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When planning the transport of heavy machinery, it is necessary to take into account a series of conditions of vital importance for an optimal, safe and guaranteed result. The transport of large and heavy lathes is a challenge that, without the necessary knowledge and adequate preparation, can result in damage to the goods and generate delays or additional costs that would mean thousands of euros to our company.
After more than 75 years of experience in the design and manufacture of conventional lathes and CNC lathes, from the leading brands in their segment Pinacho and JAP, from METOSA Group, we have developed five key points that you should take into account when organizing the transport of this type of machine tool in a safe way.
The most important thing for the transport of heavy machinery is prior planning, that is, a detailed plan containing the necessary information and requirements to ensure that it will be done correctly and optimally. Here are the main keys for the logistics of transporting a Pinacho lathe so that you can take good note and thus ensure that this task does not become a headache.
The logistics and operations departments of companies in the industrial sector are familiar with the purchase of large and heavy machinery, so they usually take into account some basic conditions when planning their transport, such as if the transport company contracted for the service complies with the basic standards for the movement of oversized loads. For example, it is important to know what permits they will need and whether an escort vehicle will be required, or whether there are any restrictions on the route when the transport is by road for part or all of the journey from the factory to the destination point.
They also take into account, something that may go unnoticed and that could mean major setbacks, such as checking the weather forecast for the day or days of the transport operation, so as not to try to move heavy machinery in case of heavy rain, snowfall or adverse weather conditions. But what you may not know is that, for the transportation of a Pinacho lathe, in addition to the above, it is essential to take into account these five points:
Lathes are machine tools of high weight and large dimensions. The equipment manufactured by METOSA Group, under the Pinacho and JAP brands, can range from 1,050 kg for the lightest Pinacho model, the SE-200 with 750 mm distance between centers, to 10,000 kg for the largest JAP model, the STH-500 with 5,000 mm distance between centers.
When contracting the means of transport for these machine tools, it is essential to know the volume that they will occupy and, for this, the most practical way is to consult the technical data sheet of the lathe purchased. These data sheets are available in the online catalogs of the METOSA Group web pages, where you will find the parameters to consider the volume of the lathe with the packaging included in the section of the data sheet: Dimensions and weight with packaging.
You can also consult directly with our experienced sales team, who will assist you in every step of the purchasing process, including the transportation and logistics of your Pinacho or JAP lathe.
All lathes manufactured in METOSA Group factories under the Pinacho and JAP brands are properly protected with standard packaging and securely anchored on a metal cradle, which protects them during transportation. However, this basic, standard packaging may not be the most suitable for all types of transport. For example, in the case of road transport, the above-mentioned standard packaging is sufficient to protect and guarantee the correct condition of the machine tool during transport.
However, if the lathe is to be transported by sea, it is advisable to request at the time of purchase a special maritime packaging for transport by container vessels, which will protect it more effectively against external climatic agents such as corrosion due to humidity and saltpeter, frequent during long sea journeys. In addition, if the lathe travels in the LCL sea groupage mode of transport, international transport regulations require extra protection in the form of a fumigated wooden cage, an essential requirement, not only for the preservation of the lathe, but also to protect the other items loaded in the same container.
METOSA Group’s lathes of the Pinacho and JAP brands are equipped with a lifting hook anchored to the bed and attached to a metal cradle for transport, which allows them to be handled and moved in complete safety at all stages of their transport logistics, from loading at the factory to unloading and placement at the destination. Both the loading and unloading of the lathe must be done using load slings attached to the lifting hook, using a bridge crane or a jib crane, a conventional forklift should never be used for this operation, since the dimensions and weights of the lathes far exceed their possibilities, making it impossible to guarantee the maneuver in a safe way.
It is very important to bear in mind that, in order to move the lathe on a flat surface such as the floor, it is imperative not to push/drag directly on the machine tool, it must be done only from the area provided on the metal cradle of the standard transport packaging, never from the front or rear of the lathe. Therefore, before pushing/dragging the lathe, make sure that the metal transport cradle on which the machine tool rests is securely fastened and that the crane is pushing/dragging the cradle and not the lathe.
Once you have purchased your Pinacho or JAP lathe, METOSA Group’s Administration and Quality departments will provide you with all the necessary documentation for the final shipment, as well as all the technical documentation of the machine perfectly filed in a USB memory card which, to avoid misplacement or loss, is located inside the electrical panel of the lathe and contains the files listed below:
Before preparing the machine tools for shipment to the customer, METOSA Group’s Verification Department performs a series of complex and exhaustive quality tests established in the manufacturing process of the Pinacho and JAP lathes. Afterwards, the machine is cleaned and lubricated and, when the Logistics department verifies that all the optional components chosen by the customer, such as chucks, collet chucks, steady rests, jaws, etc., which are sent perfectly assembled and adjusted to the lathe, are ready to be shipped, the lathe is packed.
Also, inside one or more boxes, carefully placed inside the lathe, there will be the necessary accessories for its anchorage at the installation site and its handling during its use:
To conclude these key tips for transporting lathes, we recommend that, if you have contracted an external transport company, you provide them with all the necessary information about the machine tool purchased and the requirements for handling it. This is a good way to ensure the safety and proper movement of heavy machinery and avoid complications.
We also recommend that you make sure you can track the transport in real time. Being in direct contact with the carrier during the entire transport will help you to know if any incident or complication has arisen, so that you can pass on specific information to the receiving location so that they are prepared for the arrival of the lathe.
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Since our beginnings in 1947, we have worked to provide the best lathe for each of our customers’ needs, with over 200,000 lathes worldwide. These lathes require maintenance and repairs that can only be performed by Pinacho certified professionals.
Join our Official Technical Service team now and expand your client portfolio with Pinacho.
