What Is Rigging?
Rigging is the professional practice of safely moving, lifting, and positioning heavy objects – typically machinery, structural steel, industrial equipment, or large vessels – using a combination of specialised equipment such as cranes, slings, shackles, chain blocks, and rigging hardware.
In an industrial context, rigging is far more than simply attaching a crane to a load. It requires engineering expertise, detailed load calculations, a comprehensive rigging study, and a certified rigging team to ensure the safe movement of equipment that can weigh anywhere from a few tonnes to hundreds of tonnes.
What Is Rigging Work?
Rigging work refers to the full scope of tasks a professional rigging team carries out on-site. This includes:
Site assessment and rigging study.
Before any lift takes place, qualified riggers assess site access, ground stability, underground structures, and overhead obstructions. A formal Rigging Study (also called a Lifting Plan) is prepared and submitted to the client. This document maps out sling configurations, crane positioning, load paths, and safety zones.
Load rigging and slinging.
Riggers attach lifting gear – including wire rope slings, synthetic webbing slings, shackles, spreader beams, and chain blocks – to the load at engineered attachment points. Correct sling angles are critical: an incorrect angle dramatically reduces the rated capacity of the rigging gear and can cause catastrophic failure.
Crane operations and signalling.
A designated Rigging Site Supervisor and trained signal person (dogman/banksman) direct the crane operator using standardised hand signals or radio communication throughout the lift.
Repositioning and installation.
Once lifted, machinery is guided to its new location and carefully lowered and set in place. In factory relocation projects, this often involves jacking systems, skates, and rollers to manoeuvre equipment into tight spaces before final re-installation and recommissioning.
What Is Rigging in Construction?
In construction, rigging refers to the lifting and placement of structural steel, precast concrete elements, tanks, vessels, and large plant equipment during the build or installation phase. Steel erection – the crane-assisted assembly of steel structural frames – is one of the most common construction rigging applications.
Rigging in construction also covers the dismantlement of redundant steel structures, such as overhead cranes, mezzanine floors, or process plant frameworks, requiring the same level of engineering planning as installation.
What Equipment Does a Professional Rigging Company Use?
A well-equipped industrial rigging company carries a comprehensive inventory of lifting and rigging gear. Standard equipment includes:
Cranes.
Mobile cranes, crawler cranes, and pick-and-carry cranes are the primary lifting machines. Crane selection depends on the load weight, lift radius, and site access. Tandem lifts – where two cranes share the load – are used for oversized or unusually shaped items.
Slings and hardware.
Wire rope slings, chain slings, and synthetic webbing slings are used in various configurations. Shackles, masterlinks, and hooks connect slings to the load and to the crane hook. Every piece of hardware carries a marked Working Load Limit (WLL).
Spreader beams and lifting frames.
These engineered beams distribute load across multiple lifting points, reducing the vertical sling angle and protecting delicate equipment from compressive stress.
Jacking systems and load skates.
Hydraulic jack-and-slide systems allow extremely heavy machinery to be moved horizontally with precision – ideal in confined spaces where cranes cannot access. Neoprene load-bearing skates (rated to 40+ tonnes) allow machinery to roll smoothly across floors.
Abnormal load transport.
Specialised low-bed and flat-deck trailers are used for transporting heavy or oversized equipment between sites. Abnormal load permits and route surveys are required for loads exceeding legal road dimensions.
Why Is Rigging Important?
Rigging is important because moving heavy industrial machinery incorrectly is one of the leading causes of serious workplace injuries and fatalities in South Africa. A dropped load, tipped crane, or failed sling can cause loss of life, destroy expensive equipment, and shut down a production facility for months.
Professionally executed rigging protects people, equipment, and productivity. It also protects the client from legal and financial liability. Under South African health and safety legislation – including the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Construction Regulations – all lifting operations must be planned and executed by qualified, competent persons.
What Does a Rigger Do?
A rigger is a trained specialist responsible for planning and executing the safe movement of heavy loads. Their responsibilities include:
- Reading and interpreting engineering drawings and rigging studies
- Selecting the correct slings, hardware, and lifting points for each load
- Calculating and verifying Working Load Limits (WLL) against actual load weights
- Directing crane operators and spotters during lifts
- Inspecting all rigging equipment before use for wear, damage, or deformation
- Ensuring all personnel are clear of the load’s swing radius and drop zone.
In South Africa, riggers are required to hold a nationally recognised rigging trade certificate issued through a QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) accredited training provider.
What Are Rigging Services?
Rigging services is an industry term that covers the full range of professional heavy lift and machine-moving services offered by a specialist rigging company. These typically include:
Cranage.
The provision of mobile crane capacity for lifting and placing heavy loads on-site.
Machine moving.
The mechanical dismantling, transportation, and re-installation of industrial machinery – including CNC machines, milling machines, printing equipment, compressors, chillers, and presses.
Factory relocations.
End-to-end relocation of an entire manufacturing facility or production line from one premises to another, including decommissioning, transport, and recommissioning.
Boiler installation and removal.
The rigging-in of new boilers and boiler plants, or the extraction of redundant boilers for disposal or relocation – often in confined plant rooms requiring specialised hand rigging.
Steel erection and dismantlement.
The crane-assisted installation of structural steel, as well as the safe demolition and removal of redundant steel structures.
Specialised transport.
Abnormal load transport of heavy equipment via road, including route planning, permits, and escort vehicles.
How Do I Choose a Reliable Rigging Company in South Africa?
When evaluating rigging companies in South Africa, consider the following criteria:
Accreditation.
Look for membership of the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SC&RA) – the international industry body that sets safety and technical standards for heavy lift and rigging operations. SC&RA members are audited against strict operational and safety benchmarks.
Qualified personnel.
All riggers should hold recognised trade qualifications. The team should include a certified Rigging Site Supervisor on every project.
A documented rigging study.
Any credible rigging company will prepare a written Lifting Plan or Rigging Study before any significant lift. If a company proposes to lift heavy machinery without one, that is a serious red flag.
Insurance and compliance.
Confirm that the company carries adequate public liability insurance and can provide evidence of OHSA compliance, including current CoC (Certificate of Compliance) for lifting equipment.
Relevant experience.
Ask for case studies or references from comparable projects – particularly in your specific industry, whether that is food processing, manufacturing, mining, steel construction, or utilities.
Full equipment inventory.
A credible rigging contractor owns (rather than solely hires) its core lifting and rigging gear, ensuring equipment availability, maintenance control, and consistent quality.
What Industries Use Rigging Services in South Africa?
Industrial rigging services are used across a wide range of sectors in South Africa, including:
Manufacturing and engineering plants require rigging for machinery installation, relocation, and replacement.
Food and dairy processing facilities – such as large-scale dairy plants, bottling lines, and processing equipment – rely on riggers for the precise installation of hygienically sensitive equipment.
Mining operations require heavy lift specialists for shaft equipment, processing plant machinery, and structural steel.
Power and utilities companies use rigging for boiler plants, transformers, and generating equipment.
Steel fabricators and construction companies require erection and dismantlement of structural steel frameworks.
Printing and packaging manufacturers regularly relocate large-format printing presses and packaging lines between facilities.
Reef Rigging: Professional Rigging Services Across South Africa
Reef Rigging is a fully accredited member of the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SC&RA), providing heavy lift, cranage, machine moving, and rigging engineering services to clients across South Africa. Operating from our head office in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, our certified rigging teams handle projects ranging from single machine moves to full factory relocations.
Every project begins with a detailed site assessment and a comprehensive Rigging Study. Our quoted rates include a dedicated Rigging Site Supervisor, trained operators, and all necessary rigging equipment — slings, shackles, chain blocks, neoprene load skates, and more – at no additional cost to the client.
Our clients include leading South African manufacturers and food producers including Clover, Dunlop, Hulamin, Spring Meadow Dairy, and Fairfield Dairy.