Machinery Slider Question & Answers
How much does a Machinery Slider weigh?
The single-directional Machinery Slider weights about 1 lbs (.6kg).
The multi-directional Machinery Slider weights about 1.3 lb (.45kg).How do Machinery Sliders actually aid in preventing machinery from tipping over when moved?
When using traditional dollies and skates which are between 4" and 6" (100mm to 150mm) tall when moving for instance a manual press brake or Haas turning center, they considerably change the center of gravity. Therefore if the dolly or skate would shift and come out from under the machine, the top of the machine would tilt past the tilt-point and tip over.
Because Machinery Sliders have a very-low profile at just 3/8" to 1" (9.5mm to 25mm) depending on which style is used, the machine would not pass the tilt-point which would not cause the center of gravity to shift to cause it to tip-over.
What is the difference between a machinery dolly, skate and the Machinery Slider?
Machinery dollies and skates have wheels, made of steel, and many are quite heavy ( up to 120 lbs each); while a Machinery Slider is a machinery moving dolly or skate that does not have wheels and is lightweight (1 to 1.5 lbs each).
What if I need to move a 100-ton machine, will Machinery Sliders work and how do I use them?
Obviously, the whole idea when moving heavy machinery across any type of floor or solid surface, is to understand how heavy that piece of machinery is, and how do I disperse the pounds-per-square-inch (psi) in order minimize the risk of damage to the floor or solid surface? Whether dollies, skates or Machinery Sliders are used, we multiply the number of those moving devices to disperse the weigh of the machine across a wider area of floor surface.
Example: Let's say you are moving a 100 ton press in one direction using utilizing the single-direction Machinery Slider. In this case we would put a 6"x6" (150mmx150mm) timber across (perpendicular) to the front (lead) of the machine and put 16 Machinery Sliders under the timbers across the front with the forklift in the back pushing. Or keep the lead part of machine as just mentioned with the 16 Machinery Sliders under the timber and depending on machine design, put single-direction or multi-direction sliders in the rear (if there are pin or leveling holes) and pull from the front with the forklift.
This real-life example distributed the heavy weight across surface without damage.
What are the Machinery Sliders made of?
The Machinery Sliders are made of a high-performance engineered plastic resin that is light-weight unlike steel dollies and skates.
How can the Machinery Slider prevent or greatly reduce machine tip-over when moving?
Unlike traditional steel machinery dollies and skates with wheels and frame that are as high as 6" (150mm), the Machinery Slider is very low profile with the single-directional model measuring only 3/8" (9.5mm) in height, and the multi-directional model at 1" (25mm) in height. So for instance if you loose a skate or dolly while moving a 100 ton top-heavy press it can easily cause it to tip over. However, when using a Machinery Slider, the machine will just thump the surface only dropping 3/8' to 1" down.
Are Machinery Sliders Non-Marking?
Machinery Sliders are semi-non-marking. Meaning, machinery sliders can leave marks on certain types of floor surfaces at times but marks can be removed.
For instance:
- If you `
How long have machinery sliders been around?
KN Industries introduced Machinery sliders in 2014 and since then have been used by machinery movers and riggers primarily on the East Coast of the United States which gave them a competitive edge. That is why it has been said often that Machinery Sliders are the best kept secret in the machinery moving and rigging industry. Machinery Sliders were first called "Skid Plates" when introduced in 2014.
Do Machinery sliders wear out?
Machinery Sliders do wear out in time depending on the surface they slide on, and the weight that is put on them. Obviously, when used on carpeting they last much longer; when used on asphalt, the life span is much shorter because of the coarseness of asphalt itself. In general, many moves can be made before replacing a Machinery Slider which are a fraction of the cost of traditional skates and dollies. Machinery Sliders are also recyclable or simply dispose of them in the normal trash.
How many machinery sliders do riggers normally keep in their gang box?
Normally six to eight (6 to 8) of both types of Machinery Sliders (single direction and multi-directional) are a part of each riggers gang box. When a large, heavy or long machine is being moved, more Machinery Sliders will be needed to easily and safely move the machine or equipment. Larger machinery moving / rigging companies usually order between 200 to 300 at a time for their whole crew.
Can I router the inside of the Multi-Directional Slider to fit a machine's foot pad?
If a machine does not have a bolt-hole to drop a pin/bolt into the 1" (25mm) center-hole, you may router-out the center hole to about 4" (100mm) wide by 1/2" (13mm) deep so the machine's foot-pad can fit in the Slider. Many riggers and machinery movers actually have a set routered out just for this purpose.
Are Machinery sliders safe to use loading Aluminum Flatbed Trailers?
Yes, they certainly are! View this video of a 43' roll former being loaded onto an aluminum flatbed trailer utilizing Single Direction Machinery Sliders under a 8"x8" timber. Click this link and look for the video with this name: Loading Roll Former On Aluminum Flatbed Trailer