Transporting complex, high-technology equipment is no easy feat—regardless of whether you’re an OEM or an end user.
This is because there are countless factors to consider as part of the process. Which means there are also countless things that can go wrong.
For example, how will you secure dismantled equipment in transit to prevent damage? What are the most efficient shipping methods? Can those routes handle valuable, sensitive and potentially very large cargo?
We’ve been moving, shipping and commissioning high-technology equipment since 1991 and have worked with some of the most prestigious microelectronics, semiconductor and pharmaceutical companies globally in that time.
So, we’re sharing our tried-and-tested process for transporting complex equipment to help you complete each relocation successfully.
Step 1 - Plan your project
The planning and briefing phase is your chance to uncover key details about the project and calibrate your approach to meet its unique requirements.
So, the first step is to conduct an in-depth survey to gather as much information about the site, the equipment and its requirements as you can.
This includes (but isn’t limited to):
- The scope of work and who does what
- What equipment you’re moving, where you’re picking it up from and where it’s going
- How you’ll dismantle the equipment and which resources you’ll need
- Equipment dimensions and weight
- How sensitive the equipment is to shock, temperature and moisture
- Any special handling requirements
- Specific shipping marks or contract numbers required for transport
This step should be exhaustive and cover all bases. Leave the wrong stone unturned and you could end up with significant issues down the line. For example, if you neglect to factor in the equipment's sensitivity to moisture, you could fail to pack it sufficiently enough to protect it against moisture damage and cause expensive damage to your equipment and significant delays to your project.
By the end of this step, you’ll be able to map out each step of your equipment relocation from start to finish, with accurate timelines and resource forecasts for completion.
You’ll also be able to complete your risk assessment and method statement to make sure you meet health and safety requirements.
Step 2 - Gather packing materials
Preparing crates for shipping might seem simple. But in reality, it is a complex task that requires specific expertise.
Successful equipment removal and relocation rests upon the packing specification. If the crates and packing materials aren’t up to standard, the project and the equipment may suffer.
So, it’s important to meticulously plan which specific packing materials you use to keep your equipment safe. These include:
- Bespoke crates: Timber, ply batten or skeletal crates custom-made to fit your equipment’s exact dimensions and requirements
- Internal packing materials: Including crate linings to protect against moisture, foil bags, protecting wrapping and more
- Internal fixings: Including integral ramps, inserts, bracing blocks and more
- Crate bases: Bespoke machine and anti-vibration bases to avoid damage during transit
For custom-made items, we’d recommend getting these made in advance. This is because they can take some time to manufacture—and the last thing you’d want is for your project to be delayed because your crate isn’t ready yet.
Step 3 - Dismantle and pack your equipment
Before you can load your equipment into its crates, you first need to dismantle it.
You should already have planned in advance which resources you’ll need—including tools and equipment required and the type of engineers (electrical, mechanical, or a mixture of the two)—during your planning stage.
You should also already have all the information you need on how best to dismantle the equipment, any challenges you might face and how long it will take from your site survey.
Disassembling high-technology equipment can be complex. Original equipment manufacturers will often have guides for disassembly—but if the equipment is particularly old and has been used for many years, this information can be extremely difficult to get your hands on. In that case, you’ll need a team that has the right knowledge and experience to solve that puzzle for themselves.
One small missing part can also undermine the successful functioning of the equipment, which can cause problems for the entire project. So, during the dismantling process, it’s important to take great care to document, mark and itemise every part of the equipment—from fluid lines to electrical or mechanical components.
This is so your engineers can account for every single piece and can more easily put the equipment back together at its final destination.
Once dismantled, you can then start loading your equipment into its crates and packing it with all the appropriate protective wrapping and fixtures. Once you’ve done this, it’ll be ready for transport.
Step 4 - Ship the equipment
If you have your own logistics teams, you might opt to manage the shipping process yourselves. Otherwise, you can put your trust in a third-party provider (like us).
Once you’ve dismantled, packed and fully secured your equipment, the next step is to apply the appropriate labelling and shipping markings and load them onto your selected mode of transport. Typically, you should use cranes or forklift trucks for this.
As part of this, you’ll also need to make sure you’ve met the requirements for your specific mode of shipping. Air travel, for example, requires staff preparing cargo for air travel to have special security clearances and cargo to be X-rayed and swabbed for explosives before it’s cleared for take-off.
Shipping by sea usually comes with less stringent requirements—but is not suitable for equipment that’s particularly sensitive to vibrations.
Step 5 - Reassemble and commission the equipment
Once your equipment has arrived safely at its destination, you can move it into its new home and begin reassembly.
When possible, it’s always a good idea to use the same team that dismantled your equipment to put it back together again, as they’ll already be familiar with its intricacies and any challenges they faced.
This is also where the time you took to carefully itemise each part of the equipment will really pay back dividends—the more considered and methodical you were when taking the equipment apart, the easier it will be to put it back together.
Once assembled and connected, you’ll want to start up the equipment and perform the required final tests to make sure it’s working to the same standard it was before you dismantled and shipped it.
Step 6 - Evaluate the project
Every project will throw up new challenges and obstacles to overcome. But every obstacle is a chance to learn.
Once you’ve completed your project, document the entire process from start to finish—including learnings and feedback from your team. This will put you in a much better position for your next project, as you’ll be able to apply your learnings directly and better deal with any challenges that come along.
We at IES have been building a body of expertise in this way since we started trading back in 1991. Now, we’re world experts in equipment relocations and the only provider globally that can handle a relocation project totally from start to finish, all in-house. So, it pays off.
Need support with an upcoming equipment relocation project?
At IES, we’ve been moving, shipping, installing and commissioning complex equipment for OEMs and manufacturers around the globe for 30 years. And we’ve relocated just about every kind of equipment you can name—from ion implanters to inkjet presses.
If you’re looking for some advice to guide your upcoming project—or if you want a free quote for us to handle the job- get in touch with one of our experts here.
