A rigging company specializes in safely lifting, moving, positioning, and securing heavy or oversized equipment and materials. In Canada, professional rigging services are commonly required at industrial sites, construction projects, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, power plants, and other locations where standard material-handling equipment is not enough.
Rigging involves much more than simply attaching a load to a crane. Professional riggers assess the weight and dimensions of a load, determine its centre of gravity, select the appropriate lifting equipment, and plan how the load will be lifted, moved, and positioned safely.
Depending on the project, rigging may involve equipment such as wire rope slings, chain slings, shackles, hooks, hoists, winches, spreader beams, cranes, and other specialized lifting equipment.
Proper planning becomes especially important when equipment has an unusual shape, limited lifting points, a high centre of gravity, or needs to be moved through a restricted or difficult-to-access area.
How Do Rigging Companies Handle Heavy Loads?
Before moving a heavy load, a professional rigging team evaluates the job and determines the safest and most practical method of handling the equipment.
This assessment can include:
- Determining the weight and dimensions of the load
- Identifying the load’s centre of gravity
- Inspecting available lifting points
- Selecting appropriate slings, shackles, hooks, and other rigging equipment
- Determining the required lifting capacity
- Planning the movement and positioning of the load
- Assessing site access and surrounding conditions
- Coordinating with crane operators, millwrights, contractors, and other site personnel
The rigging arrangement must be appropriate for the load and the intended movement. A poorly planned lift can result in equipment damage, property damage, project delays, or serious injuries.
For this reason, professional rigging is an important part of many industrial lifting and machinery-moving projects.
What Services Do Rigging Companies Provide?
Rigging companies provide a range of services depending on their equipment, personnel, and areas of expertise. Common industrial rigging services can include:
- Heavy equipment rigging
- Machinery moving and positioning
- Industrial equipment installation
- Equipment loading and unloading
- Plant and facility relocation
- Structural steel handling
- Heavy lifting and equipment positioning
- Millwright and mechanical installation support
- Crane and hoisting support
- Equipment relocation during plant shutdowns and maintenance projects
Rigging companies may work alongside crane operators, general contractors, engineers, millwrights, plant maintenance teams, and other trades to complete complex lifting and equipment-handling projects.
For industrial customers, professional rigging can be particularly valuable when installing large machinery, relocating production equipment, or moving equipment in areas where space and access are limited.
Why is Rigging Safety So Important in Canada?
Heavy lifting and equipment movement involve significant risks, which makes safety a central part of professional rigging work.
Canadian workplaces must follow applicable federal, provincial, or territorial occupational health and safety requirements, depending on where the work takes place. In Ontario, occupational health and safety requirements include provisions relating to cranes, hoisting devices, lifting capacity, operator competency, inspections, and equipment records.
For example, Ontario’s construction regulation prohibits cranes and similar hoisting devices from being loaded beyond their rated capacity.
Safe rigging also depends on factors such as:
- Proper load assessment
- Appropriate lifting equipment
- Equipment inspections
- Qualified and trained personnel
- Clear communication
- Site planning
- Understanding the load’s centre of gravity
- Maintaining safe distances and controlled movement
Following proper procedures helps reduce the risk of equipment damage, dropped loads, injuries, and costly project delays.
Businesses should always ensure that lifting and rigging work is performed by qualified personnel and in accordance with the requirements applicable to their specific project and location.
When Should a Business Hire a Rigging Company?
A business should consider hiring a professional rigging company when a project involves heavy, awkward, valuable, oversized, or difficult-to-access equipment.
Examples can include:
- Moving production machinery into a factory
- Installing large industrial equipment
- Relocating machinery within a manufacturing facility
- Positioning equipment on an elevated platform
- Loading or unloading heavy machinery
- Moving equipment through tight or restricted spaces
- Supporting plant shutdowns and maintenance work
- Relocating equipment as part of a facility expansion or plant move
Professional riggers can help identify practical lifting and moving methods before work begins. Bringing a rigging team into the planning process early can help reduce the risk of equipment damage, unexpected complications, project delays, and unsafe lifting conditions.
In many cases, planning the rigging requirements before equipment arrives on site is far more efficient than trying to solve lifting challenges after the project has already started.
Choosing the Right Rigging Company
Choosing a rigging company should involve more than comparing hourly rates.
Businesses should consider the company’s:
- Experience with similar loads and industrial environments
- Available lifting and rigging equipment
- Safety procedures
- Trained and qualified personnel
- Insurance coverage
- Equipment inspection and maintenance practices
- Ability to coordinate with other contractors and trades
- Understanding of applicable provincial requirements
- Experience working in restricted or challenging environments
It is also important to discuss the lifting plan, site conditions, load characteristics, access limitations, and potential risks before work begins.
A reliable rigging partner should be willing to understand the project requirements and develop a practical approach before equipment is moved.
Industrial Rigging Services from Axiom Trades
At Axiom Trades, we understand that industrial equipment movement and installation require careful planning, proper equipment, and experienced personnel.
Our team supports industrial and commercial customers with equipment handling, machinery moving, rigging, installation, and related services based on the requirements of each project.
Whether you are moving machinery within a facility, installing new equipment, relocating industrial equipment, or preparing for a plant shutdown, having the right team involved from the beginning can help make the project safer and more efficient.
We work with customers and other contractors to understand the equipment, site conditions, access requirements, and lifting challenges involved in each job.
If your business has an upcoming machinery-moving, equipment-installation, or industrial rigging project, contact Axiom Trades to discuss your requirements and determine how we can help.