Whether you’re relocating a single machine or orchestrating a full plant move, the success of any industrial moving project depends on one critical factor: informative planning.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we’ve spent over four decades refining a rigging process that prioritizes safety, efficiency, and professionalism. We understand that no two moves are the same, and we treat every machine like it’s our own. That’s why we deliver informative, deliberate, and expert-level planning for every rigging service we offer.
In this article, we’ll break down:
- Why Job Walks Are a Critical First Step for Any Machine Rigging Service
- The Informative Planning Process for Professional Machine Rigging Services
- The Cost of Getting Your Machine Rigging Services Wrong
- Why an Experienced Partner Makes All the Difference
Why Job Walks Are a Critical First Step for Any Machine Rigging Service
It’s common to feel overwhelmed at the beginning of a heavy machinery rigging or millwright project. There are many variables involved and without experience, it can be daunting to try to figure out what is actually needed to complete your move. That’s where we come in as your partner. Machine rigging service experts like DFW Movers & Erectors can guide you through the moving process based on your specific needs, and account for the best possible equipment, technicians, and plan for your project from disassembly, to transport, to reassembly.
The first step in this process is a job walk, which is a pre-project site evaluation where we visit your facility, walk the job area with you, and gather crucial information. It’s our opportunity to assess the environment, collect important data, and prepare for all possible scenarios that could come up during the rigging process. This includes:
- Equipment dimensions and weight
- Floor and concrete thickness
- Overhead clearance
- Outside conditions (such as dirt, asphalt, and gravel)
- Obstructions, including other machinery
If these factors aren’t accounted for beforehand, they could delay your project or cause damage to machinery, property, or worse…injury to workers.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we make sure to perform each job walk at least one week before the machine rigging & millwright service begins. This process can take as little as 30 minutes for a single machine move or several hours for multi-machine or large-scale industrial relocations. We never rush our job walks, as every site and machine is different. Each job walk is performed with due diligence and a keen attention to detail, so we can account for all factors that could influence the plan.
The Informative Planning Process for Professional Machine Rigging Services
Once the job walk is complete, our team begins the informative planning phase. We leverage our experience and precise approach during this step to match the data we’ve collected to the right equipment, team, and timeline. Our informative planning process focuses on three key pillars:
1. Equipment Planning
The type of machine being moved determines everything, from the equipment we use to the people we assign. For example, depending on the size and scope of the project, we may need one standard 5,000 lb capacity forklift, an 80,000 lb capacity forklift, two smaller forklifts, a gantry, or even a crane. Some jobs will also require multiple pieces of specialized equipment working in coordination.
To determine the best path forward, we calculate load distribution, path of travel, and how to best stabilize and protect the machine throughout the move.
2. Manpower Planning
The right equipment is only as good as the crew operating it. That’s why we assign our team members based on experience, specialty, and project size. At DFW Movers & Erectors, we take pride in the fact that each team member earns their role based on direct experience and competence. When it comes to your rigging service, everyone assigned will have what they need to complete their tasks with excellence.
Based on your project’s complexity, we will:
- Assign experienced riggers and millwrights
- Identify your main point of contact who will guide you throughout the project
- Ensure our crew arrives with the necessary safety gear and certifications
3. Communication and Coordination
Clear communication is a key part of our informative planning process. We will walk through the entire scope of the project with you to ensure full alignment. This will often include sending photos and videos of rigging equipment and reviewing equipment types with you for full transparency. For large-scale industrial projects, it’s common for our team to schedule multiple meetings to discuss and refine the plan.
Once our informative planning is in place, we will determine the exact project start date and time. We will also conduct a hazard analysis and safety review before each project.
The Cost of Getting Your Machine Rigging Services Wrong
With heavy equipment that can weigh thousands of pounds, machine rigging is not the time to cut corners. Even a simple misstep while moving can result in:
- Injury to workers
- Damaged equipment (which is often expensive or irreplaceable)
- Project delays
- Unexpected costs
- Lost productivity or business downtime
We’ve seen DIY jobs go sideways fast. For example, in one instance, we had to intervene on a rigging job after someone was almost crushed. They misplaced the skates under the machine and failed to account for the weight differentials across every area of the machine. Because of this, the skates weren’t at the same angle and the machine consequently flipped over. This person was then thrown against a wall when they tried to grab the machine in a panic. There are countless scenarios like this that we’ve encountered.
The cost of repair, downtime, or replacement for accidents like these often exceeds the original moving quote. That’s why our clients trust us to get it right the first time.
Why an Experienced Partner Makes All the Difference for Rigging Services
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we believe experience isn’t optional. It’s the core of our business model, and it’s what allows us to deliver safe, informed, and strategic rigging planning and services. Our team includes sales reps, riggers, and millwrights who have decades of experience in the field. Everyone knows their role, and everyone understands the high stakes involved in each move.
Because we’ve handled everything from small shop machinery to entire industrial relocations, we bring a level of insight to planning and execution that is difficult to replicate.
When you partner with us, you’re also gaining access to a full suite of industrial moving solutions, including:
- Crane services
- Forklift rigging (4,000 to 80,000 lb capacity)
- Hydraulic gantry systems (20-650 ton)
- Boom lifts (3,000 to 60,000 lb capacity)
- Millwright and mechanical services
- Full plant relocations
Whether you’re moving one piece of equipment or an entire facility, our team is equipped to handle it, and will know exactly what solution is best for you.
Conclusion: Informative Planning Is the Foundation of a Successful Move
Informative planning allows us to approach every machine rigging & millwright service with clarity, avoid risks, and ensure that your machinery arrives safely and on time.
At DFW Movers & Erectors, we don’t just move machines: we plan with purpose, rig with precision, and deliver with pride. If your machinery is too heavy, too large, or too complex to move yourself, don’t leave it to chance. Our informative planning process, deep expertise, and dedication to safety ensure that your investment is protected every step of the way.
Need Expert Machine Rigging Services?
Contact DFW Movers & Erectors today to schedule your job walk and get your project off to the right start. Let us be your moving partner, so we can show you how informative planning and decades of experience make all the difference.