A guide to machine moving skates
If you regularly need to move heavy or large products around your workplace, it can be difficult choosing the right tool to help you out. You need something strong and reliable that can aid you in getting items to where they need to be in a safe and secure way.
When searching for the right tool, it’s likely that you’ve come across machine skates. But what exactly are machine skates and how are they useful? Below we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about them and whether you should get one.
What are machine moving skates?
Load moving skates are mechanical handling equipment used to transport heavy machinery and other items in the work area. They typically have a flat base and are fitted with multiple roller wheels or castors, making them perfect for transporting goods over smooth and flat surfaces.
A feature of machine moving skates is that there is no need to retain goods placed on them using straps or sides, instead the load is held in place by gravity.
How to use machine moving skates
Investing in machine moving skates can bring many great benefits to your workplace. A variety of industries, from general manufacturing to aerospace to power plants, use machine moving skates to tackle their heaviest lifting. This is because machine skates combine flexibility, serious hauling power and ease of use.
Safety
No matter which industry you work in, safety is key. Using a loading skate means that you and your employees will have virtually no weight to carry. This is especially beneficial if you suffer from back or shoulder problems as it allows you to continue your work in a comfortable and safe way.
Easy to use
Machine moving skates are very simple to use and there’s no need for lengthy training. Instead, the safety checks are straightforward and steering is easy using the steering bar.
Good quality moving skates only require basic maintenance and can be used in a wide variety of applications across your workplace.
Versatility
One of the most well-known benefits of machine moving skates is just how versatile they are. Not only can skates carry loads up to 220 tonnes, but you can also find a wide variety of different skates each with its own set of unique features.
This includes changing out the standard wheels for polyurethane ones for their high load-bearing ability and adding swivelling wheel boxes to give skates added manoeuvrability on uneven surfaces. You can even combine several skates to create a load moving system.
Prevent floor damage
The last thing anyone needs when moving heavy items is floor damage. Once the damage has been done it looks unsightly and can be quite expensive to fix or replace. Moving skates prevent damage to your floor as they support the weight of the load and won’t let it touch the ground.
How to use machine moving skates
The first thing you need to consider when using machine moving skates is how to get loads onto them. This can be daunting especially if you are working with two, four, or six-tonne loads. Luckily, supporting tools such as compact jacks, toe jacks, low height single-acting cylinders, and pancake cylinders solve the problem.
Once the load is lifted, slide the set of moving skates into place underneath them. When they’re properly positioned, slowly lower the load onto them then attach the steering bars and start pushing.
For lighter loads, one person can safely push up to two tonnes of weight. But as load weight increases, so does the amount of force needed to move it and so you will need more than one person to move significantly large loads from one place to another.
You should keep in mind that the better the quality of the moving skates, the more peace of mind you will have in the long run. This means that you can rest assured that your machine moving skates are weather and tear-resistant, and won’t fail you when lifting heavy machinery.
