. They attach some straps and lift the machine. Then they put it in the truck and transport it to the new location. There they unload it and set it down roughly in the right place and are ready for the next job.

The devil is in the technology. If on Monday morning after the move the machines are not running properly, you have a problem. It is therefore better to leave this job to specialists who do have the necessary knowledge and who work according to a proven method with fixed roadmaps.

150,000 Euros a day in missed production....

Calculation example: Take a cheese producer who produces 250 packs per minute at the old location. Suppose that after the move, the machines stand idle for an extra day because they were not transported properly, placed incorrectly and/or connected. That quickly costs the producer 150,000 euros per day in missed production. And that's not counting the fines for not delivering on time and losing customers....

How soon after the move do you want to resume your production?

The better everything is mapped out and the more optimal the planning, the faster the move goes. The faster everything can be assembled, the faster your machines can be up and running again. Due to extensive preparation, we know exactly what we need in terms of transport, both in the hall and trucks. There must be enough space in the hall for the cranes to move your machines. Both at the old and at the new location.
For that, all the necessary (compact) cranes must be present that can handle the weight of the machines. Then it is essential to know how much the machines weigh and where the center of gravity is! Therefore, it is a regular part of our preparation, to approach the machine builders to indicate that we are going to move the machines. Should there be any problems, we can quickly contact the supplier to solve it together.

The moving day of your machinery... a good start is half the battle

The moving day begins with an on-site briefing with all parties involved who will ensure that your machinery is moved. This makes it clear to everyone who is helping out, who is doing what and who is the point of contact. Then all the safety rules are discussed.

We guarantee that the machines / production line will be delivered within the agreed time. Unless it has been indicated beforehand that a certain machine is risky to transport. For example, because it is very old, neglected, dirty or if there is no documentation for it. Before we remove anything, any risks are identified and discussed.

The only proper conclusion to your machinery relocation....

All steps of your machinery relocation are carried out according to a fixed roadmap. The delivery protocol is a fixed part of this. We consult with all parties involved, the machines are connected and tested in collaboration with your operational manager(s).

Your machines will be delivered functionally. Unless otherwise agreed upon.
Because we have requested the necessary technical data, we can ensure that the machines are running again as well and perhaps even better than at the old location.

Machine builders are not relocation specialists

De machines die vandaag de dag verkocht worden zijn state of the art. Het lijkt logisch om de machinebouwer te vragen om de machines te verhuizen. Echter... dit is niet hun core-business. Daarbij heb je doorgaans in een productielijn te maken met meerdere leveranciers... Dan wordt het al lastig! Laat je dan elke leverancier zijn eigen machines verplaatsen? En hoe wordt dat dan op elkaar afgestemd?

Besides... Machine builders often have too few people to make such a move. They engineer, make and deliver machines. Moving machines is something they prefer not to do.
We work with the machine builder, if the move calls for it. Moving is our specialization, we like it, have the right knowledge, roadmaps and specialists. For machine builders it is much more interesting to leave this to us, than to perform it themselves.

What usually goes wrong in an Industrial Relocation?

If you do the industrial relocation yourself or if you have the relocation done by a non specialist you run a great risk that something will go wrong. The text above already mentions some of the issues we have encountered in recent years. For the overview I list the effects of incompetence that we have seen recently:

• Machines fall over
• Boyfriend of boyfriend of boyfriend turned on....
• Poor communication due to language barrier
• Machines did not mesh well with each other
• There was a wire sticking out of the ground somewhere and nothing was done with it, so it became a stumbling block.
• Damages to the moving machinery
• Not delivered clean
• Took longer than expected
• Many surprises left and right

Then we were asked to fix the problems. At first we walked around in admiration/ amazement and took pictures... Then we fixed everything. Cheap is expensive. The production line was down much longer than expected and agreed upon. And there were a lot of extra costs (as a result).

Conclusion:

Your production depends on specialized machinery. Machines that you have selected with care and with which you achieve a certain production capacity and quality. During the move, your production will of course be at a standstill. It is therefore essential to make the move as smooth and easy as possible. And to resume your production as quickly as possible, with the capacity and quality you were used to. Is this how you would prefer your move to be? Then make an appointment with our relocation specialists.