- Machinery Moving Cape Town covers taking a machine out of its position and placing it, level and ready for connection, in another: in the same factory, across town or onto a truck.
- Most of the work is rigging, not lifting. The crane is often the smallest part of the job.
- Compare quotes from machine movers and riggers.
Machine make and model, weight, both addresses and door sizes.
Get Machine Moving Quotes Or call 075 99 777 65Machines Commonly Moved
| Machine | Common method |
|---|---|
| CNC machines and lathes | Jacks and skates, then crane truck or lowbed |
| Presses | Gantry or mobile crane, sometimes split into parts |
| Injection moulding machines | Skates and heavy forklift, crane at the loading door |
| Printing presses | Separated into sections by a rigging crew |
| Woodworking and packaging lines | Skates and forklifts |
| Compressors, generators, boilers | Crane truck or mobile crane |
How Machinery Moving Works
- Survey. Weight, lifting points, door sizes, floor loading and route.
- Disconnection. Power, air and water disconnected by your electrician or the machine supplier.
- Removal. Machine jacked up, put on skates and moved to the door.
- Loading. By crane, forklift or ramp onto a lowbed or crane truck.
- Transport. Secured and braced, with transport locks fitted.
- Offloading. At the new site, by crane or forklift.
- Positioning. Moved onto floor marks or foundation bolts.
- Installation support. Levelling and handover to the technician who reconnects it.
Machinery Moving Cape Town Prices
| Job | Indicative cost (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Move within the same building | R8,000 - R30,000 |
| Single machine across Cape Town, up to about 10 t | R18,000 - R60,000 |
| Heavy machine, 10 - 40 t, with crane and lowbed | R45,000 - R150,000 |
| Skating and jacking only | R6,000 - R15,000 per day |
| Crating and export packing | R5,000 - R40,000 |
Indicative ranges, not a quotation. Cape Town 2026 guide prices, excluding VAT. Crane size, travel, site access, hours and crew all move the number. Only a written quote for your lift is binding.
Before the Movers Arrive
- Find the manual. It shows lifting points, weight and transport locks.
- Drain fluids. Coolant, hydraulic oil and lubricants where the manufacturer requires it.
- Arrange disconnection. By a qualified electrician.
- Clear the route. Stock, racking and anything on the floor.
- Check the destination floor. It must carry the machine and any point loads from its feet.
Older buildings in Epping, Airport Industria and Blackheath often have low roller doors and uneven floors, which decide the method more than the machine weight does. For the lifting side, see Crane Hire Cape Town, or compare machine movers on Crane Hire Western Cape.
Compare quotes from local machine movers.
Get QuotesMachinery Moving Questions
How do you move heavy machinery without a crane?
With hydraulic jacks, machine skates, rollers and gantries. Many factory moves use no crane until the machine reaches the loading door.
Who disconnects and reconnects the machine?
Usually your electrician or the machine supplier. Machine movers handle the physical move and levelling.
Is my machine insured while it is moved?
Only if the mover's insurance or your own policy covers it. Ask for written confirmation of cover for the load.
How much does it cost to move a CNC machine?
A move within Cape Town typically costs R18,000 - R60,000, depending on weight, access and distance.
Can machinery be moved over a weekend?
Yes. Weekend and shutdown moves are common to limit downtime, usually at higher rates.
Do machine movers level the machine?
Most level it to the floor or bolts. Precision alignment is normally done by the machine technician.
Related Services
Crane Hire Western Cape is a free quote-comparison service. Lifting, rigging, moving and transport work is carried out by the independent crane hire companies that quote you, and your contract is with the company you appoint. Ask each company for a written, itemised quote, the crane's current load test certificate, the operator's competency certificate and proof of insurance before appointing anyone.
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