8 Machinery Sliders ( 4 Multi + 4 Single Direction Set)

The set contains eight Machinery Sliders total.

4 Single-Direction Machinery Sliders — each weighing 1.3 lbs (0.59 kg) and measuring 11-1/2″ overall length × 8-1/4″ overall width × 3/8″ thick, with a 1″ × 1″ reinforced front bumper, a 7″ deep × 8-1/4″ wide machine-support surface, and a 1/2″ beveled edge.

The Single-Direction Slider is designed primarily for machinery traveling along an established path. The machine’s column, leg or appropriate support point rests behind the reinforced bumper. As the machinery travels in the intended direction, the support point bears against the bumper, helping keep the slider positioned beneath the machine. Because the Single-Direction Slider is only 3/8″ thick, the machine support point remains only 3/8″ above the floor.

4 Multi-Directional Machinery Sliders — 1″ Pin/Bolt Hole — each weighing 1.0 lb (0.45 kg) and measuring 8″ overall diameter × 1″ overall height, with a 1″ round center hole, a 5″-diameter machine-support surface, and a 1/2″ beveled perimeter.

An appropriate pin or bolt engages the 1″ center opening, positively retaining the Machinery Slider beneath the machine support point. This allows the machinery to move in multiple directions without relying upon movement toward a front bumper to retain the slider. The Multi-Directional design is particularly useful when a machine needs to turn, reverse, maneuver, change direction or be positioned at its destination.

Not every machine — and not every machinery-moving path — is the same. A job may involve a relatively straight movement through one portion of a facility and require multidirectional positioning at another. Different machines can also have different support points and clearance requirements.

This combination set gives the machinery-moving crew both designs.

Use the Single-Direction Sliders When:

• The machine primarily travels in one direction
• The travel path is generally established
• Minimum machine elevation is important
• The reinforced front bumper can be used to help retain the slider
• A 3/8″ machine-support height provides an advantage
• Machinery is being moved into or out of a container or along another primarily straight path

Use the Multi-Directional Sliders When:

• The machine needs to turn
• The machine needs to reverse
• Lateral movement is required
• The travel path changes direction
• The machinery must maneuver around obstacles
• Final positioning or alignment requires multidirectional movement
• The machine support arrangement can use an appropriate 1″ pin or bolt

Instead of expecting one slider design to be ideal for every situation, the 8-piece combination set gives the machinery mover a choice at the jobsite.

An important difference between the two styles is how the slider is retained beneath the machine.

Single-Direction — 1″ × 1″ Reinforced Bumper
The Single-Direction Slider is not mechanically attached to the machine. The machine support point rests behind the 1″ × 1″ reinforced front bumper. As the machine moves in the intended direction, the support point bears against the bumper and helps carry the slider with the load. If the machine is reversed away from the bumper, the slider can potentially move out from beneath the support point depending upon the load, floor and friction conditions.

Multi-Directional — 1″ Pin/Bolt Opening
The Multi-Directional Slider uses a different approach. An appropriate pin or bolt engages the 1″ center opening, positively retaining the slider beneath the machine support point. Because the slider is captured beneath the support point, the machinery can change direction without depending upon a front bumper for retention.

That difference is why having both styles in one set can be useful to a professional machinery-moving crew.

The combination set also gives the machinery mover two different machine-support heights.

The Single-Direction Slider is only 3/8″ thick, placing the machine support point just 3/8″ above the floor. The Multi-Directional Slider is 1″ high, providing the multidirectional pin/bolt retention arrangement while still maintaining a low machine-support height.

The appropriate style can therefore be selected according to both movement requirements and available clearance.

Both Machinery Slider styles incorporate a 1/2″ bevel designed to help them transition over irregularities commonly encountered on industrial floors. These can include concrete cracks, expansion joints, gaps, damaged concrete, uneven areas, floor transitions and other small obstacles.

The bevel helps the slider approach an irregularity gradually rather than meeting it with a square vertical edge.

Actual ability to cross a particular floor condition depends upon the machine weight, load distribution, floor material, condition and size and shape of the obstruction.

Both styles of Machinery Slider in this set are 100% non-metallic. The Machinery Sliders themselves contain no metal wheels, no metal rollers, no bearings, no axles, no steel frames, no mechanical moving parts. They are manufactured from a high-performance engineered plastic resin.

For the Multi-Directional Slider, the pin or bolt used to engage the 1″ center opening is part of the machine/support or retention arrangement and is not a component of the Machinery Slider itself.

For machinery movers searching for non-metallic machinery skates, non-metallic machine skates or non-metallic machinery dollies, this combination set provides two different non-metallic heavy-machinery-moving configurations.

Both styles are designed as wear items. Rather than rolling across the floor on wheels or bearings, the bottom surface of each Machinery Slider travels directly across the floor. Normal use therefore gradually wears the sliding surface.

Wear rate depends upon factors including machine weight, distance traveled, floor material, surface roughness, cracks and gaps, obstacles, load distribution, and conditions of the individual move.

Machinery Sliders should be inspected for wear and physical condition and replaced when they reach the end of their useful service life.

Neither slider design contains wheels, rollers, bearings or axles. There are no wheel assemblies to lubricate, bearings to service or rollers to rebuild.

Their engineered-resin construction also makes the Machinery Sliders lightweight and easy for machinery-moving and rigging crews to carry, position and deploy.

Each Machinery Slider is capable of supporting approximately 10 tons under appropriate loading conditions.

Additional Machinery Sliders can be used when required to provide additional support points and distribute heavier loads. The correct number, type and placement of sliders should be determined from the machine’s actual weight, weight distribution, center of gravity, support points, floor conditions, required travel and machinery-moving plan. See our Questions & Answers page for the sizing math on larger moves, such as a 100-ton press setup.

Depending upon the load and conditions, Machinery Sliders can be used on many surfaces encountered during machinery-moving work, including concrete, worn or damaged concrete, wood, tile, carpet, dock plates, and asphalt at reduced capability depending upon load and surface conditions.

The 1/2″ beveled edges help the sliders transition across many cracks, gaps, joints and floor irregularities encountered during actual industrial machinery moves.

Our machinery-moving photo and video galleries show Machinery Sliders being used by professional machinery movers and riggers on actual jobs throughout the United States — not staged product demonstrations. The galleries provide real-world examples of Machinery Sliders being used with different machines, floor conditions, clearances and moving challenges.

See Machinery Sliders on Actual Jobs — Photo Gallery
Watch Machinery Sliders on Actual Jobs — Video Gallery

Choose the 8-Piece Single-Direction + Multi-Directional Combination Set when your machinery-moving work includes both primarily one-direction moves and situations requiring turning, reversing, maneuvering or final multidirectional positioning.

The set gives your crew:

• 4 Single-Direction Sliders for extremely low-profile, primarily one-direction machinery movement
• 4 Multi-Directional Sliders for machines that can use the 1″ pin/bolt retention method and need to move in multiple directions

If you also regularly encounter machinery with leveling pads or machine legs up to approximately 4″ in diameter, consider the 12-Piece Combination Machinery Slider Set, which adds four 4″ Foot-Pad Multi-Directional Sliders.