Industrial equipment
Machine tools, production lines and heavy process equipment move under a plan of their own: from dismantling and lifting to packing, securing, insurance and delivery in installation order.
Get a quoteWhat industrial equipment transport involves
Industrial equipment transport means moving machines and assemblies that cannot simply be put on a truck: machine tools, presses, production lines, steel structures, tanks. Such cargo is heavy, often has an offset centre of gravity and surfaces that suffer from shocks and moisture, and sometimes exceeds normal road dimensions. That is why the job starts not with choosing a vehicle but with drawings, weights, lifting points and conditions at both sites.
In practice it is a project with several parts: preparation or dismantling, rigging, packing, securing, the move itself, customs clearance for international shipments, unloading and positioning on the foundation. Each part affects the next: a badly removed unit will not fit its crate, and a crate designed without measuring the workshop will not pass through the door.
Types of equipment
The approach depends on the type of equipment. The table shows the main groups and what matters most for each.
| Equipment | Specifics | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Machine tools, CNC machining centres | Precision guides and spindle, sensitive to vibration, shocks and condensation | Manufacturer’s transport locks on moving parts, corrosion protection, crate or skid |
| Presses, rolling and forging equipment | High weight on a small footprint, high centre of gravity | Deck load calculation, low-loader, chain lashing |
| Production and packaging lines | Many modules, cables, pneumatics, control cabinets | Marking of each module, separate crates for electronics, packing lists |
| Tanks, columns, heat exchangers | Large dimensions at moderate weight, thin walls | Saddles, spreading of strap pressure, often an abnormal load permit |
| Steel structures, frames, housings | Length, sharp edges, risk of deformation | Dunnage, edge protectors, loading in installation order |
| Generators, compressors, engines | Oil, coolants, batteries | Draining or checking fluids, assessment under dangerous goods rules |
Plant and production line relocation
Moving a plant or a workshop is the hardest case, because the equipment has to run again after delivery. So the transport plan is built backwards: the line is shipped in the order in which it will be installed at the new site. Foundation frames and base units go first, control cabinets, tooling and spare parts go last.
- Before dismantling, the equipment is photographed and described, and cables and pipes are marked at both ends.
- Each unit gets a number that matches its packing list and its crate.
- Fasteners and small parts are packed together with the unit they belong to.
- The dismantling schedule follows the production plan to keep downtime as short as possible.
When a line is imported, customs questions are added: classification in the Ukrainian tariff nomenclature (UKT ZED), proof of customs value and, for a dismantled machine shipped in several lots, how to declare it. These are settled before shipment, not at the border.
Rigging and lift planning
Rigging means lifting, moving and setting heavy loads with cranes, jacks, hydraulic systems, skates and slings. A simple load needs a truck-mounted crane and a slinger; a complex one needs a written lift plan.
A lift plan usually covers:
- the load weight and centre of gravity from the manufacturer’s data;
- slinging points and the arrangement of slings, beams or spreaders;
- crane type, outreach and capacity margin;
- crane position, ground or floor bearing capacity, nearby power lines;
- the sequence, signals, responsible persons and the conditions under which the lift is stopped, such as strong wind.
Inside a workshop the work is often done without a crane: the unit is jacked up, placed on skates and moved to the door. Floor load limits, aisle width, door height and where the truck can stand all matter here.
Packing, securing and international rules
Packing has to protect the equipment from shocks, moisture and corrosion for the whole journey, not only the first leg. For sea freight and long storage, closed wooden crates with barrier foil, desiccants and corrosion inhibitors (VCI) are used. Wood packaging made of raw wood in international trade must be treated and marked under the international phytosanitary standard ISPM 15, or the country of import may reject it.
Load securing is calculated, not guessed. For road transport the European standard EN 12195-1 on calculating securing forces is widely used; for containers and other cargo transport units, the CTU Code (IMO/ILO/UNECE, 2014). The basic rules:
- the load is placed with its centre of gravity as close as possible to the vehicle’s centre line;
- chains and straps go only to the attachment points provided by the manufacturer, never to covers, panels or tubing;
- anti-slip mats go under the load and sharp edges are covered with protectors;
- weight in a container is spread evenly, and the gross mass is verified (VGM) before loading on a ship, as SOLAS requires.
Crates are marked with the centre of gravity, slinging points, this way up, keep dry and gross weight. On heavy crates this is not a formality: the rigger works from these marks.
Insurance and liability
A carrier’s liability is limited by law. Under the CMR Convention, in international road transport it is calculated on gross weight and capped at 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram (Article 23). For a relatively light but expensive machine tool this is usually far below its value, so industrial equipment is insured separately for its full value.
When choosing a policy, check:
- the cover: all risks or named perils only;
- whether loading, rigging and interim storage are covered;
- the deductible and packing requirements, without which the insurer may refuse a claim;
- war risks, which standard policies often exclude.
Who insures the cargo and who bears the risk on each leg is set by the Incoterms 2020 rule chosen in the sales contract.
Order of work
- The customer provides an equipment list, drawings or photos, weights, dimensions, addresses and target dates.
- ETIKO analyses the cargo: which units are out of gauge, which need permits, which can go in containers.
- If needed, a survey of both sites is arranged: access, doors, floors, crane position.
- Transport mode, route and packing scheme are agreed, and the lift plan and securing scheme are prepared.
- ETIKO files permit applications for out-of-gauge units in every country on the route.
- Transport and customs documents are prepared and insurance is arranged.
- Dismantling and packing are done by the manufacturer or installation contractor; ETIKO coordinates loading and checks the securing.
- The move along the route, customs clearance, updates to the customer at each stage.
- Unloading, moving to the installation point, checking completeness against packing lists.
- Closing documents and acts, returning packaging or special equipment where agreed.
What drives cost and transit time
The price of moving industrial equipment is not a per-kilometre rate. It is made up of several parts, each depending on the specific cargo.
- Dimensions and weight. Cargo within normal limits (under Directive 96/53/EC, 2.55 m wide and 4 m high) travels on a standard truck; anything larger needs a low-loader, permits and possibly an escort.
- Route. Bridges, tunnels, axle load limits and weekend and holiday driving bans make the route longer.
- Rigging. Crane type, its mobilisation, work inside the building, number of lifts.
- Packing. Crates, seaworthy packing, preservation.
- Permits. The number of countries and how long each takes to process an application.
- Customs clearance and insurance.
- Waiting time. Waiting for the cargo or the site to be ready.
Timing depends mostly on preparation rather than on driving: collecting data, obtaining permits and building crates often take longer than the road itself. That is why a relocation is best discussed with a logistics provider at the planning stage.
Common mistakes and what the customer should prepare
Most problems come from inaccurate data: an approximate weight without oil and fittings, an unknown centre of gravity, forgotten protruding parts. Other frequent causes of delay are doors the unit does not fit through, no space for a crane, unlocked moving parts on a machine tool, unmarked crates, and a goods description in the documents that does not match the actual cargo.
For an accurate quote, the customer should prepare:
- a list of units with the weight and dimensions of each;
- drawings or photos showing slinging points and the centre of gravity;
- the manufacturer’s transport and preservation instructions;
- addresses, site contacts, working hours and access restrictions;
- the invoice, contract, Incoterms rule and tariff codes, if known;
- the date the cargo will be ready and the date it is needed on site.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to transport a machine tool?
A permit is needed when the vehicle with its load exceeds the permitted width, height, length or weight. In the EU the basic limits are set by Directive 96/53/EC, and each country on the route issues its own permit. If the machine fits normal dimensions no permit is needed, but packing and securing must still suit the load.
How is a production line moved from abroad?
The line is split into modules, each one marked and packed, and shipped in the order it will be installed. Tariff classification and how to declare dismantled equipment are settled before shipment. Out-of-gauge modules need permits in every country on the route.
Can a machine tool be shipped in a container?
Yes, if it fits through the container doors and its weight is within the permitted limit. Taller or wider equipment goes in open top containers or on flat racks. In every case the load is secured following the CTU Code and its gross mass is verified before loading on the ship.
Is the carrier liable for the full value of damaged equipment?
No. Under the CMR Convention the carrier’s liability is capped at 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight, which for expensive equipment is usually below its value. That is why the cargo is insured separately for its full value, checking that the policy covers loading, rigging and war risks.
What is a lift plan and when is it needed?
It is a written document describing exactly how the load is lifted: weight, centre of gravity, slinging points, the crane, its position and the sequence of work. It is prepared for heavy, valuable or unusually shaped loads and for lifts in confined spaces. Responsible persons sign it before work starts.
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