What is an industrial move? Complete guide 2025

What exactly does an industrial move mean, and why is it important for your company to approach this smartly and safely? In this guide, we explain clearly what an industrial move is, what steps are involved and how to limit downtime. As a total partner, Pol Industrial Movements combines lifting, special transport, packaging and warehousing with a single point of contact, so that your project runs predictably and safely.

What do we mean by industrial relocation and what does it all include?

An industrial move is the movement of machines, production lines or entire departments within or between business locations. This can involve one heavy machine, an entire line or a factory hall. What's the difference with moving to an office? This involves technically complex assets, strict safety standards and the need to minimize downtime. Examples include: dismantling, lifting and lifting, load securing, special transport, reinstallation, alignment and testing.

What does an industrial move look like step by step?

A successful move follows a well-thought-out plan:

• Inclusion and scope: inventory, risks, floor load, lifting routes and preconditions.
• Engineering and work preparation: lifting plan, route and permit study, crane selection, planning.
• Disassembly and labelling: safely disconnect, mark and document.
• Packaging and packaging: protection against shocks and moisture; when exported according to ISPM 15.
• Hoisting and lifting work: carried out by certified teams with appropriate equipment.
• Special transport: exceptional transport, guidance and timing.
• Warehousing and staging: temporary storage and just-in-time delivery
• Reinstallation and alignment: install, connect, fine-tune according to OEM specifications.
• Testing and Delivery (SAT): Functional Tests and Transfer.

Which rules and standards are relevant to industrial removals? Working safely is key. In Europe, the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC applies; the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 will largely apply from 20 January 2027. For lifting and lifting, every operation must be planned in advance by an expert. When installing overhead cranes, standards such as EN 15011, EN 1991-3, EN 1993-6 and ISO 12488-1 are relevant. For export packaging of wood, ISPM 15 is required.

What determines the costs and lead time of an industrial move? Important factors:

• Complexity and weight/dimensions of machines
• Accessibility and internal lifting routes
• Required permits and exceptional transport
• Distance and border crossings
• Available production windows and desired delivery date
• (Dis) assembly and testing activities

How do you limit downtime during the move?

• Schedule production stops or weekends
• Work with staging and warehousing to control delivery times
• Provide one director who coordinates all disciplines
• Make a realistic lifting and execution plan with clear criteria (SAT/FAT)

What role does Pol Industrial Movements play as a total partner? Pol Industrial Movements joins forces with Pol Compact Lifting, Pol Transport and Pol Hoogwerkers. You get one point of contact that seamlessly combines lifting, special transport, packaging/moving and warehousing. With your own equipment, experienced teams and European coverage, your move is safe and predictable.

Example scenario: moving a production line Suppose you want to move a 25-metre-long packaging line to a new hall:

• Week 1: recording, measurements and engineering
• Week 2: disassembly, labeling and packaging
• Week 3: hoisting/lifting and transport, temporarily in warehousing
• Week 4: reinstallation, alignment and SAT Working time and windows are coordinated to minimize production loss.

Checklist: what do you need to provide for a quick quote?

• Photos, drawings and layouts (current and desired)
• Weights, dimensions, lifting points and connections
• Floor load, door dimensions and internal route
• Addresses, distances and desired planning/windows
• Special requirements (cleanroom, ATEX, OEM tolerances)
• Need for warehousing or storage

FAQs

• Do you work across Europe? Yes, Pol Industrial Movements carries out projects in the Netherlands, Germany and the rest of Europe.
• Can you also arrange packaging/packaging and storage? Yes, we provide packaging, warehousing and temporary warehousing with just-in-time delivery.
• How do you ensure safety when hoisting and lifting work? We work with a pre-drawn lifting plan, expert guidance and certified equipment.
• Is the new Machinery Regulation already in force? Largely as of January 20, 2027; until then, the Machinery Directive will remain leading.
• Do you also install overhead cranes? Yes, including engineering, assembly and standards framework (such as EN 15011).

Do you want to plan your industrial move smartly and limit downtime? Contact Pol Industrial Movements today for a free recording and a clear plan of action.