Load shifting skates are a specialist type of transport trolley used for shifting heavy warehouse equipment, machinery, or goods around a facility with ease. Engineered for precision steering, load shifting skates are perfect for manoeuvring heavy loads over short distances.

An economical and popular way to move large, cumbersome objects throughout a range of industrial premises, load shifting skates are commonly seen in factories, workshops, hospitals, and logistical hubs, and help drive efficiency and safety in manufacturing and goods handling operations.

When should you use load shifting skates?

Load shifting skates – otherwise known as a transport trolley or simply as moving skates or load skates – should be utilised when there is the need to move a heavy item, but it is not economically viable or efficient to utilise another mode of transport (such as a crane or forklift), and are often put into use when items are infrequently moved between locations on the same site.

Example situations may include shifting hospital equipment, moving heavy duty equipment as a one-off (e.g. relocating workstations piece by piece), or taking machinery maintenance parts to be swapped out. In most of these scenarios listed, load shifting skates are the simpler option, and can be used safely for loads up to 12,000kg or more.

There are several key considerations to take into account when factoring in whether to use load shifting skates, including:

• Frequency: How often do you intend to be moving the objects? If it is very frequently then other forms of transportation may be more appropriate – but it is worth noting that load shifting skates are incredibly versatile handy pieces of equipment to have on-hand in almost any industrial business.
• Working Load Limit: What is the tonnage that you are looking to shift? As with all industrial equipment, it is vitally important not to overload the load shifting skates beyond their rated Working Load Limit.
• On-site environment: Where will the load shifting skates be used? What type of floor will they be used on? There are three parts to this consideration: The footprint of the load skate itself, the floor type (so as to avoid damage to the floor), and the rolling resistance requirements of the wheels. It is important for reasons of safety and physical effort to choose the right load shifting skate for your premises (we can help you here).
• Manoeuvrability: Is the load’s intended path straight and narrow? Or full of twists and turns? While all of our load shifting skates feature precision steering, sometimes more control and manoeuvrability is required – particularly for larger loads. Some load shifting skates can incorporate a turntable, allowing for greater turning ability, while several load skates can also utilise a steering rod handle, which, as the name suggests, helps with precision steering, gives greater control, and means that there is noticeably less physical exertion required.
• Manual or pull-assisted: Will the load be hard to move by simply pushing it along its path? Towards the end of the decision making process, the question of whether to utilise a manual or pull-assisted load shifting skate is usually already determined by the above elements, but it is still worthwhile to flag. Some load shifting carts can feature tow rings as loads over 10,000kg are usually too heavy to move manually, in which case power towing/pulling assistance may be required.

How do load shifting skates work?

Load shifting skates are mechanically simple pieces of equipment, but are often used in complex and potentially dangerous situations, and in combination with other tools and equipment that could present significant risks if used incorrectly.

To use a load shifting skate, the load needs to be elevated high enough to slide the load skate underneath. This is commonly done in conjunction with a tool such as a hydraulic pump, toe jack, or spreader wedge. Once the load is lifted into place, it’s a slow, considered transportation process until it reaches its desired destination – think more tortoise, less hare.

Let us do the heavy lifting for you

Load shifting skates can play an important role in many material handling operations; but, as with all heavy machinery, care must be taken to ensure that the appropriate technical limitations of the load shifting skates are respected and its use is as intended.

Our knowledgeable team of problem solvers can help you to choose the appropriate load shifting skates, improving the versatility and effectiveness of your material handling operation by ensuring you have the “right tool for the job”.

Let us do the heavy lifting for you. Contact us today for an obligation-free consultation and quote.