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Quick answer: moving machinery or heavy equipment in Kenya safely starts with a site survey at both locations, a written moving plan and the right lifting gear, such as pallet jacks, forklifts, skates or a crane. Disconnect and drain the machine, protect sensitive parts, secure it on a suitable truck, and reinstall and test it at the new site. Use movers with experience of heavy and industrial equipment, and check the load, route and any permits before moving day.
Nairobi Movers relocates factory machinery, workshop and printing equipment, generators, safes, medical and laboratory equipment, servers and data centre hardware. This guide explains how an equipment move is planned and carried out.
What counts as machinery and equipment moving
| Type | Examples | What needs extra care |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial machinery | Lathes, presses, packaging and production lines | Weight, centre of gravity, anchoring bolts |
| Commercial equipment | Printing presses, generators, cold rooms, kitchen equipment | Fuel and fluids, electrical disconnection |
| Sensitive equipment | Medical, laboratory and testing equipment | Calibration, shock and vibration |
| IT and data centre | Servers, racks, storage and network equipment | Data backup, anti-static packing, downtime |
| Heavy single items | Safes, pianos, vaults, large machines | Floor loading, stairs, lifting points |
How a machinery move is planned
- Site survey. We inspect the equipment, the floors, doors, ramps and loading areas at both sites, and the route between them.
- Moving plan. A written plan covers the sequence, lifting method, truck, crew and timing, and who is responsible for disconnection and reinstallation.
- Preparation. Your technicians or the manufacturer disconnect power, air and water, drain oils and fuel, and lock moving parts. Manuals and settings are recorded.
- Rigging and lifting. The right equipment is used for the weight and space: pallet jacks, forklifts, machine skates, gantries or a crane.
- Packing and securing. Sensitive parts are wrapped, crated or braced, and the machine is strapped and blocked on the truck so it cannot shift.
- Transport. A suitable truck or low-loader carries the load on a planned route, avoiding low bridges, tight turns and peak traffic.
- Placement and reinstallation. The machine is positioned, levelled and anchored, then reconnected and tested before production starts.
Safety rules for moving heavy equipment
- Never move a machine without knowing its weight and lifting points.
- Check that floors, ramps and lifts can take the load at both sites.
- Use trained operators for forklifts and cranes, and keep people clear of lifts.
- Drain fluids and secure moving parts to prevent leaks and shifting.
- Strap and block every load; do not rely on the weight of the machine to hold it in place.
- Check whether the load needs a permit or escort for oversized transport.
Moving servers and data centre equipment
A data centre or server room move is planned around downtime. Back up all data and test the backup, label every cable and port, and shut down systems in an agreed order. Pack servers and drives in anti-static materials and padded crates, keep racks upright and secured, and move them in a closed truck, loaded last and unloaded first. At the new site, reinstall and test in the planned order before users reconnect. For the rest of an office move, see our office relocation checklist.
Reducing downtime
- Move during a planned shutdown, a weekend or a holiday period.
- Move in phases so one line or department keeps running.
- Prepare the new site first: foundations, power, air and network ready before the machine arrives.
- Agree the reinstallation and testing schedule with your technicians in advance.
What affects the cost of moving machinery
- The weight, size and number of machines
- Lifting equipment needed: forklift, skates, gantry or crane
- Access at both sites and the distance between them
- Crating and packing for sensitive parts
- Specialist trucks, permits or escorts
- Out-of-hours work to reduce downtime
Every machinery move is quoted after a site survey, with a written plan and price before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
With a site survey, a written moving plan, the right lifting equipment, trained operators, proper securing on the truck and testing after reinstallation.
Usually your own technicians or the manufacturer’s engineers handle electrical, air and water connections. The movers handle rigging, lifting, transport and placement.
Not always. Many machines can be moved with pallet jacks, forklifts or skates. A crane is used for very heavy items or when there is no ground-level access.
Back up and test all data first, label cables, pack equipment in anti-static padded crates, move it in a closed truck and reinstall it in a planned order.
Yes. We move machinery and equipment across Kenya and to neighbouring countries, with the right trucks and route planning.
Need to move machinery or equipment?
Nairobi Movers plans and carries out machinery, equipment and data centre moves across Kenya, alongside office moving and corporate relocation. Call 0724 225 178 or WhatsApp us to book a site survey.
