Moving laboratory and medical equipment is a delicate, complex and intricate process that should be coordinated and carried out with the help of a professional packing company. There are scientific instruments, animals, computer servers and database systems, as well as laboratory furniture that needs to all be safely packed, transported, and unloaded. These high value items do not deserve to be thrown into a cardboard box with some old newspaper and shoved into the back of a rental truck! Make sure your data and research is safe and secure during the moving process.
In order to help you prepare for the big move, there are a few things you will need to do in order to make the ordeal a success.
Moving Your Lab & Medical Equipment
- Prepare the animals. If your lab has animals, then start here as it is often difficult to transport animals. Be sure to talk with the animal care director at your new location to determine if there are any specific permits you need to file for. The new lab may also need to prepare and acquire permits as well in order for you to continue your research.
- Acquire work permits. Different countries and different states may require different permits than in Massachusetts. As such, you should contact your new lab institution to inquire about permits needed for radioactive or flammable substances, chemicals, animals and other materials. Be sure to set some time aside after the move to take your environmental health and safety training.
- Transfer funds. If you have a search grant or multiple funding incomes, be sure to contact the appropriate parties so that you can successfully transfer your research funds before the move.
- Decide what stays and what goes. Do you still need that stack of papers that has been sitting in the corner of the lab for months? Is there anything that can be transferred into a digital file? Keep in mind that the more stuff you have, the more expensive your move might be. Discuss with your research partners what samples and papers need to stay and what needs to go.
- Make a list. While you’re preparing your lab for the move, don’t forget to document a list of every item you are taking with you so that you have an inventory. Don’t forget that there are professional packing and shipping companies — such as EXPS, Inc. — that will also create an inventory list of items.
- Inquire about packing and shipping regulations. This is where a packing and shipping company comes into play. Before settling on a company, check state and federal regulations first to determine if the items you have need to be packaged and shipped in a particular manner. EXPS, Inc. is ISPM 15 certified, which means we can pack and ship plant materials and other organic matter.
- Contact a preferred packing and shipping company. EXPS, Inc. is here to provide both local and long distance packing and shipping services for laboratories. We provide free shipping estimates and will also provide you with a detailed agenda regarding how we will pack and ship your lab supplies and equipment. Transparency is something we strongly believe in, so you can rest assured that you will always be informed. Our professional packers will be sure to check all of your containers, properly label each one, and safely secure them onto our trucks for transport.
We understand that your laboratory equipment and supplies are what helps you conduct leading edge research, so why not ensure that it is properly cared for in transit? Contact Extreme Packing Solutions, Inc. today to get a free packing and shipping estimate for your lab and medical equipment.