Custom skate systems Skate Systems

Custom-made skates that put heavy, awkward loads on wheels, so one person can move them with an electric tug through doorways and tight spaces.

Designed and manufactured in the UK

Union Jack - Made in the UK

Made in the UK

Shield - 2 Year Warranty

2-Year Warranty

Globe - Global Distributors

Global Distributors

Graduation cap - Operator Training

Operator Training

Spanner - UK Service Team

UK Service Team

Skate Systems · how they carry
We build the wheels

Machinery, containers, modules and engines on stands do not roll. The skates make them roll.

As close to the floor as it goes

A low centre of gravity through turns, and a height that clears doorways and services a forklift would not.

Steers from the tug

The front skate carries the towbar, so the whole load follows the tug and stops within millimetres.

When the load has no wheels, we build the wheels.

A tug can only move what rolls. Machinery, transformers, ISO containers, modular building sections and aero engines on their stands do not, so we design a set of skates to carry them. The load is lifted onto the skates once, and from then on a single operator moves it with the tug.

Skates keep the load as close to the floor as possible. That keeps the centre of gravity low for stability, and it keeps the overall height down so the load fits through doorways and under services that a forklift or a high trolley could not.

Each system is designed at Cheddleton to the load it will carry: its weight, its footprint, where it can be supported and the floor it will run over. They are simple to set up and need no special skills to use.

TP250 electric tug towing an ISO container on a custom skate system across a workshop floor
Skate system applications across industry

Loads we have put on skates.

Electric tug moving a 10ft ISO container across a yardISO containersISO containersContainers moved across workshop floors and yards without a side loader or a reach stacker.Electric tugs for ISO containersTP250 electric tug moving a plant room module across a factory floorModular buildingsModular buildings & plant roomsBuilding modules and plant rooms moved through the factory and out to the loading area, often with lifting pods.Electric tugs for Modular buildingsElectric tug towing an aero engine on its transport frame on a custom skate systemAerospaceAero enginesEngines on their transport frames moved from goods-in to the work area without a forklift in the building.The UTC engine skate systemElectric tug pulling a 9,000 kg machine cabinet across a factory floorEngineeringMachinery & transformersMachine tools, transformers and switchgear moved into position during installation or relocation.Electric tugs for Engineering & manufacturing
At work in

How it works

Lift once, then move it as often as you like.

ISO container sitting on a set of custom skates with a TP250 electric tug coupled to the front

1. Set the load on the skates

The load is lowered onto the skates with a crane, jacks or lifting pods. The skates are positioned under the points where the load can take its weight.

Electric tug coupled to the towbar on the front skate of an aero engine frame

2. Couple the towbar to the tug

The front skate carries a towbar that connects to the tug coupling. The trailing skates follow, so the whole load steers from the tug.

TP1000 electric tug moving heavy machinery on skates with one operator

3. Move it with one person

The operator walks the load to position, by handset or wireless remote, with the control to stop within millimetres.

The machine

Paired with the Extra Heavy range.

Skate systems are usually matched with a tug from the TP1000, TP2000 or TP3000 range, chosen for the weight of the load and the floor it crosses. All three are power steered and compact enough for tight spaces, so a single operator can place a multi-tonne load precisely, from a handset at the machine, a wireless push-button remote or a wireless power-steered radio control.

UP TO 12,000 KG ON CASTORS

TP1000 Tractive Pusher

Power steered, with 12,000 kg on castors and 100,000 kg on rails. The usual match for machinery, containers and modules.

TP1000 Tractive Pusher

UP TO 15,000 KG ON CASTORS

TP2000 Tractive Pusher

15,000 kg on castors and 200,000 kg on rails, with 12,000 N of drawbar pull for the heaviest production frames and plant.

TP2000 Tractive Pusher

UP TO 30,000 KG ON CASTORS

TP3000 Tractive Pusher

Our most powerful tug: 30,000 kg on castors and 300,000 kg on rails, with 15,000 N of drawbar pull. ATEX versions available.

TP3000 Tractive Pusher

Other ways to move it

Skates, trolley or coupling?

Not every load needs skates. We will tell you which is the right fit when we know the load and the route.

Aerospace engine skates

The skate system we built for UTC, so one person tows an engine on its frame with no forklift in the building.

See the engine skates

Cable Drum Trolley

For cable drums that have to be lifted, moved and paid out in situ by one person. Built to your drum sizes.

See the drum trolley

A custom coupling

If the load already rolls, a coupling built around it may be all you need. Pushpad, fifth wheel, paper roll, quick latch or bespoke.

All custom builds

Ways to buy

Buy outright, hire, or spread the cost.

Every machine is available three ways. Tell us what you’re moving and how long you need it for, and we’ll include the options in your quotation.

Outright purchase

Buy the tug and own it from day one. Every machine is built in the UK and comes with a 2-year warranty and the backing of our UK service team.

Ask for a quotation

Hire agreement

Hire a tug for a project, a seasonal peak or a trial before you commit. Short and long-term hire agreements, with the machine fitted with the right coupling for your load.

Ask about hire

Finance available

Spread the cost of a new machine with a finance agreement. Finance is available on every tug in the range, so ask us to include the options with your quotation.

Ask about finance

Load Check

Will skates suit your load?

Tell us the weight, the footprint, where the load can be supported and the floor and doorways it has to pass. A drawing or photo helps. We’ll come back with the skate design, the tug and a price.

Rather talk it through? Call 01538 360372.

What does it run on? *
What's the floor like?

One of our engineers will look at your load and call you back to talk it through. We'll only use your details for that.

Frequently Asked

Skate systems: your questions

It depends on the skates and the tug behind them. Skate systems are matched with the TP1000, TP2000 and TP3000, and the capacity of each is on its product page. Tell us the load weight and we will specify the system.

With whatever lifting equipment you already use: a crane, jacks or, for modular buildings, lifting pods. The skates are placed under the load at its support points and the load is lowered onto them. It only needs doing once.

Height and stability. Skates keep the load as low as it can go, which keeps the centre of gravity low and lets the load pass through doorways and under services that a trolley or forklift would not clear.

No. Each set is designed around the load: its weight, footprint, support points and the floor it runs over. That is why we ask for drawings or photos before quoting.

Yes. The front skate carries the towbar that couples to the tug, so the load follows the tug and steers from it. With the wireless radio control the operator can stand wherever the view is best.