Manufacturing facilities depend on precisely installed and aligned equipment to maintain production quality and throughput. With roughly 12.9 million workers employed in U.S. manufacturing as of late 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the sector represents one of the largest markets for professional rigging services. Whether installing a new CNC machining center or relocating an entire production line, professional rigging is essential to keeping operations on schedule and within tolerance.
Manufacturing Rigging Challenges
Manufacturing rigging often involves tight aisles, limited overhead clearance, and equipment that requires precision leveling — modern CNC machines demand positioning accuracy within ±0.005 inches (0.127 mm) or tighter, and proper installation per standards like ISO 230-1 (Test Code for Machine Tools) is a prerequisite for achieving that accuracy. Contractors in our network bring specialized equipment designed for these constraints, including hydraulic gantry systems with capacities from 75 to over 1,000 tons (governed by ASME B30.1) and air caster systems that float loads on a thin film of compressed air — capable of moving equipment from 500 lbs to thousands of tons with minimal floor clearance and zero damage to finished surfaces.
Safety and Compliance
Manufacturing is one of the most heavily regulated environments for rigging work. OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147) is consistently among the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations, with over 2,500 citations issued in fiscal year 2023 alone — and the manufacturing sector accounts for the largest share of those violations. The standard requires documented energy control procedures covering electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and thermal energy sources before any equipment servicing begins.
All sling operations must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.184, which requires daily inspection by a competent person and immediate removal from service when defects are found. The complementary ASME B30.9 standard adds further requirements for sling fabrication, testing, and maintenance — including periodic documented inspections at minimum every 12 months, with more frequent inspections under severe service conditions.
Electrical disconnection and reconnection during machinery installation must follow NFPA 79 (Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery), which governs disconnect labeling, short-circuit current ratings, and safe wiring practices for industrial equipment.