Specialized Rigging

You need specialized rigging when standard crane services cannot safely or efficiently move your equipment due to space constraints, weight limitations, or access challenges. Specialized rigging is essential for plant relocations, machinery installations in areas with low overhead clearance, equipment moves through tight doorways or narrow corridors, and situations where traditional crane access is impossible. We commonly deploy specialized rigging for manufacturing equipment relocation, data center installations, heavy press moves, and precision equipment positioning where millimeter accuracy is required.

Specialized rigging equipment is used to lift, move, and position heavy industrial machinery and equipment when conventional methods are impractical or impossible. Our specialized arsenal includes Versa-Lift Forklifts, TriLifters, Hydraulic Gantry Systems up to 1,100 tons capacity, Jack and Slide Systems up to 500 tons, Machinery Skates with 100,000 pound capacities, Self-Propelled Modular Transporters, and Cantilever Rigging Equipment. These tools excel in confined spaces, handle equipment from 5,000 to over one million pounds, and provide precise control for sensitive machinery that requires careful handling during transport and installation.

Yes, specialized rigging equipment is specifically designed to operate effectively in confined areas where standard cranes cannot access. Equipment like machinery skates, jack and slide systems, and compact hydraulic gantries can navigate through doorways, narrow corridors, and congested factory floors with minimal clearance requirements. We routinely move heavy equipment through spaces as narrow as 0.6 meters using specialized narrow-track gantry systems, and our modular equipment can be assembled inside buildings or moved in sections to reach otherwise inaccessible locations.

A typical plant relocation timeline ranges from several weeks to several months depending on facility size, equipment complexity, and the scope of work involved. Smaller equipment moves or single-machine relocations can be completed in 1 to 3 days, while medium-complexity projects typically require 2 to 10 days for disassembly, transport, and reinstallation. Large-scale industrial plant relocations involving multiple machines and full production line transfers generally take 1 to 6 months from planning through final commissioning, with each phase carefully scheduled to minimize your operational downtime and ensure seamless transition.

Yes, Southway Crane & Rigging provides both short-term and long-term storage solutions at our secure facilities throughout the Southeastern United States. Our storage options include indoor heated warehouses and outdoor secured yards that can accommodate equipment of various sizes during your relocation or between project phases. We offer flexible storage durations tailored to your project timeline, ensuring your machinery and components remain protected until they are ready to be transported to the jobsite and installed, eliminating the need for rushed scheduling or multiple moves.

We minimize downtime through meticulous pre-move planning, phased relocation strategies, and close coordination with your production schedule. Our approach includes conducting detailed site assessments and creating comprehensive move plans before beginning work, scheduling moves during off-peak hours or planned shutdowns, utilizing our specialized equipment to accelerate disassembly and setup times, and maintaining clear communication throughout the process. Many of our clients experience equipment moves completed in as little as one day for single machines, and we can relocate production lines in phases to maintain partial operations while other sections are being moved.

Crane services focus primarily on vertical lifting operations using mobile or fixed cranes to raise and lower loads, while specialized rigging encompasses the complete process of moving, positioning, and installing equipment using various techniques beyond standard crane lifts. Specialized rigging includes the preparation, securing, and precise positioning of loads using equipment like gantries, skate systems, hydraulic jacks, and modular transporters that excel in confined spaces or situations where crane access is limited. We often combine both services for complex projects, using cranes for initial lifts and specialized rigging equipment for precision positioning, horizontal transport through buildings, or moves in areas with overhead obstructions.

We recommend scheduling your equipment move as far in advance as possible, ideally 2 to 4 weeks minimum for straightforward relocations and 1 to 3 months for complex plant relocations or projects requiring extensive planning. Early scheduling allows our team to conduct thorough site assessments, develop detailed move plans, secure necessary permits, coordinate utility disconnections, and ensure all required equipment and personnel are available for your project. While we can accommodate some urgent or emergency moves with shorter notice, advance planning enables us to optimize safety, minimize costs, lock in favorable scheduling, and deliver the most efficient relocation possible.

Southway Crane & Rigging maintains comprehensive riggers liability insurance that specifically covers equipment under our control during lifting, moving, and installation operations. Riggers liability insurance addresses the unique risks of transporting property you do not own, providing coverage for damage to your machinery while it is being moved, which standard general liability policies typically exclude under care, custody, or control provisions. Our insurance coverage protects both your valuable equipment and our operations, demonstrating our commitment to professional risk management and giving you peace of mind throughout the relocation process.

Gantries and cranes both lift heavy loads but differ fundamentally in their structure and applications. Cranes use vertical support structures or building infrastructure to lift loads, while gantries are self-supporting systems with legs that run on ground-level rails or wheels and do not require building attachment. Hydraulic gantry systems like our equipment with capacities up to 1,100 tons excel in confined spaces, indoor facilities with low overhead clearance, and situations requiring precision horizontal movement, whereas cranes provide greater reach and height for outdoor construction or open facility applications. Gantries offer portability and can be assembled on-site in sections, making them ideal for congested factories, temporary installations, and areas where crane access is impractical.

Yes, our storage facilities include both indoor heated warehouses with climate control and outdoor secured yards to accommodate different equipment requirements. Our climate-controlled indoor storage is ideal for sensitive machinery, precision equipment, electronics, and any components that require protection from temperature fluctuations, humidity, or environmental exposure. These facilities provide secure, monitored environments that maintain optimal conditions for your equipment during short-term or long-term storage periods, ensuring your machinery remains in excellent condition and is ready for installation when your project schedule demands.