Industrial rigging is an important part of the moving process. It can be one of the most dangerous phases of any large-scale commercial construction project. Professional riggers are needed to safely lift and move unusual objects which can be heavy and oversized.

Using a combination of equipment, riggers frequently relocate items such as:

• Stamping Presses
• IMM and BMM
• Weld Cells
• Robotic Cells
• Assembly Lines
• Machining Equipment
• Structural Steel
• Layout and aligning
• Equipment rebuild
• HVAC Systems

The best rigging team understands the equipment being used, the full scope of the project and proper safety practices. Below are some things to consider when looking to hire a rigging contractor.

Not all rigging companies are the same

When choosing a rigging contractor, it is important to consult with an experienced rigging company. Though all rigging companies may claim they can handle your equipment, each company will have different machinery, load capacities, manpower and reputation. Lee Contracting operates 24/7, 365 days a year with state-of-the-art equipment which ensures we are ready to tackle any project.

Do they have the experience to do the job?

Riggers use complex moving techniques and important safeguards to relocate items. Your contractor should have surveyors, estimators, supervisors, engineers and operators to handle the full scope of your needs. Lee Contracting has almost 30 years of experience handling our customers important manufacturing equipment.

Are they committed to performing the work safely?

When moving items that weigh thousands of pounds, the riggers must be very familiar with the safety requirements needed to keep people and surrounding structures safe from falling objects. Lee Contracting complies with all OSHA standards and obtains all the necessary permits and insurance documentation to complete the job.

Find a rigging contractor who can do it all

There are many companies out there who provide only one service, such as rigging. Lee Contracting, however, provides a wide range of service to ensure that the installation of your new equipment goes smoothly. We offer foundations, rigging, electrical and mechanical services on every project as well as our other supporting trades: fabrication, maintenance & repair, controls & robotics, building, roof raising, emergency power and industrial storage.

Offering a wide range of trades, we can ensure that you have an efficient, cost-effective equipment installation.

Call today to receive a free RFQ on your next rigging project, 888-833-8776.

This is part 2 of a 5-part series.

Last week’s blog covered the first step to a successful equipment relocation: Planning. This week, we are focusing on the second step for a successful equipment move: Dismantling.

Dismantling

While it might be more cost-effective to ship equipment in one piece, there are typically some physical restrictions that don’t allow for this to be a viable option. These restrictions can include the weight capacity of the facility floors and loading area. When determining the weight capacity of the floor and loading area, the weight of the portable lifting equipment and the components combined needs to be taken into consideration. The combinations of the equipment and the components can cause a lot of stress on facility floors.

Some other physical restrictions include the equipment’s center of gravity and lifting points. A miscalculation of the tipping point of a machine or hookups can damage the equipment and create a very unsafe situation. To ensure safest relocation process, it is imperative that these restrictions are known before the project begins.

Dismantling the equipment needs to be done prior to relocation. Dismantling involves everything from removing and unhooking power and air connections, to loosening all the components the riggers will be moving. If the dismantling isn’t done before the riggers show up, this can lead to project delays. Lee Contracting handles every stage of the equipment relocation with our in-house crews who work together to get the job done. This ensures we aren’t waiting for another contractor to finish the dismantling before we can come in and relocate the equipment.

Dismantling a piece of equipment is a very important part of a successful equipment relocation. With over 25 years’ experience in equipment relocation, Lee Contracting has the in-house departments to execute the full relocation process. Call us today for an RFQ at 888.833.8776 or request one here.

This is part 1 of a 5-part series.

Moving heavy equipment is an important decision for many manufacturing facilities. There are five key stages will help to plan a successful machinery move. The first of these is planning.

Planning

Whether the machinery is being moved from one side of the floor to another, or from across the country, there are many factors to take in to account when planning to relocate equipment.

You probably already know that the equipment dimensions are important to the move, but there are several other measurements that need to be considered to ensure a successful move. These include:

• Door Size- During relocation, does your equipment need to pass through a doorway? You want to make sure the doorway is large enough. If your equipment can’t fit through the door you may need to enlarge the doorway. If this isn’t an option, you may need to disassemble the equipment to move it.
• Floor rating- Can the facility floor support the weight of the equipment and the rigging equipment during relocation? Is the floor where the new equipment will sit rated to support its weight?
• Obstacles- Are there any pits or floor openings that need to be covered during relocation?
• Open Access- Is there open access around the equipment to maneuver the rigging equipment around the area to remove the equipment and/or its components.
• Weights/Dimensions- What are the weights and dimensions of the equipment and its components being relocated? This will help to plan for the use of appropriate rigging and transportation equipment.

Knowing the accurate measurements and weights of equipment will ensure the proper trailers, trucks and load counts are utilized for proper transportation/relocation. Not having the correct measurements can add thousands of dollars and delay your relocation project.

Lee Contracting has over 25 years’ experience relocating equipment for hundreds of companies. We know that these measurements are very important for every project and we take care to ensure that we have a very detailed plan in place to relocate your equipment efficiently and safely.

Call us today for a free RFQ at 888.833.8776 or request one here.

In the past, rigging referred to a system of ropes and pulleys used to support a ship’s masts. As technology evolved, the definition of rigging expanded to include the process in which objects are raised and moved into position. Today, rigging equipment, such as cranes, are used in a variety of settings including, manufacturing facilities, shipyards, cargo ports, and construction sites.

Over the last quarter of a century, the technology used in industrial rigging has made the process of lifting heavy objects and placing them more efficiently. Lee Contracting uses a variety of gantry systems and cranes which have a capacity up to 1,200 tons, to set your heaviest equipment. Gantry cranes allow us to set the heaviest pieces of equipment. We recently stacked two 2500-ton stamping presses. The crowns for each of the presses weighed 272 tons.

In addition to gantry cranes, Lee Contracting also has a fleet of several other cranes. We have three Broderson cranes with a capacity up to 50,000 pounds,

an Ormig crane with a pick and carry 70-ton capacity, a Lifts-Systems mobile lifter with a 75-ton capacity, a Terex crane with a 70-ton capacity and a Grove crane with a 300-ton capacity.

Lee Contracting has over 25 years’ experience in the rigging industry. We like to be tested beyond the limits. Our riggers travel all around the world to make sure you have an efficient, safe, and expedited experience with plant projects and relocations.

Our customers enjoy the benefit of our riggers being available 24/7, 365 days a year, our ability to cut down project completion time up to fifty percent of our competitors and the ability to complete every project with state of art equipment from layout to final assembly.

Our teams have the experience to take care of all your equipment including stamping presses, injection mold machines, blow molding machines, weld cells, robotic cells, assembly lines, and machining equipment.

View more of our capabilities, or contact us for a free quote today.

When it comes to moving heavy and expensive manufacturing equipment you want to be sure that the rigging equipment being used is able to handle the weight of your machine. Our rigging department has state-of-the-art equipment to move or install your machines.

First up is our TriLifter. The TriLifter is a pick and carry machine which is used to move heavy loads in confined spaces. Our TriLifter will handle loads up to 200,000 pounds. We also use it in conjunction with other rigging equipment to rotate machinery.

We have several Broderson carry deck cranes in our fleet. They can handle a load up to 50,000 pounds. The boom on these cranes can move in a 360-degree rotation. These are extremely versatile and can maneuver in tight spaces.

Gantries are another very important and frequently used piece of equipment. We have several gantry systems that have a capacity starting at 400 tons all the way up to 1,200 tons. These have several different applications from setting a machine, to placing the crown on a press to assisting with raising a roof.

Our fleet also has 6 power steer die carts.
These can be loaded with your equipment and then towed with one of our forklifts through your plant to its new location or out to our trucks to be loaded and transported to its new home.

Our self-propelled Goldhofer transport module can handle anything you throw on it. It has a capacity of 1 million pounds and can move front, back, sideways, over rough terrain and in circles.

Our Ormig crane is a wonder. It has a pick and carry capacity
of 134,000 pounds and can overcome any rigging situation that is outside the norm. Here you can see it working with our trilifter to pick up a 150,000-pound tank.

We have an extensive fleet of forklifts. Some are relatively small with a 3,000-pound capacity. Our largest one has a 160,000-pound capacity. They are used for loading and unloading equipment and relocating machinery.

Whether you’re looking to relocate a small machine or install a brand new press, we have the equipment it takes to get the job done. We can move the smallest piece of equipment or something that weighs 1 million pounds. With our extensive fleet, you never need to worry if we are equipped for your next job.