Tips

Transporting an industrial machine: preparing the move

Published on October 12, 2026

Dismantling, lifting, transport, installation: the steps to move a heavy machine without damaging it, and the questions to settle before buying.

Transport is part of buying a used machine. Poorly prepared, it can be costly, delay commissioning or knock the machine out of alignment. Well prepared, it is a formality. Settle these questions as early as the negotiation.

Who does what?

Specify in writing who dismantles, who loads and who pays for transport: machine “ex works”, loaded onto the lorry, or delivered and installed. On our platform, the buyer can ask the seller for a transport quote, stating the delivery location and the unloading equipment available.

The information to gather

Weight and dimensions of the machine, and of the separable units (electrical cabinet, chip conveyor, bar feeder).
Lifting points specified by the manufacturer (manual).
Access at pick-up and delivery: doors, height, ramps, floor load capacity.
Equipment available on site: overhead crane, forklift, or a crane to be arranged.

Preparing the machine

Back up the programs and parameters of the CNC control.
Drain the coolant and, if necessary, the oils.
Lock the axes and moving parts with the transport brackets.
Protect the control, the screens and fragile parts.
Photograph the connections before disconnecting them.

The transport

Use a carrier specialised in machinery, equipped for lifting and securing loads, and check the insurance cover during transport. Choose your carrier yourself: a carrier imposed by the other party, with payment in advance, is a warning sign.

Installation and recommissioning

Positioning on a suitable floor, possibly on a foundation or levelling mounts.
Levelling, then a geometry check.
Electrical connection by an electrician, and connection of the compressed air.
Filling with fluids, dry runs, then a test part.