Weekly Hire: Steerable Machine Skates – 24t

24-Tonne Steerable Machine Skate Hire for Controlled Heavy Load Moving

Move heavy machines, equipment, and plant safely and accurately with our 24-tonne steerable machine skate set. Available to hire across the East Midlands and Yorkshire, this three-point load moving system delivers the perfect balance of capacity, control, and floor protection for engineers, machine movers, and installation contractors handling substantial industrial loads.

With a 24-tonne safe working load, intuitive front-skate steering, and floor-friendly rollers, this skate set is ideal for moving machinery across finished warehouse, factory, or commercial floors where damage simply isn't an option.

The Three-Point Load Moving System Explained

The set uses a three-point configuration: two axle-linked rear skates carry the bulk of the load and stay perfectly aligned, while a single steerable front skate handles the direction. The operator simply uses a tiller bar to guide the front skate, and the entire load follows. The result is precise, controlled movement — even in confined spaces and around tight corners.

Key Features

• 24 tonne safe working load (SWL) — substantial capacity for moving heavy machinery and plant
• Three-point load moving system — two rear skates plus one steerable front skate for stable, controllable motion
• Steerable front skate — tiller-bar steering for precise directional control
• Large diameter rollers — distribute weight evenly to maximise floor protection
• Advanced plastic rollers — purpose-designed to be kinder to floor surfaces than traditional steel rollers
• Non-slip pad on each platform — reduces the risk of load slippage during the move
• Axle-linked rear skates — stay properly spaced and aligned throughout the move
• Suitable for finished, painted, and warehouse floors — moves heavy loads without damaging the surface
• Robust industrial construction — built for repeated commercial and industrial use

Ideal Applications

The 24-tonne steerable machine skate set is the right choice for a wide range of professional load moving tasks:

• Machine installation and relocation — move CNC machines, presses, mills, and lathes into position
• Factory and workshop reorganisation — reposition production equipment without dismantling
• Warehouse fit-outs — install heavy racking, conveyor systems, and infrastructure
• Generator and transformer moves — relocate heavy electrical equipment indoors
• Plant maintenance — slide major equipment aside for floor work, servicing, or repairs
• Data centre and IT installations — move server cabinets, UPS units, and infrastructure
• Engineering shops — reposition heavy machine tools and fabrication equipment
• Specialist removals — handle high-value or oversized items beyond the capacity of standard moving kit

Why Choose Steerable Machine Skates?

For heavy loads in finished environments, traditional moving methods often don't fit the bill. Cranes may be impractical indoors, forklifts can't always access the right position, and unsteered rollers force constant repositioning by hand. Steerable machine skates solve all three problems — one operator can guide 24 tonnes around obstacles and into precise positions, with minimal disruption and excellent accuracy.

Floor Protection Built In

Finished floors — painted, sealed, or polished — represent a real cost if damaged during a move. This skate set is designed to minimise that risk. The large-diameter advanced plastic rollers distribute the load gently across a wider footprint, treating the floor far better than steel alternatives. For warehouses, showrooms, factories with finished flooring, and any environment where the surface matters, this is the right kit.

Why Hire Instead of Buy?

A 24-tonne machine skate set is specialist equipment — essential for major moves and installations, but rarely required day to day. Hiring gives you on-demand access to a fully maintained, tested set exactly when your project needs it, without the capital outlay, servicing costs, or storage requirements. For most businesses, it's the smarter commercial decision.

Steerable Machine Skate Hire Across the Midlands and Yorkshire

We supply 24-tonne steerable machine skate hire to towns, cities, and surrounding areas including: Nottingham, Mansfield, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leicester, Loughborough, Derby, and Coventry.

Wherever your machine move or installation is taking place across these regions, we'll get the right equipment to you quickly and reliably.

Book Your Steerable Machine Skate Hire Today

Got a heavy machine to move? Contact our team to check availability, request a quote, or arrange collection or delivery.

Call us on 01623 645645 or fill in the contact form below and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Message Us

Fill in the form and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

• Name
• Email
• Phone Number
• Your Message

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 24-tonne SWL mean? The 24-tonne figure is the safe working load of the complete three-point skate system. Always ensure your load is within capacity, evenly distributed across the rear skates, and properly balanced with the steerable front skate before starting the move.

What's the difference between the 24-tonne and 45-tonne sets? The 24-tonne set is ideal for the majority of machine moves — most industrial machinery, plant, and equipment falls within this capacity. The 45-tonne set is designed for the very heaviest loads where extra capacity is needed. If you're unsure which is right for your job, get in touch and we'll help you choose.

Why are plastic rollers better than steel for finished floors? Plastic rollers distribute load pressure more gently across the floor surface and are less likely to mark, scratch, or indent finished, painted, or coated floors. Steel rollers concentrate pressure on a smaller area and can cause visible damage to softer or sealed surfaces.

How is the load steered? The single front skate features a tiller-bar steering system. The operator pulls or pushes the tiller to guide the front skate, and the entire load follows the chosen direction — making it easy to navigate tight spaces and corners without manual repositioning.

What kind of floor surface is suitable? This skate set is designed for hard, smooth, level surfaces such as concrete, painted floors, sealed warehouse flooring, and similar industrial finishes. Rough, uneven, sloped, or soft surfaces aren't suitable.

How do I get the load onto the skates? You'll need suitable lifting equipment — typically toe jacks, hydraulic jacks, or other rated lifting gear — to raise the load enough to position the skates underneath. If you need lifting equipment too, we can help arrange that as part of your hire.

How many people do I need to operate it? A single trained operator can steer the system, though for heavier or more complex moves a second person to assist with observation and safety is recommended. Always carry out a proper risk assessment and method statement before any major move.

How long can I hire the skate set for? We offer flexible hire periods to suit your project, from daily and weekend hire through to weekly and longer-term hire. Call us on 01623 645645 to discuss your requirements.

Do you deliver, or do I need to collect? We offer both collection and delivery across our service area. Get in touch to discuss what works best for your site and project timeline.