Machine Skates and Rollers

Start with the total weight of the machine, then account for how that weight is distributed across its footprint — many machines are not evenly balanced, so one corner or load point can carry significantly more than an even split would suggest. Each skate in the set should be rated with margin above the maximum point load it will actually bear, not just the machine's total weight divided evenly by the number of skates.

Steel rollers generally handle higher loads and are the standard choice on smooth, hard concrete floors in industrial settings. Polyurethane rollers have lower noise, better traction, and won't mark or damage finished floors, making them preferable for facilities with painted or coated floors, or where floor protection is a priority even at somewhat lower per-unit load capacity.

A toe jack is a low-profile hydraulic jack with a thin lifting toe designed to slide into the narrow gap beneath a machine's base, where a standard floor jack's body is too tall to fit. It's used to raise each corner of the machine just enough to slide a skate underneath, then to lower the machine back down onto the skate set once all corners are positioned.

Only steerable (pivoting) skates can change direction during a move — fixed-roller skates travel only in the straight line their rollers are oriented in and would need to be manually repositioned to change direction, which is impractical under a heavy load. If the move requires navigating turns or doorways at an angle, steerable skates are the correct choice from the start.

Confirm the floor's load-bearing capacity (point loading from skate wheels can be very high even for a moderate total machine weight), and check for a smooth, continuous surface without expansion joints, cracks or debris that could catch a roller and stop the load unexpectedly. Skates are also not designed for use on ramps or sloped surfaces beyond what the manufacturer specifies.