The Small Equipment That Causes Big Relocation Delays
When planning an equipment relocation, most teams focus on the big assets: presses, CNCs, conveyors, or production lines. These are the high-value, high-visibility machines that everyone wants to see moved safely and quickly.
But the real downtime risks often come from the smaller, less visible support equipment.
The Hidden Risks
In our experience, relocations have been delayed not by the “big lifts” but by:
Air Compressors: Without compressed air, entire production lines can sit idle.
Chillers and Pumps: Missed plumbing or sequencing creates major startup bottlenecks.
Dust Collectors & Ventilation Systems: Overlooked until operators can’t safely run the main equipment.
Each of these items seems minor compared to a 40,000 lb machine. But without them, production doesn’t restart.
Why It Happens
Most teams plan the move around “headline” equipment, assuming support systems will be handled in parallel. Without clear ownership, those smaller components slip through the cracks.
The Cost of Oversight
A single overlooked compressor or pump can keep an entire line offline for days. With downtime costing $16,000 per hour in many plants, that adds up to six-figure losses quickly.
How Henke Prevents It
Our planning process accounts for every piece of equipment, large and small.
Walkthroughs that document support systems
Utility mapping to confirm dependencies
Sequenced relocation to ensure all assets come online together
Closing Thought
In relocation, there’s no such thing as “minor” equipment. Every asset is part of the system that makes production possible. And every hour of downtime, whether from a 30-ton press or a 300-lb compressor, costs the same.
Ready to eliminate oversights in your next move? Talk to Henke: www.henkeindustrial.com | (859) 757-8080