Moving business-critical equipment within a facility, between sites, or across international borders is often necessary to maximise operational potential and pursue growth.
As such, these high-stakes projects require attention to detail, careful planning, and considerable heavy lifting and moving expertise. This blend of expertise ensures that valuable assets are moved and installed safely, efficiently, and on time.
At AIS Eurelo, we’ve been supporting customers across Europe with machinery removal, machinery installation, and factory relocation projects for more than 40 years. Having moved single pieces of machinery, whole production lines, and even entire manufacturing facilities, our experienced and well-equipped team knows how to plan and execute projects so that customers are happy every time.
For businesses on the cusp of machinery removal or machinery relocation projection, there are some key questions to ask ahead of a project. The answers will ensure businesses are well prepared and know what to look for in their specialist heavy lifting and moving partner.
- How do I choose the right lifting and moving partner?
Organisations should look to partner with highly experienced and well-trained personnel, the right resources and specialist heavy lifting equipment and vehicles, international capabilities where cross-border support is required, and a proven track record. They should also look for partners with an exacting approach to health and safety and project planning. The AIS Eurelo team possesses all these qualities and knows how to support clients with the most complex lifting and moving tasks.
- Which machine is to be moved?
The type of equipment to be moved will determine the approach required. Knowledge of this is, therefore, vital to devising a detailed critical path that considers the logistical, operational, and safety challenges associated with a customer’s brief.
Lifting and moving teams need to know the dimensions and weight of the item to plan how to approach the task, as well as any special considerations, such as sensitive instrumentation, that might require specialist handling. This allows detailed decommissioning plans to be made and, where necessary, for teams to consult with Original Equipment Manufacturers about specific disassembly instructions.
- Where is the machinery located now?
Understanding the current location of the equipment to be moved is necessary. This is more than just knowing its geographic location; although this is vital, it also considers the specific location of the item within a facility.
A site visit allows the lifting and moving team to see how much space they have to work in and to identify any issues or challenges relating to access and movement. This is particularly important when working in constricted environments, those which are difficult to access or will remain live and operational while the decommissioning, disassembly and lift are undertaken.
- Where is the machinery/production line being moved to?
The equipment’s end destination shapes the whole programme, affects the type of heavy lifting and moving equipment needed, and determines whether a cross-border team is required to ensure easy transit through Europe.
At AIS Eurelo, we operate from ten locations in the UK and Europe, supporting customers across all European countries with the best and most efficient solutions. We offer a single point of contact for European operators, even when the project involves teams in different countries. Our team ensures all documentation is provided in the required languages and can work outside traditional hours to help clients minimise disruption, optimise operational efficiency, and control costs.
- Do we need a project plan?
A project plan is a necessary and valuable document that sets out everything that must happen to deliver a successful, heavy-lifting and moving project.
At AIS Eurelo, we pride ourselves on building a solution around our customers’ needs. This means taking the time to understand all the factors affecting a customer’s machinery removal, installation, or relocation project and compiling and costing a project plan to suit those requirements.
We consider the reasons for the move—perhaps dismantling a plant or relocating a production line—and the business-critical factors driving the project. These might be helping a new site become operational by a specific date, completing the final stages of an asset realisation programme, or simply moving a high-value piece of equipment without incident. Context allows the project manager to recommend a course of action and shape the work schedule.
Customers working with AIS Eurelo can use our project management expertise and complete operational control. Every project is assigned a dedicated project manager to conduct a site audit, compile detailed risk assessments and method statements, calculate costs, and set out the resources and equipment required to complete the job. The project manager is responsible for devising, delivering and managing the project plan and acts as the single point of contact to ensure complete accountability and transparency at every stage.
For support with your next machinery removal or machinery relocation projection, contact AIS Eurelo.