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Plan removal before bidding or setting an auction date. A machine can be affordable to buy yet costly or impractical to remove. This guide helps you brief qualified contractors; it is not a disconnection or lifting procedure.
Define the work and who owns each step
Decommissioning prepares equipment to leave service. Rigging covers controlled lifting and movement. Loading places it on the transport vehicle; freight, unloading and installation are separate scopes unless expressly included. Confirm in writing who arranges, performs and pays for each task. Do not assume iBiD’s 15% buyer’s fee or 15% seller’s fee includes any of these services.
Before the auction: gather the site facts
- Exact lot location, verified machine weight where available, dimensions, center-of-gravity and lifting information from the manufacturer.
- Door and aisle clearances, overhead obstructions, docks, ramps, floor capacity and access restrictions.
- Whether the machine is anchored, integrated into a line, connected to shared utilities, or blocked by another lot.
- Pickup dates, access hours, appointment requirements, contractor approval and site insurance requirements.
- Who can authorize utility isolation, supervise access and approve the lot for release.
Decommissioning needs a machine-specific plan
Use qualified personnel and the manufacturer’s instructions. The site’s authorized team must address electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, gravity and other stored-energy hazards with appropriate energy-control procedures, including verification of isolation. Switching off a control is not a substitute. Coordinate the site employer and outside contractors before work starts. Preserve permitted controller backups and documentation, identify components, and agree how fluids, dust, batteries or other waste will be handled.
OSHA’s control of hazardous energy overview explains the role of energy-control procedures and worker training. Have the responsible professionals determine the requirements for this machine and site.
Get comparable rigging quotes
Send each contractor the same lot list, photos, access information and deadline. Ask the quote to identify dismantling, disconnection exclusions, lifting equipment, labor, packing, loading, travel, waiting time, permits and site restoration. Confirm insurance coverage and any required certificate directly with the parties involved; a certificate alone does not describe every exclusion.
The rigger should determine the lifting method, suitable lifting points, equipment capacity and protection of personnel and the machine. Do not guess sling ratings or attach to convenient machine parts. OSHA’s slings standard addresses capacity, identification, inspection and safe use.
Coordinate freight and the receiving site
Confirm packed dimensions and weight, trailer suitability, weather protection, securement, transit coverage and any route or permit requirements with the carrier. FMCSA’s cargo securement rules include general requirements and commodity-specific provisions; the carrier must determine those applicable to the load. Arrange destination access, unloading equipment, qualified installers and utility readiness before dispatch.
Pickup and closeout checklist
- Obtain the required payment/release confirmation and pickup appointment.
- Match the lot number and serial number; count accessories and document condition before loading.
- Keep the agreed site contact, rigger and carrier coordinated. Do not start unapproved work or collect neighboring equipment.
- Document loading, handover and any missing items or damage promptly. Keep the release record and transport paperwork.
- At delivery, inspect and record condition before signing transport documents, following the carrier’s reporting process for discrepancies.
- Use qualified personnel for installation, guarding checks, utilities and commissioning before production use.
For a plant closure, sequence shared utilities and removal routes so dismantling one lot does not create hazards or prevent another lot from leaving. Confirm how site repairs and any missed-removal issues will be handled before the event.
Before committing: Read the terms for the specific auction and lot, and resolve missing or conflicting details with iBiD in writing. This guide explains preparation; it does not set payment deadlines, pickup dates, deposit rules, warranties, or other event terms.
iBiD Machinery · Updated October 14, 2026