Straight line skates are a type of transport dolly used for moving heavy objects and loads in – you guessed it – a straight line. Hevi-Haul offers three main categories of straight line skates to choose from: Long straight line, short straight line, and slim straight line. Read on to learn which type of straight line skate is best suited for various moving and transporting applications.
Long Straight Line Skates
Long straight line skates are designed to manage the heaviest, and longest loads, with a capacity of 10 to 100 tons per skate. That’s 20,000 to 200,000 lbs. With this impressive load distribution, and capacity, these skates are most commonly used by riggers, machinery movers, stevedores and contractors. This type of straight line skate is considered the best choice for all-purpose moving needs since they are able to handle such heavy loads, meaning you are unlikely to encounter a straight line transportation application that they won’t be able to manage.
Short Straight Line Skates
Short straight line skates are very similar to long straight line skates but feature a shorter frame. While these are still designed to handle quite heavy loads with capacities of 6 tons to 30 tons – or 12,000 lbs. to 60,000 lbs. – they are also made for densely packed hauling due to their more concentrated strength. With that in mind, this type of straight line skate is also most commonly used by riggers, machinery movers, stevedores and contractors. While the density of the loads you are looking to move will be a factor in choosing between long or short straight line skates, the key consideration will usually be the load weight.
Slim Straight Line Skates
If you have limited space for storing and moving heavy loads, you will probably want to choose slim straight line skates. This category of skates features similar design and utility as their long and short skate counterparts but in a more narrow format. As such, this type of skate is appropriate in tighter or more limited spaces. Also, their moving capacity is a bit lower than the other two categories of straight-line skates at 2.5 tons to 12.5 tons, or 5,000 lbs. to 25,000 lbs.
Steel vs. Polyurethane Coated Rollers
An important consideration with all types of straight-line skates is their construction material. The steel rollers are excellent for loads that will spend extended periods in stationary positions as these rollers will not wear down or move over time. While they are made of steel that offers the utmost durability and are well-suited to rougher environments and flooring, there is also the option to choose polyurethane coated rollers for settings with more delicate flooring. Such settings include aerospace and military facilities that often feature epoxy coated floors.
Contact Hevi-Haul For All Your Questions About Straight Line Skates
We know that you will likely still have some questions about choosing the best straight line skates for your particular industry and load types. Hevi-Haul is here to answer those questions and help you choose. Contact us today with your questions and to inquire about purchasing straight line skates for all your moving applications.
When it is time to move a heavy load, you are going to want to use the safest and most effective method. Machinery skates are likely going to be your best choice when it comes down to it. We know that skates are used to move these large, industrial loads, but how do machinery skates actually work?
The Difference Between Types of Machinery Skates
The function of using Hevi-Haul machinery skates is to move a variety of heavy loads under a wide variety of different conditions one may be working in. Versatility is key, it is another reason these skates stand out from the rest. When it comes to different loads, and different paths of traveling with the skates, you are going to want to find the right type of skate to match the job. Here are the different types of machinery skates that Hevi Haul offers:
Straight Line Skates
The straight-line skate lines are the ultimate machinery moving dollies for transporting large loads when you have a flat, straight line. Ideal for narrow, limited space moving. These types of skates can hold from 2.5 tons to 100 tons per skate. Hevi Haul offers straight-line skates in three varieties: slim, short, and long.
Utility Skates
If the machinery you need to move is on a flat surface, but need to make some maneuvering moves, utility skates are likely the right option for you. These versatile machinery dollies are made for turning and straight line moving. While these skates are not meant for the heaviest-duty weight carrying, they can still pack a punch with capacities of 1.5 to 37.5 tons per skate. Hevi Haul utility skates are available in two varieties: tilting and non-tilting.
Compact Swivel Skates
Perfect for light to medium duty loads requiring full directional control, compact swivel skates are perfect for all purpose moving. These skates have a capacity ranging between 1.5 tons to 12.5 tons per skate. Hevi Haul’s swivel tops are easily removable with a hex key wrench for straight line moving applications without the need to purchase additional skates.
Skate Factors To Be Considered
Using the right skate combination is key. When using this equipment while working with a large load, a variety of factors should be taken into consideration. The factors of load configuration, physical size, and shape often dictate the number of support points required. These deciding factors will help determine the number of skates needed for the job. It will also determine the distribution of the equipment.
How Machinery Skates Are Loaded
The actual process of using machinery skates seems generally straightforward, but doing so actually requires a lot of precision to ensure it is done effectively and safely. You will have to ensure you have the right equipment to load the skates correctly. The load must be lifted properly onto the skates in a manner where the skates can be distributed. Whether this is by using machinery to lift the load or other equipment such as a toe jack, it will be determined by the size of the load and the number of skates that need to be used.
The Engineering Behind Load Moving Skates
Our load-moving skates are engineered to move the world. Every part of the skate has a specific purpose which allows for maximum results. The steel cleats embed themselves into wood skids or blocking to ensure alignment and grip. The fully welded steel frame is sourced from high-quality North American steel. The grease fittings of the skates allow for easy lubrication and minimum maintenance. The heat-treated needle bearings are the full length of each roller which allows for smooth moving. Finally, our wide roller stance helps bridges, cracks gaps, and holes in floors.
Industries That Rely On Machinery Skates
Without the help of machinery skates, many different industry types will have trouble moving the heavy loads they need to properly do their work. Companies such as professional machinery movers, rigging companies, structure moving companies, and municipalities with large load moving needs would be left in a difficult position if machinery skates were not available to assist with these transfers.
Hevi Haul Leading The Way With Machinery Skates
Since 1938, Hevi Haul has been manufacturing world-class machinery skates that have assisted in the toughest moving projects. With skate systems that are built to last and always offering rugged durability and American-made quality in both function and design, Hevi Haul should be your first choice when it comes to finding the right skate for your heaving load moving. Contact us today to learn more about our different skates and how we stand out from the rest!
Thousands of injuries and hundreds of tragic, but preventable, deaths occur each year while moving heavy equipment. When it comes to choosing tools to move heavy equipment, safety is important to ensure your workers aren’t hurt. Injury-free moving is no accident. It is important to practice safe working habits. These safe habits are especially vital when it comes to selecting tools to transport heavy equipment. At Hevi-Haul, we make Products that Move the World more safely. Read below for the five best tools to use in order to increase the odds of injury-free moving of heavy equipment.
5 Top Tools for Safely Moving Heavy Equipment
1. Utility Machine Skates
Why it’s among the top tools for safely moving heavy equipment:
- Ideal for moving medium loads in areas too tight for a forklift or crane
- Weight capacity of 37.5 tons.
- Work best when moving machinery in straight lines or turns.
- Wide stance provides stability and weight distribution.
- Low profile design brings maximum load clearance with minimum load jacking.
2. Compact Swivel Skates
Why it’s among the top tools for safely moving heavy equipment:
- Weight capacity from 1.5 to 12.5 tons per skate.
- Full directional control allows maximum moving capacity.
3. Straight Line Skates
Why it’s among the top tools for safely moving heavy equipment:
- Move loads up to 100 tons that can stick to a straight, designated path.
- Skates sit low to the ground, making lifting and setting down large machinery easier and more accessible.
- Makes placing load on the ground easier and safer
4. Roller Dollies
Why it’s among the top tools for safely moving heavy equipment:
- Can move up to 15 tons and rotate 360 degrees.
- Require less power to move due to the central load-bearing plate.
5. Toe Jacks
Why it’s among the top tools for safely moving heavy equipment:
- Help lift corners of heavy objects up off the floor, so you can slide moving equipment under the object.
- Work best when paired with other moving tools, a safety combo.
- Ideal for heavy lifting both in areas of low and high clearance.
- Toe jacks lift up the corners of heavy machinery so that skates or roller skids can be placed underneath.
- Able to lift up to 60 tons
Work in PEACE: Tips for Safely Moving Heavy Equipment
- Preparation: Always wear safety gear.
- Education: Conduct proper training.
- Always know load maximums
- Communicate with co-workers
- Equipment knowledge: understand the limits
Moving heavy equipment is a skill best left to professional movers, who know these 5 considerations from memory. Injury-free moving is NO accident. One mistake can end up costing thousands of dollars or, even worse, cause serious injury. Moving heavy objects is an exercise in working smarter, not harder. Working smarter means using the right tools to move heavy equipment and allow your workers to enjoy injury-free moving.
At Hevi-Haul, we “Create value with Products that Move the World.” We will continue to do our best to live up to our current and prospective customer’s expectations. Contact us if you’re looking for more tools that will help you safely move heavy equipment.
This blog is a continuation of our previous blog, The Problems With 4 Skate Systems, except this one is where you find all the answers.
Let’s first recap why using more skates is actually counterintuitive. The problem is in the points of contact and weight distribution. If you place an 8-legged table down on a really uneven floor, how many of the legs do you think will actually touch the ground? Maybe half, if that? This means the table will wobble in all different ways, especially when you try to put things on it. The same happens when you use too many machinery skates under a heavy load. Some of the skates will have to hold some serious weight while others won’t be of any use at all. In this industry, less is more.
Here’s Why Three Skate Systems Are The Solution:
If you want an explanation a mathematic explanation you can find that right here. Here is my best to simplified version of it.
Basically, a 3 legged stool will never wobble. Ever. How? If you disassemble the stool, you’ll have 3 legs, and a seat. Take one leg and hold it in the air. It can move in all 3 dimensions: up/down, back/forth, and side/side. Now plant one end of the leg on the ground and keep it there. It can only move 2 dimensionally: back/forth and side/side, not up/down anymore. Now take 1 of the other legs, plant it on the ground, and connect the tops of the two legs together. They can now only move in 1 dimension, back/forth. If you take the 3rd leg and connect it to the other 2, then you remove the back and forth movement, which means it can’t move at all anymore. As long as you stay within the stools center of gravity, you’ll never tip over.
1 Skate In Front, 2 Skates In The Rear
This same concept applies to a load on a 3 skate system. As long as the load stays within the triangle created by the 3 skates, it won’t tip over. Even on uneven ground. This is why a 3 skate system is so much safer when moving heavy loads. It removes the risk of skates slipping or failing, and it removes the risk of loads tipping over. The heavyweight keeps pressure pushing down on all 3 skates, and they’ll never slip out because of friction force.
Even with the most unique jobs, Hevi-Haul can accommodate all your moving needs. Check out our machine skates or contact us so we can help you get the job done right.
Everything You Need on Your Rigging Equipment Checklist
Injuries have cost companies as much as $62 billion in a single year. For material movers, the right rigging equipment is a must to reduce injuries and boost efficiency. But it can be hard to know the must-haves when it comes to rigging tools, especially with the weight and pressure of giant jobs.
Don’t worry. When it comes to heavy rigging equipment, we’re here for support. Here is a list of everything you need before you get moving.
First, What Is Rigging Equipment?
Rigging equipment is gear needed to lift and support materials. And to say it’s important is an understatement. More than half of all mobile crane accidents happen because of problems in the rigging stage.
What heavy lifting equipment needs to be in place to hoist a load?
Get Off the Ground with Hooks
Quality hooks can act as a hand or lend support like a joint. The key to lifting with hooks is securing a sturdy grip. If hooks slip, cargo could crash hard.
Here are a few common hooks:
- Self-locking – As the name suggests, these hooks clamp shut to keep items secure.
- Clevis – These hooks can connect directly to cables or chains.
- Slip – Each of these hooks are like a doorway, letting chains slide through and wrap around objects.
Need added support?
Get Rooted with Shackles
When it comes to lifting tons at a time, shackles have been a sturdy go-to for decades. Shackles are built to link up a solid base to a heavy load. They have two parts: a pin and curved shackle. There are different combos of pin and body pieces, including screw pins, round pins, anchor shackles, and chain shackles.
What about hardcore connectors?
Tie it All Together with Ropes, Chains, and Slings
Ropes and slings are one of the most used types of rigging equipment. But with half a dozen different types of slings, nailing down the perfect type depends on the job. Here are a few of the most popular materials out there:
- Wire
- Chain
- Metal mesh
Once the cargo is up, what’s the best way to move it?
Glide Smoothly with Machinery Skates
Machinery skates are built for massive moves. For instance, in 2016, a 300,000-pound tavern was relocated using Hevi-Haul skates. Once a big structure is propped up, these friction fighters can help carry heavy loads to their final destination.
Here are some common types of machinery skates:
But even if the rigging equipment checklist is complete, tapping into professional advice can make or break a job.
Let the Pros Carry Some Weight
When it comes to heavy rigging equipment, the stakes are high. A recent OSHA study involving heavy moving found one in three accidents involved problems in rigging. Doing research and getting help from the experts could safeguard against wrecked jobs and injuries.
Have questions about what options are best for a project? We’re here to lend a hand. Visit our news page, or contact us today and get advice from the experts.
Stay Safe: Your Guide to How to Move a Gun Safe
As a safe gun owner, you know the importance of a gun safe to keep your family and children out of harm’s way. Gun safes, however, can also be dangerous. Gun safes used to protect assault rifles can weigh between 500-800 pounds, making their transport a difficult task.
In fact, people can die from improperly moving a safe. This very thing occurred in 2014, when a 19-year-old mover was crushed to death when attempting to move a safe.
With gun safes even reaching upwards of 1,000 pounds, it becomes even more important to learn how to properly move a gun safe.
How to Move a Gun Safe
You’ll inevitably need to move your gun safe. Whether this move is from one bedroom to another, or even to a new home across the country, it’s important to know how to move a gun safe while remaining safe. Keep reading for five helpful tips for moving a gun safe.
1. Know What You’re Handling
Each gun safe is different. They differ in dimensions, weight, and handling capabilities. You need to know your safe’s dimensions and weight so you can use appropriate equipment. It’s also helpful for foreseeing any potential difficulties in moving it from one location to another.
For example, is the safe too wide to fit through the door, so it needs to be turned in a particular direction? Are there gadgets or knobs that extend out and may snag on furniture or door frames?
Knowing the dimensions and weight of your safe is essential to anticipating any issues and properly executing the move.
2. Prepare Your Workspace
First and foremost, it’s important to remove the guns and place them in a secure location. Guns will add to the weight of the safe and may even move around in the safe if left in there, making transport more difficult.
You’ll then need to lay down blankets and durable materials on the floor (such as Masonite wood) to help glide the safe and prevent it from damaging floors.
If you want to keep your safe unscathed, you may also consider wrapping it in plastic or blankets to avoid damaging it during the move.
3. Find 3+ Helpers and a Path
Make sure you know exactly the path you are taking to move the gun safe. Be sure to move any obstacles from the way.
Using at least three helpers and a heavy-duty furniture dolly or machinery skate, you can load the safe onto the dolly and safely transport it to its new location. For a refresher course on the best way to operate a dolly, click here.
Don’t Risk It
A heavy safe is something you should not underestimate. These steps outline how to move a gun safe, but it’s important to know your limits. If you cannot find at least three helpers or don’t have the proper equipment (and the knowledge to use it), do not attempt the move. Consider hiring professional movers instead.
For more tips on moving heavy machinery and tools to help you during your move, check out our blog today.
Why Your Rigging Company Needs Quality Machinery Skates
You should already know how important it is for rigging companies to include machinery skates in their inventories. They’re an indispensable way to safely move loads that weigh even 100 tons while remaining both close to the ground and easy to maneuver.
However, not all skates are created equal. When you purchase machinery skates for your company, you need to make sure that you’re investing in quality and efficiency.
Here at Hevi-Haul, we offer an unmatched combination of technology and engineering to create a product that works for you. Read on to find out why your company needs quality machinery skates.
1. Keep Loads In Place
When you’re undertaking a project like moving an entire building, you need to make sure that your load doesn’t budge an inch while you transport it.
While you should always use things like wood skids or blocking when necessary, the best skates will also come with materials that help you keep everything in place.
Our compact swivel skates, for example, have a friction plate between the top surface of the dolly and the swivel plate underneath to make sure that the skate doesn’t move too much under your load. The last thing you want is for a skate to slip out from excessive movement.
There are also steel cleats standard on all of our skates that embed themselves into wood under large amounts of weight. This helps to protect your load and make sure it travels flawlessly from point A to point B.
2. You Need Machinery Skates That Protect Floors
Some machinery skates will mark or heavily damage the floors that they’re used on, creating an extra headache for you on top of the logistical problems of moving something that weighs thousands of pounds.
Instead, businesses should find skates that protect floors and are made of materials meant to reduce the likelihood of any marks or damage. Skates with polyurethane-coated rollers, for example, are ideal for floors that need the most protection.
If your needs change and you find you need to move a load across an uneven surface, good skates will have rollers that are interchangeable. Switch out the polyurethane rollers for steel rollers that will get the job done on even a rough floor.
3. Get Skates Customized To Your Needs
Every business’ needs are different. A moving company who needs to transport a building or historic structure all in one piece would look for something different than a rigging company looking to move heavy machinery.
In some cases, you need the ability to customize high-quality skates that will meet your needs. Hevi-Haul is proud to either modify our existing skates or create something completely new, just to make sure that they meet your needs and high expectations.
Solutions like these allow businesses to keep customers happy and decrease their production costs in a way that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
Learn More Today
Hevi-Haul has been a go-to company for rigging companies, large corporations, and even the U.S. military for more than eighty years. Let us help your business achieve its goals.
Contact us today to learn more or request a free quote.
All About Straight Line Skates: Part 2
As we learned last time, when you need to move a load in a smooth, precise, and straight fashion, Hevi-Haul offers a line of excellent skates built tough to meet your unique needs. The ultimate machinery moving dollies for straight line moving, Hevi-Haul straight line skates come in three varieties: long, short, and slim. In this post, we’ll take a deeper look at the specialized applications that demand the unique possibilities offered by short and slim straight line skates.
Remember, these low profile skates are ideal for narrow, limited space moving and heavy duty straight line moving applications, with capacities ranging from 2.5 tons to 100 tons per skate, rolling on interchangeable steel or polyurethane coated rollers. Made in the USA and designed to last, our straight line skates share the same rugged durability and design excellence as our full line of utility skates, structural mover skates, and compact swivel skates.
Short Straight Line Skates
Short straight line skates utilize many of the same features of their longer counterpart in a shorter frame. Two rows of tandem rollers in a shorter, fully welded steel frame gives excellent stability under load. These skates are favored for handling heavier jobs for machinery movers, riggers, stevedores and contractors. Capacities range from 6 tons to 30 tons per skate, and as with our long straight line skates, short straight line skates come equipped with either durable steel rollers for all-purpose moving, or polyurethane rollers for surfaces that require maximum protection.
Slim Straight Line Skates
When moving space is limited, but you still need the same high capacity and durability to ensure a smooth and accurate move, only Hevi-Haul slim straight line skates will do. Slim straight line skates are based on the same concepts as our long and short skates in a narrower frame. A single row of tandem rollers in a fully welded steel frame provides heavy duty moving capabilities where space is limited. Capacities for slim straight line skates range from 2.5 tons to 12.5 tons per skate.
Hevi-Haul skates deliver performance and durability in a variety of applications where there is little room for error. Trust your move to Hevi-Haul, and you’ll ensure smooth, consistent and precise travel for your heaviest loads.
Contact us today to learn more
Hevi-Haul Skates have been trusted by professional rigging companies and machinery movers for over 80 years as the premier family owned American brand machinery dolly. Contact us today for a personal answer to all your inquiries.
All About Straight Line Skates: Part 1
The strategies involved with moving heavy equipment or structures in an accurate, straight line require moving dollies with extreme strength and precision. There is very little room for error since the safety of team members and the investment of the organization is at stake. Hevi-Haul is proud to offer a complete line of exceptional quality straight line skates for diverse applications, delivering rugged durability and precise, consistent movement in a compact package.
Hevi-Haul straight line skates are the ultimate machinery moving dollies for straight line moving. These low profile skates are ideal for narrow, limited space moving and heavy duty straight line moving applications. Capacities range from 2.5 tons to 100 tons per skate, rolling on interchangeable steel or polyurethane coated rollers. Fully welded steel frames deliver the ruggedness and unmatched quality you know and expect from Hevi-Haul. The low profile design allows for minimum load jacking and maximum load clearance. With a wide stance providing increased stability and weight distribution under load, Hevi-Haul skates ensure that your load is moved smoothly and precisely.
Straight line skates are available in three varieties, slim, short and long. All Hevi-Haul skates share the same Made in the USA construction, with a fully welded steel frame of high-quality North American steel, CNC-machined polyurethane or steel rollers, heat-treated needle bearings, and 1-inch diameter machined high carbon steel axles. This high-quality construction is complemented by expert design, including a wide roller stance, convenient grease fittings, steel cleats, and a low profile that allows for minimum load jacking and maximum load
clearance.
Long Straight Line Skates
Long straight line skates are the ultimate heavy duty roller dollies to handle the weight of your most extreme moves. When equipped with polyurethane rollers, these rugged skates allow use on rolling surfaces that require maximum protection, such as epoxy coated floors, common in aerospace facilities, military installations and more. Our polyurethane coated rollers were researched and developed to move the heaviest loads with floor protection in mind. For all-purpose moving, steel rollers provide maximum durability and can handle extended resting loads and even permanent installation. They excel in applications with rough or uneven floors.
Two rows of tandem rollers in a long, fully welded steel frame gives the best stability under load. These skates are favored for handling the heaviest jobs for machinery movers, riggers, stevedores and contractors. Capacities range from 10 tons to 100 tons per skate.
In our next post, we’ll cover the other two varieties of Hevi-Haul long straight line skates: short and slim.
Contact us today to learn more
Hevi-Haul Skates have been trusted by professional rigging companies and machinery movers for over 80 years as the premier family owned American brand machinery dolly. Contact us today for a personal answer to all your inquiries.