Advice · 3 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
10 machinery moving mistakes that cause damage, delays and downtime
Mistakes 1 and 2: guessing the weight and not walking the route
The weight on the maker's plate is often for the bare machine. Tooling, fixtures, fluids, chip conveyors, bar feeders and add-on equipment can add hundreds of kilograms. Guessing low leads to the wrong lifting gear or vehicle on the day, while guessing high can mean paying for a bigger crane than the job needs. Get the manufacturer's data sheet and list everything that will stay attached.
Doors, roller shutters, ramps, drain covers, overhead pipes, cable trays and sprinkler heads stop more moves than heavy weights do. Walk the full route at both ends with a tape measure and note headroom as well as width. Remember that a machine on skates or a forklift sits higher than it does on the floor.
Mistake 3: trades booked on the wrong days
A machine that is ready to lift at 8am but is not isolated until noon wastes half a day of crew and crane time. The same happens at the new site when nobody is booked to reconnect and test it, and the machine sits idle for days.
- Book the electrician to isolate the day before or first thing on the day
- Book reconnection for when the machine is in its final position
- Book the manufacturer's engineer for levelling, alignment or commissioning
- Line up compressed air, extraction and water connections at the same time
- Share one written timetable with every trade and the mover
Mistakes 4 and 5: fluids, loose parts and unlocked axes
Coolant, hydraulic oil and lubricants slosh, leak and add weight. Some machines must be drained for transport, and some need specific parts locked. Check the manual and follow the manufacturer's transport instructions, and dispose of drained fluids as waste rather than down a drain.
Tables, heads, quills, doors and tool changers can move during a lift or on the road. Fit transport brackets where the maker supplies them, remove loose tooling, and tie or tape doors shut. Bag and label small parts, bolts and levelling feet so nothing goes missing between sites. Missing levelling feet are a surprisingly common cause of a delayed restart.
Mistakes 6 and 7: no lift plan and an unprepared new site
Under LOLER, every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. A written lift plan is the normal way to show that for crane and HIAB work. Treat any mover who wants to improvise a crane or HIAB lift without one as a red flag.
- Check the new floor can take the weight and the point loads under the feet
- Mark the final position on the floor, including orientation and clearances for doors and maintenance
- Have the right power supply, compressed air and extraction ready before the machine arrives
- Cast any new foundation or plinth well before the move so it has time to cure
- Clear the delivery route and loading area at the new site
Mistakes 8, 9 and 10: permits, data and downtime
Cranes and HIAB lorries on the public highway usually need a council licence with several days' or weeks' notice. Shared yards, landlords and neighbours may also need to agree. Leaving this until the last minute is one of the most common reasons a planned lift is cancelled.
CNC programs, tool offsets, machine parameters and PLC settings can be lost when power is removed or batteries go flat. Back them up before isolation and keep a copy off the machine.
Finally, plan for downtime. Build some stock, warn customers about any gap in production and allow time for recommissioning and accuracy checks. Machines rarely go straight back into full production the moment they are set down.
Quick reference: mistakes and fixes
| Mistake | Simple fix |
|---|---|
| Weight guessed | Get data sheets and list everything attached |
| Route not walked | Measure doors, headroom and floors at both ends |
| Trades not coordinated | One shared written timetable |
| Fluids and loose parts left | Follow the maker's transport instructions |
| No lift plan | Ask for it in writing before the day |
| New site not ready | Floor checked, position marked, services in place |
| Permits forgotten | Apply early and agree who applies |
| Controls not backed up | Back up programs and parameters before isolation |
| No downtime plan | Build stock and allow time for recommissioning |
Frequently asked questions
What is the single biggest cause of machinery move delays?
Poor coordination is usually the biggest cause, especially electricians, engineers and permits not being lined up with the move. The lift itself is often the quickest part of the day. A single written timetable that every trade has seen, plus a short pre-move site meeting for larger jobs, prevents most delays and wasted crew time.
Should the machine manufacturer be involved in a move?
For precision machines such as CNC centres, grinders and coordinate measuring machines, it is wise to involve the manufacturer or a specialist service engineer. They can advise on transport locks, which parts to remove, and how to level and recommission the machine afterwards, and some warranties or service contracts require their involvement.
How far ahead should a machinery move be planned?
For a single machine with easy access, two to four weeks is often enough. Anything involving a crane on the highway, a road closure, building alterations or several machines needs longer, often six weeks to several months for a full factory move. Starting early gives time for surveys, permits and booking the right equipment.
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