How to Plan a Factory Relocation

Changes in manufacturing demand often result in the need to review production line capacity, which may in turn lead to the need to relocate machinery as part of a partial or complete factory relocation or closure. These circumstances often require a great deal of sensitivity as operations may need to be carried out confidentially under non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Throughout our history, we have assisted many leading manufacturing brands in carrying out successful factory relocations.

The Merritts team recommends the following points to help you plan a seamless factory relocation project.

Advanced Planning

When it comes to organising a factory move, it is always advisable to allow as much time as possible to appropriately plan each aspect of the project. These factors include the scope of the project, timelines, budgets, and resources required. This plan should include a detailed inventory of all equipment and machinery, as well as layout drawings of the new location to ensure that all equipment and machinery can be accommodated.

Factory relocations are especially popular during periods of inactivity or reduced production, such as Easter, Summer, Christmas, and other planned shutdown periods. It is therefore essential that planning begins well in advance of these periods.

Appoint An Experienced Plant Relocation Services Specialist

Moving machinery is an extremely specialised service, and it is imperative that you appoint a reputable heavy machinery moving specialist that has the in-house capability, experience, and knowledge to provide a comprehensive turnkey package.

The key factors that should be considered when evaluating your potential project partners are the following:

• Do they have skilled personnel with the necessary training accreditations to carry out the required work?
• Do they own the appropriate lifting plant to safely and efficiently complete the required machinery lifting and moving aspects, backed up with maintenance and inspection records for the plant?
• Do they have a- long-established history and reputation for carrying out factory relocation projects?
• Do they have an in-house qualified health and safety team that can design detailed risk assessments, method statements and lift plans, as well as being present on site to continuously monitor project safety?
• It is also important to observe customer reviews and testimonials to gain a better understanding of the machine mover’s credentials.

Consultation Process

Once you have appointed your heavy machinery moving specialist, an initial meeting should be held to discuss the requirements of the project. Site visits should then be carried out to assess the complexities of the project. During this phase, Merritts would liaise with site staff to discuss decommissioning works, timescales, traffic movements, access requirements, floor preparation and any other specific arrangements which may include working out of hours and weekend working.

Following the consultation, a cost and detailed plan for your project should be provided. Once the plan is agreed, all the necessary paperwork, including project plan, method statement, risk assessments and lifting plans should be presented prior to commencement of works.

Upon completion of the install, there should be a final consultation with the customer to ensure all agreed aspects of the project have been delivered. The machinery should be inspected, and if satisfactory, the works should be signed off by the customer.

How do Merritts help with factory relocation projects?

At the core of our factory relocation service is a commitment to ensuring works are completed in a safe, timely, cost-effective and stress-free manner.

We understand the unique challenges, the risks involved and thus fully appreciate that changes in manufacturing demand often result in the need to relocate heavy machinery as part of a partial or complete factory relocation or closure. These circumstances often require a great deal of sensitivity as operations may need to be carried out confidentially under none disclosure agreements (NDAs).

Our ongoing monitoring of industry sector trends means we can plan our continual investment in market-leading equipment, vehicles, and high-calibre personnel to ensure we have the necessary resources to safely carry meet the demand for a professional factory relocation machinery moving service.

Our fleet of vehicles includes;

• Pick and Carry Cranes
• Versa Lifts
• Lorry Mounted Cranes
• Hydraulic Jacking Systems
• Fork Lift Trucks

Merritts operate throughout the UK and overseas across a multitude of industrial and manufacturing sectors. Projects have included major factory relocation projects, new machinery deliveries and installations, production lines machinery reorganisations, and the provision of secure industrial storage.

We work closely with a customer base which ranges from local SMEs to global organisations in sectors such as aerospace, defence, automotive, food, drink, education, textiles, plastics, waste & recycling, metalwork, healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Our secure industrial storage facilities has over 80,000 ft² of internal warehouse space and is also an HMRC-approved bonded facility.

We realise that every project is unique so we will always work with the customer to understand their exact requirements in order to provide technical guidance and a bespoke project package that is tailored specifically for them.

Fully qualified relocation contractor

Your project manager will be supported by a fully trained engineering team which comprises: SSSTS-trained foremen, riggers, HGV Class 1 & 2 drivers, crane operators and electrical & mechanical engineering specialists. Merritts also employ fully certified slinger signallers, banksmen and appointed persons to provide competent supervision when carrying out the moving and lifting of plant machinery and equipment.

Ensuring the highest levels of health and safety standards are met

Throughout the relocation process, we demonstrate our commitment to health and safety prior to the commencement of works by providing you with a suite of safety documentation to evidence our credentials.

This gives you confidence that your project will be carried out safely and in accordance with the regulatory compliance legislation. These include; method statements, risk assessments, lift plans, personnel training records and plant and equipment inspection certificates.

Over our 100-year extensive experience, Merritts have successfully completed numerous factory relocation and plant relocation projects.

If you are considering a machinery removal to a new factory, factory relocation project, or installation project, need to temporarily store new or redundant heavy machinery, or simply need space to carry out servicing and maintenance, please get in touch.s much as possible.

If you are planning production line changes or a factory relocation and need a heavy machinery moving service you can trust, please get in touch to learn more about how we can help.