Rigging-Busters moves CNC machines and other machine tools for machine shops, manufacturers and R&D facilities in Ottawa, Kanata and the Ottawa Valley. Our CNC machine movers are machinery movers and riggers in one crew: we secure the machine for transport, rig and skid it out, handle the CNC transport and set it level on its new footprint.
For a CNC shop in Ottawa, a move is precision work, not freight. Locked axes, a secured spindle and a level, well-blocked load are standard on every job, and we schedule the work around your production to keep downtime short.
- Industrial only: machine tools, presses and plant equipment. No household, office or vending machine moves.
- One crew from rig-out to levelling: rigging, transport, set-in-place and millwright installation.
- Fast quotes: replies usually within 2–4 working hours once we have all the details. Estimates are free.
- Minimum job: 3,500 CAD before tax. Most industrial jobs cost more, and your written quote shows the full price.
- Service area: Ottawa, ON and the surrounding area, from Kanata and Stittsville to Orléans, Rockland and Kemptville.
Need a ballpark before you call? Our Heavy Lifting & Moving Calculator gives a rough price range.
or give a call +1-613-699-2692
Whether you need to transport a single machine or relocate an entire production line, our team of industrial machine and heavy equipment movers plans the job around your shifts, from Kanata North to the east-end business parks.
Have more questions about our CNC machine moving services? See the FAQ on CNC machine moving in Ottawa further down the page.
Comprehensive CNC Machine Moving Services in Ottawa
Rigging-Busters treats CNC moving in Ottawa as one job with one plan: preparation, rigging, transport, installation and levelling.
CNC Machine Relocation
Our CNC machine relocation service handles moves to another bay, to a new unit in the same business park, or to a plant elsewhere in Eastern Ontario. Each relocation is planned machine by machine: the method, the crew and the order of work.
CNC Machine Transport
As a CNC machine transportation company, we load machines onto trailers sized to each one, then chain and block them on the deck with the axes locked. Local hops across Ottawa and longer CNC transportation runs, for example to Kingston, Toronto or Montreal, are planned the same way.
CNC Machine Installation
We also offer CNC machine installation: our millwrights set the machine on its new pad, level and align it, and hand it over to your electricians and the OEM technician for start-up.
Customized Moving Solutions
No two shops are laid out the same, so we offer customized moving solutions: one machine moved on a Saturday, a cell moved in stages so the rest of the shop keeps running, or a whole machine shop moved during a planned shutdown. Relocating the whole facility? See factory and plant relocation in Ottawa.
or give a call +1-613-699-2692
How We Move a CNC Machine in Ottawa: Step by Step
A CNC move in Ottawa runs in seven steps, and each one has a clear owner: you, the OEM, your electricians or our crew.
- Machine details: you send the make, model, nameplate weight, footprint, photos, both addresses and your target dates.
- Walk-through: we check doors, floor, docks or ramps, lifting points and the route out, on site when the job calls for it.
- Machine prep: your team or the OEM backs up the control and drains the coolant; our crew locks the axes and secures the spindle.
- Lockout and disconnect: your licensed electricians disconnect power, and air and coolant lines are disconnected and capped.
- CNC machine rigging: we jack the machine onto skates, lift it with a hydraulic gantry or a heavy-capacity forklift, or use jack-and-roll, with rated slings and rigging.
- Transport: a trailer matched to the machine, with City of Ottawa and MTO permits when the load is oversize.
- Set-in-place and levelling on the new footprint, ready for reconnection and OEM recommissioning; our millwrights can install the rest of the cell.
CNC Machine Prep: Parameters, Coolant, Axes and Spindle
Preparation is shared work. Before moving day, your maintenance team or the machine builder backs up the parameters, offsets and part programs, drains the coolant tank and clears out chips and tooling. On the day, our crew fits the shipping brackets or locks the axes another way, secures the spindle and doors, and ties down loose parts such as the pendant arm. A chip conveyor, bar feeder or coolant tank travels as a separate piece when that is safer.
Equipment Our Crew Uses
- Machinery skates and dollies for low doors and narrow aisles
- Hydraulic gantries where the shop has no overhead crane
- Jack-and-roll for heavy machine bases raised in stages
- Heavy-capacity forklifts to lift, load and place machines
- Rated slings, shackles and spreader bars sized to each lift
- Trailers matched to the machine, and a crane lift (our crane or a licensed partner crane) when a job needs one
We choose the method from the weight, the centre of gravity and the route out of the building. On a solid floor with wide aisles, a forklift is usually fastest. In tight bays, under low ceilings or on floors with load limits, skates and a gantry do the work.
CNC Machine Transport and Permits in Ottawa
Most CNC machines travel as legal loads. When a truck and its load reach 2.6 m wide, 4.15 m high, 21 m long or 63,500 kg, the City of Ottawa requires an over-dimensional vehicle permit under By-law 2003-497. The City asks for 10 business days of processing time, although it lists three business days for a single-trip permit. Oversize moves are not allowed in the downtown core from 7 to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6 p.m., and permits are not valid on roads or bridges with posted load restrictions or during load restriction periods. Highways 417 and 416 need an MTO oversize permit, and Ontario asks carriers to apply at least 5 business days ahead. Commercial vehicles are not allowed on the NCC parkways, so we route around them.
Set-In-Place, Levelling and OEM Recommissioning
At the new location we land the machine on its marked footprint and level it on its pads, or on anchors where the machine calls for them. Your licensed electricians reconnect power, and your team or the OEM technician reloads the backup, checks the geometry and recommissions the machine. Our millwrights can install and align the rest of the cell.
CNC Machines We Move in Ottawa
Our Ottawa CNC movers handle machine tools and the equipment that travels with them, such as:
- Vertical and horizontal machining centres, including pallet-changer models
- CNC lathes, turning centres and Swiss-type lathes
- 5-axis machines, gantry mills and boring mills
- Grinders and wire EDM machines
- Press brakes, punch presses, and laser, plasma and waterjet tables
- CNC routers for wood, plastics, foam and composites
- Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and inspection equipment
- Chip conveyors, coolant systems, bar feeders and control cabinets
Small machines count too: a compact toolroom lathe or a small mill gets the same locking and blocking as a large machining centre. A hobby machine that fits through a normal door is often cheaper to move with a general mover, so send the weight first and we will tell you which suits it.
Industries We Serve in Ottawa
Invest Ottawa lists telecommunications, cybersecurity, semiconductors, aerospace and defence, and smart mobility among the city’s key sectors, with advanced manufacturing and photonics growing alongside them. Much of that hardware starts in a machine shop. We move CNC equipment for the job shops and contract manufacturers that supply these sectors, for prototype and hardware labs in the Kanata North technology park, and for fabricators, sign makers and woodworking plants across the city.
Upgrading or Replacing a CNC Machine
Upgrading your CNC machinery usually means two moves in one window: the old machine out and the new one in. We give hands-on support for the whole transition. We rig out the old machine and load it for its buyer or move it into storage, then unload the new machine from the dealer’s truck, rig it into place and set it level on the prepared footprint, ready for the OEM technician. Heavy equipment removal from a closing shop or an auction sale is planned the same way.
CNC Machine Moving Cost in Ottawa: What Affects the Price
We quote CNC machine moving per job, after we see the machine details or visit the site. The price depends on:
- The machine: weight, footprint, height and centre of gravity, plus extra pieces such as the chip conveyor, coolant tank and control cabinet
- Access at both ends: dock or grade-level door, door width and ceiling height, aisles, ramps and floor load limits
- Method: forklift, skates, gantry or jack-and-roll, or a crane lift (crane time is included in your quote)
- Route and permits: distance, City of Ottawa and MTO permits, downtown time windows and escorts for oversize loads
- Extra work: removal of an old machine, crating, short-term storage, levelling and millwright installation
- Timing: evening, weekend and shutdown work, and load restriction periods on City roads
Ways to keep the bill down: apply early enough that permits are not rushed, let your team finish the backup, coolant drain and power disconnect before our crew arrives, clear a path from the machine to the door, and bundle several machines into one trip. OEM preparation and recommissioning are quoted by the OEM.
Compare quotes on the same scope (rigging, transport and set-in-place together), or try our Heavy Lifting & Moving Calculator for a quick range.
or give a call +1-613-699-2692
Why Ottawa Shops Choose Us for CNC Machine Moving
What Ottawa machine shops and plants get when they hire us as their CNC moving company:
- Industrial work only: machine tools, presses and production equipment.
- One crew, one plan: rigging, transport, set-in-place and levelling, with millwright installation when you need it.
- Tools for tight shops: our CNC movers work with skates, hydraulic gantries and jack-and-roll, and bring in a crane only when the lift needs one.
- Planned around production: evening, weekend or shutdown moves.
- Permits and routing handled: City of Ottawa and MTO permits for oversize loads, timed around the downtown restrictions.
- Quick answers: quote replies usually within 2–4 working hours once we have all the details.
- Insured: $5 million in liability insurance that includes cargo coverage, plus workers’ compensation coverage (WSIB in Ontario). Certificate of insurance and WSIB clearance certificate on request.
A good fit: single CNC machines, machine shop and cell moves, machine upgrades and plant relocations in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley, and dealers who need delivery, rigging and set-in-place.
Not a fit: household, office or vending machine moves, CNC machining, cutting or engraving services, buying or selling used machines, repair or calibration, and crane rental.
How to Compare CNC Movers in Ottawa
Ask every mover the same questions: which method they will use and why; who backs up the control and who recommissions the machine; whether the price covers rigging, transport and set-in-place; who applies for City and MTO permits and how much lead time they need; and how the machine is insured while it is lifted and on the trailer. Give each one the same weight, photos and dates so the quotes line up.
Contact Rigging-Busters Today
Ready to move a CNC machine? Send us the details for a free quote on CNC machine moving services in Ottawa and the surrounding area. We usually reply within 2–4 working hours once we have all the details.
Have These Ready for an Exact Quote
A complete request gets a faster, firmer price. Add these to your quote request:
- The job: one CNC machine, a cell, a machine upgrade, a whole shop or a plant
- Make, model, weight and dimensions (a photo of the nameplate helps)
- Both addresses and access: dock or grade door, door size, stairs, ramps and floor
- Your dates or shutdown window, and whether either site is in downtown Ottawa
- Extras: old machine removal, storage, crating, levelling or millwright work
- Photos of the machine and the route out of the building
Let Us Handle Your CNC Machine Moving Needs
From a single toolroom lathe to a full machine shop, we plan the move, rig and haul each machine, and set it down level, ready for reconnection.
Moving more than machine tools? Our heavy equipment and machinery movers in Ottawa handle presses, production lines and other plant equipment. For rigging-only jobs, see industrial rigging services in Ottawa, and for deliveries, heavy equipment loading and unloading in Ottawa.
We accept payment in Canadian dollars (CAD) by cash, debit, credit card or bank transfer.
Contact us today to plan your next CNC machine move in Ottawa.
or give a call +1-613-699-2692
Service Area: Ottawa, Kanata and the Ottawa Valley
Our CNC machine movers work across Ottawa’s industrial and business parks: Kanata North and Kanata West, Bells Corners, Colonnade and South Merivale, the Airport and Albion-Leitrim areas, Hawthorne-Stevenage, Sheffield and Canotek in the east end, and the Carp Road corridor. Around the city we cover Stittsville, Richmond, Greely and Kemptville to the south and west, Carleton Place, Almonte and Arnprior up the Ottawa Valley, and Rockland, Russell, Embrun and Casselman to the east. We also haul machines to and from Gatineau.
For nearby markets, see our machinery movers in Kingston. Service en français : déménagement de machinerie lourde à Ottawa.
Key Cities We Serve Around Ottawa
| City | Province | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | Ontario | Canada |
| Almonte | Ontario | Canada |
| Arnprior | Ontario | Canada |
| Aylmer | Quebec | Canada |
| Buckingham | Quebec | Canada |
| Carleton Place | Ontario | Canada |
| Casselman | Ontario | Canada |
| Embrun | Ontario | Canada |
| Gatineau | Quebec | Canada |
| Greely | Ontario | Canada |
| Kanata | Ontario | Canada |
| Kemptville | Ontario | Canada |
| Richmond | Ontario | Canada |
| Rockland | Ontario | Canada |
| Russell | Ontario | Canada |
| Stittsville | Ontario | Canada |
| Thurso | Quebec | Canada |
or give a call +1-613-699-2692
Gatineau and the Outaouais
We also take jobs on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River: Gatineau (the Aylmer, Hull, Gatineau, Masson-Angers and Buckingham sectors) and the rest of the Outaouais. The same crew rigs the machine, hauls it and sets it in place, with levelling and millwright installation, so a move between an Ottawa plant and a Gatineau site is one job with one quote.
An oversize or overweight load needs a permit from each road authority on its route. On the Ontario side, that means the City of Ottawa for city roads and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for provincial highways such as the 417. On the Quebec side, it means a special permit from the Quebec transport ministry (MTMD), plus any city permit the route needs. We apply for each one, and all of them are part of our plan and your quote.
Other Services in Ottawa
See all our services in Ottawa, or one of these related services in the area:
- Heavy Equipment & Machinery Movers in Ottawa, ON
- Heavy & Industrial Rigging Services in Ottawa, ON
- Lab & Medical Equipment Movers in Ottawa, ON
- Forklift Moving Service in Ottawa, ON
- Electrical Transformer Moving Services in Ottawa, ON
- Heavy Equipment Loading & Unloading in Ottawa, ON
Location of our sales office:
955 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa, ON K2C 3V4, Canada
CNC Machine Moving in Ottawa: FAQ
It depends on the machine and the job: its weight and footprint, access at both buildings, the moving method, the distance, any City of Ottawa or MTO permits, and whether the work falls in a shutdown or on a weekend. We quote each move after seeing the details or the site, and estimates are free. For a rough range, try our Heavy Lifting and Moving Calculator.
We start with the make, model, weight and both addresses, and walk the site when needed. Your team or the OEM backs up the control and drains the coolant, then our crew locks the axes and secures the spindle. Once your electricians disconnect power, we skid or lift the machine out, haul it on a matched trailer, and set it in place and level it at the new site.
Only for an oversize load. If the truck and load reach 2.6 m wide, 4.15 m high, 21 m long or 63,500 kg, the City of Ottawa requires an over-dimensional vehicle permit, and it lists three business days for a single trip. Highways 417 and 416 need an MTO permit as well. We apply for the permits and plan the route around the NCC parkways.
Yes, with the timing planned. The City does not allow over-dimensional moves in the downtown core from 7 to 9:30 a.m. or from 3:30 to 6 p.m., and oversize moves there between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. are subject to escort requirements. For downtown shops and labs, we check the loading area and street access first and book the move for a permitted window.
A CNC machine is top-heavy and precise, so the risks are a tip-over during the lift, damage to the ways, ballscrews or spindle if anything shifts in transit, coolant leaks, and lost accuracy after an uneven set-down. We plan around the centre of gravity and the lifting points, lock the axes, secure the spindle, block the machine on the trailer and level it at the new site.
The work is shared. Your maintenance team or the machine builder backs up the parameters and programs, drains the coolant and removes tooling before the move, then recommissions the machine afterwards, including any accuracy checks. Our crew locks the axes, secures the spindle and doors, moves the machine and sets it level, ready for your licensed electricians to reconnect power.
Yes. Upgrading CNC machinery usually means two moves in one window, and we give hands-on support for the whole transition: we rig out the old machine and load it for its buyer or for storage, then unload the new machine from the dealer’s truck, rig it in and set it level on the prepared footprint, ready for the OEM technician.
You get the right equipment for the floor and the route, such as skates, gantries, heavy-capacity forklifts and rated rigging, a plan built around your production, and permits handled for you. That protects an expensive machine and keeps downtime short. With one crew doing the rigging, transport, set-in-place and levelling, you deal with one plan and one contact.
All of Ottawa, including Kanata North and Kanata West, Bells Corners, South Merivale, Hawthorne-Stevenage and the Carp Road corridor, plus Stittsville, Richmond, Kemptville, Carleton Place, Arnprior, Rockland and Russell. We also haul machines to and from Gatineau. For Eastern Ontario shops further away, see our machinery movers in Kingston, or send both addresses for a quote.
No. We move machines; we do not make parts, cut or engrave, repair or calibrate machines, buy or sell used equipment, or rent out cranes. We also do not move homes, offices or vending machines. Rigging-Busters handles industrial machinery and plant equipment only, such as CNC machines, presses and production lines, so for a machine tool move in Ottawa, send us the details.
