Machine Moving & Machinery Movers
Specialist Machinery Movers, Nationwide
Sparrow Installation Services are specialist machinery movers. We provide the safe machine moving, lifting and positioning of plant and heavy equipment, from a single machine to a complete production line, across the South West and throughout the UK.
Whether you are shifting one machine across the workshop floor or relocating an entire production line to a new site, our experienced machine movers plan every lift and move around your production schedule to keep downtime to a minimum.
What We Move
Machine Moving & Relocation
Single machines through to complete production lines: machine relocation within your site or to a new facility, moved safely using skates, jacking and powered handling equipment.
Heavy Machine Moving & Skating
Heavy machinery moving: skating, jacking and hydraulic gantry lifting to shift the heaviest plant where crane access is limited, safely and under full control.
Machine Positioning & Alignment
Precise final placement, levelling and alignment to your production specification, ready for connection and commissioning.
How We Move Your Machinery
- Site survey & planning: we assess machine weights, access, floor loadings and the safest route in and out, and produce full risk assessments and method statements.
- Disconnection & protection: safe isolation, disconnection and protective wrapping ready for the move.
- Move & position: skates, gantries, fork lifts or cranes to relocate the machine and set it precisely in place.
- Re-install, level & align: machinery installation, levelling and alignment back to specification.
- Commissioning support: supported back into production with minimal downtime.
Equipment & Capability
Every machine move is matched to the right kit and a fully trained team. As a division of the Sparrow Crane Hire Group, we can also call on a comprehensive fleet of modern cranes for the heaviest lifts.
- Machine skates, toe jacks and hydraulic jacking systems
- Hydraulic gantries for high-capacity, low-headroom lifting
- Special-purpose and versatile fork lift trucks
- Full crane support via the Sparrow Crane group
- Rigging, packing and load restraint for safe transport
Industries We Serve
We move machinery for manufacturers across every sector, including:
- Food & beverage and packaging
- Pharmaceutical and healthcare
- Automotive and aerospace
- Print, plastics and rubber
- Metalwork, engineering and general manufacturing
Why Choose Sparrow Installation Services
- Experienced, directly-employed machine moving teams
- Full crane fleet via the Sparrow Crane Hire Group for the heaviest lifts
- In-house machinery installation & re-commissioning
- Trusted on factory relocation and heavy lifting projects nationwide
- Accredited to SMAS, RISQS, UVDB, SafeContractor, CPA, CPCS & NPORS
- Fully insured, with RAMS and competent supervision on every job
See our case studies for recent machine moving and relocation projects.
Recent Machine Moving & Installation Projects
Recent projects from our team show the range of moves we handle day to day:
- Backup generator project, Plymouth: silencers and attenuators lifted and installed using a telehandler with jib attachment on a live site.
- Hospital MRI backup generator: a back-up generator moved into position and installed to support a hospital MRI scanner, planned around a critical healthcare environment.
- Hospital basement equipment: storage, delivery and machine moving of equipment into a hospital basement, overcoming restricted access.
- 600kg confined-access move: a 600kg unit moved and positioned without crane access, using controlled manual handling and lifting equipment.
Read more on our case studies page.
Machine Moving FAQs
How do you move a heavy machine safely?
We survey the machine and route first, then use skates, jacking, hydraulic gantries or cranes with full RAMS and competent supervision to move and position it safely.
Do you handle disconnection and re-commissioning?
Yes, we manage the full process, from safe disconnection through machinery installation, levelling, alignment and commissioning support.
Can you move a complete production line?
Absolutely. We relocate single machines through to entire production lines and full factory relocations, planned around your production schedule.
How much does machine moving cost?
Every move is priced on machine weight and dimensions, access at both ends, distance and any disconnection or re-commissioning required. We visit your site first, then provide a clear, fixed quotation, free of charge.
What areas do you cover?
We are based in Bristol and cover the whole of the South West, including Bath, Gloucester, Swindon, Exeter and Plymouth, and move machinery for customers throughout the UK.
SAFETY
EXPERIENCE
