By the Generator King Technical Team
Acquiring your diesel generator for sale is only the start; getting it safely from our premises to its final position on your site is a critical, specialised logistical step. Improper transport and handling—especially of large SDEC or Baudouin industrial units—can result in catastrophic damage, voiding your warranty and risking serious injury.
Generator King ensures that the movement of your asset is managed with maximum efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance. Here is what you need to know about transporting industrial generators in South Africa and beyond.
Section 1: Collection Options: 200kVA and Below
For smaller, more manageable generator sets, Generator King provides flexibility for transport, while always prioritising safety during the loading process.
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Self-Collection Limit: For customers with sufficiently large and suitable vehicles, we can assist with the loading of generator sets up to 200kVA at our premises. We utilise forklifts and certified equipment to safely load the unit onto your flatbed or low-ride trailer.
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Customer Responsibility: It remains the customer’s responsibility to ensure the transport vehicle is legally rated for the generator’s weight and dimensions, and that the unit is safely secured and insured for transport.
Section 2: The Rigging Specialist: 200kVA and Above
Once a generator set exceeds 200kVA, its weight and size move the transportation process into a highly specialised field governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Driven Machinery Regulations.
What is a Generator Rigging Service?
For larger units, self-collection is not permitted. We organise a full rigging service carried out by certified professionals:
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Rigging Crew and Equipment: The service entails a specialised crew and a crane-equipped vehicle (often a crane truck or heavy-duty mobile crane).
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Safe Lifting: Using certified lifting tackle (slings, shackles, and possibly spreader bars), the crew safely fastens and lifts the generator from our warehouse floor.
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Loading and Transport: The unit is loaded securely onto a low-bed trailer or suitable transport vehicle, often requiring special permits under the National Road Traffic Act for abnormal loads.
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Offloading at Site: The crane vehicle then delivers the set to your premises and performs the delicate offloading procedure, placing the unit near its intended position.
OHSA Compliance
The rigging crew must be certified Riggers, and all lifting equipment must comply with the relevant statutory requirements, including regular inspection and adherence to the Safe Working Load (SWL). This is a mandatory safety requirement that Generator King ensures is met by its approved logistics partners.
Section 3: On-Site Movement and Final Placement
Once the generator is offloaded at your site, the final, precise movement to the installation point is crucial.
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Positioning: The rigging crew can be utilised to move the generator to the required position once at the premises. This is often done by carefully “skating” or sliding the unit.
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Terrain Check: The terrain must be wide, flat, and stable enough to accommodate the movement of the heavy unit and the deployment of the crane vehicle’s stabilising outriggers. Unsuitable terrain (steep inclines, soft earth) will require additional civil works or alternative heavy lifting solutions like hydraulic gantries.
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Final Resting Place: The generator must be placed directly onto the pre-prepared, reinforced concrete slab as outlined in our Generator Placement Guide.
Section 4: Export Solutions: Powering Neighbouring Countries
Generator King is a key provider of backup power South Africa solutions, but we also specialise in serving the energy demands of the wider African continent.
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Cross-Border Logistics: For customers purchasing from a neighbouring country (such as Botswana, Namibia, or Zambia), we can arrange to export the generator.
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Comprehensive Service: This is more than just transport; it involves organising all necessary customs documentation, insurance, and compliance paperwork required for cross-border transit, ensuring the unit arrives safely and legally at your destination.
Conclusion: Trust Our Logistics Expertise
Transporting a generator, especially large industrial diesel generators, requires technical expertise equal to the installation itself. From securing the appropriate permits for abnormal loads to safely rigging a massive SDEC or Baudouin unit, Generator King manages the risk on your behalf.
Contact Generator King today to discuss your generator transport and rigging requirements, whether you require local delivery in Gauteng or comprehensive export to a neighbouring African nation.
