When your business expands or is required to move its physical location from one geographical area to another, it is no little task. This is especially true when moving your packaging department. Managing the breakdown, transportation and install of packaging machinery can be a complicated task. Below we will review a set of best practices for moving your packaging line that will result in a smooth transition from one location to the next.
Make Sure You Have The Correct Electrical Supply For Your Packaging Equipment
When moving your packaging line into a new warehouse one of the more important considerations is that of your electrical supply. Using the wrong type of electrical supply can result in a range of potentially serious problems including under or over powered equipment, last minute electrical work that results in significant downtime and perhaps most glaringly, safety problems for your machine operators and packaging line employees.
Making sure that you have the appropriate electrical supply for your packaging equipment is something you should be sure to take care of in advance. This will allow for a smooth transition from transportation of said equipment into the installation itself.
Having the right power in the right places will safeguard your employees and result in a streamlined installation process that if done correctly, should take the minimum time necessary to complete while also resulting in faster uptime after the move.
Will The Space Allow For a Different Layout, Possibly A More Efficient One?
When moving into a new location, it is important to see if the optimization of the space will allow for greater efficiencies and a smoother running packaging line. Depending upon the physical footprint of each type of machinery, there may be opportunities to improve upon your last layout.
Working with your packaging machinery vendor and requesting help in the process is a good way to leverage their expertise in ensuring that you are utilizing your new physical space in the most efficient way possible. Getting an analysis of your current packaging line prior to the move is highly recommended. Reviewing blueprints as well as the actual physical location with your rep is an excellent way to plan ahead for potential improvements over your previous packaging line design.
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What Packaging Equipment Do You Move First And When?
Depending on the types of machinery your are running and how said equipment is laid out, it would be wise to create a plan for moving the right equipment at the right time. Depending on the size, electrical requirements, physical location on your line and weight of your machinery, some planning ahead of time is an important dynamic of this process.
Reaching out to your packaging machinery and materials representative to help you formulate a plan based on the dynamics above will allow you to take a preemptive strike against unnecessary or repetitive actions during the transportation and installation of your machinery in its new location.
Depending on the flow of your packaging line, certain machinery should be installed first to ensure an efficient and timely installation. As for which machine you should move first, well, this is case sensitive for every business and should be decided by you and your preventative maintenance contact.
How Do You Keep Your Customers Supplied During The Transition?
Obviously during the breakdown, packing, transportation and installation of your packaging line at its new location, you are going to experience a decent amount of downtime. It is of extreme importance that you prepare for this with your customer base.
If possible, plan to package products in advance so that some if not all of them can continue to be supplied to your clients while the move is taking place. In the event this is not possible, be sure sure to contact your clients and let them know in advance of the move that there could be a delay in the shipping of orders.
Work with your main contact at each client where this could be an issue and formulate a plan to limit downtime and or develop a workaround to ensure they still get their orders fulfilled during the move. Again, working with your rep from your packaging machinery and materials vendor will help you to make the best of the situation and formulate a plan which allows for the easiest transition possible.
Does Any Of Your Packaging Machinery Need To Be Taken Apart For Transport Due To Size, Physical Footprint, Etc?
Some packaging machinery is particularly troublesome to move due to its size, weight and shape. You will want to be sure that the weight limits for the vehicles you are using for transport are not exceeded by your machinery. This may result in you having to take apart machinery and transport it in smaller pieces and then have them reassembled at the new location.
Now, even if the weight of the machinery is not an issue, sometimes do to the odd shape of a machine, taking apart and transporting it in several trips may still be necessary. Finally, very large pieces of machinery may also demand that they be shipped to the new location in several smaller pieces and then resembled at installation in the new facility.
Is Crating Your Packaging Machinery Important?
Crating your equipment ensures relative uniformity for transportation and provides protection for each component during shipping to your new location.
Depending on the unique variables of your packaging machinery, crating your equipment or at least some of it prior to moving is an option to consider. Hiring a third party moving company to crate and transport your machinery for you makes for an additional expense, but will take a lot of the headaches involved off your plate.
Other benefits of outsourcing your crating include: (from Navis)
- Industrial crating from lightweight sensitive items to equipment weighing thousands of pounds.
- Specialized packing materials and techniques, including cushioning and Foam-In-Place to secure your shipment.
- Containerization of large shipments including rigging and blocking & bracing.
- Initial design consultation & cost estimate.
- On-site or off-site crating services depending upon the scope of the project.
- ISPM-15 certified crates to meet International Shipping requirements.
- Declared value coverage up to any value based on your individual shipment needs.
- Full service pickup in the U.S. and Canada.
- Next Day, 2nd Day, Deferred, Ground and Time Definite services worldwide.
- Destination services that meet your budget including door-to-door and door-to-port.
Using Your Third Party Packaging Machinery Vendor To Help With Re-Installation
Chances are, when you originally set up your packaging line, you received help and guidance from your packaging machinery vendor and the rep assigned to your business. Reaching out to them and asking for their assistance with installing the equipment at your new location is advised.
While you may think you can do it yourself as you had been present for the original installation, the new location and physical footprint could throw some unexpected surprises your way. This may necessitate that you do things differently to some extent or another.
Leveraging the expertise of your rep during the commissioning of the equipment in their new home will help you to eliminate unnecessary downtime and avoid hassles you may not be well prepared for.
