Moving labs is a complex process and can require multiple phases before the final relocation is completed. Timelines may need to shift to suit contract start and end dates, due to restricted access, or because it may be more productive to move in phases. It could be that the new building needs more preparation before your lab team can move in. In these circumstances, having access to research-grade warehouse and storage facilities can be a significant boost to the success of the move.
In this guide, we look at when laboratory equipment storage might be necessary for your lab move and how specialist warehouse facilities, such as Benchmark Services’, are sometimes essential for success.
If you require laboratory storage or warehousing for your lab move, please speak to one of our team, and we will be happy to help.
How to decide when laboratory equipment storage should be part of your plan
When moving labs needs to be done in phases
Every lab move is different, and the exact time scales and intensity of the relocation depend on whether project deadlines are tight and productivity is critical. Moving labs requires lots of technical elements, such as cleaning and decommissioning equipment prior to the move and preparing samples ready for transport.
A lab move might therefore have many phases in place as each station is prepped, decommissioned and packed. For ease of room and manoeuvre, and to reduce clutter, using storage for equipment and furniture can ensure the move is clean, efficient and reduces the overall negative impact on productivity.
It can then lead to a phased restart, with stations coming online in batches, and equipment delivered out of storage in blocks, rather than one complete shift. This can reduce errors and losses while helping each research unit restart work quickly.
When end dates and start dates for your labs don’t run concurrently
Lab relocations are often borne of necessity. This might be because a new purpose-built research campus is being constructed, and your lab is moving in, or it might be because your lease is ending suddenly, and your new premises aren’t ready yet.
In either instance, the start date for moving in might not be the same day you move out. In these situations, you will need a temporary storage base for all your lab equipment, furniture and glassware.
Benchmark Services has significant warehouse space, especially tailored for laboratories and research facilities. If you have an overlap between facilities and you need temporary storage and delivery support, our team can help. Speak to us here.
When you are refurbishing your current labs rather than moving to a new one
Not all laboratory equipment storage requirements are because of a move between locations. Sometimes it’s because the current facilities are being upgraded. A project like this will require the premises to be completely emptied to allow site workers in, while ensuring expensive equipment is properly stored and temperature controls, etc are all in place.
Benchmark Services can help with laboratory refurbishment by providing temporary storage specially designed for lab and medical equipment. We have decades of experience in handling expensive, delicate and highly calibrated machinery and can provide ample storage for any length of time. Speak to us here for more information.
Whatever your lab move or refurbishment looks like, we can help with equipment warehousing and storage. Speak to us here to find out more.
What should you look for in lab equipment storage facilities?
Specialist expertise
Laboratory equipment is often fragile, expensive, heavy and subject to rigorous regulations. The average storage facility isn’t designed to handle machines that need reinforced flooring to take the weight or controlled temperatures and power levels in case research is compromised.
Benchmark Services, as a specialist lab relocation partner, has invested in warehousing tailored to storing laboratory equipment. We can ensure your machinery and equipment, plus even your furniture and beakers or flasks, are well cared for during the storage period. We can even manage your inventory and provide call-off facilities as you need them, so you don’t have huge amounts of stock delivered all at once, with nowhere to keep them.
Find out more about our storage services here.
Temperature and environmental control
Often, a lab relocation or refurbishment will require the removal and storage of temperature-sensitive equipment, such as ULT freezers or LN2 Cryogenic freezers. Items such as these need control and monitoring in facilities which aren’t subject to power fluctuations or spikes in heat or cold.
We regularly support our clients with reliable, trustworthy storage facilities, for as long as they need them, with specialist expertise in temperature management and monitoring. We can also provide loan fridges for temporary sample relocation. Find out more about our freezer specialism here.
Secure and managed access
Compliance and chain of custody are often crucial elements of good research governance. The storage facilities you choose need to be secure, with managed access when required and a log showing who has had access to your equipment.
You therefore need a team that has the expertise in laboratory equipment and managing compliance issues, rather than general warehouse staff who won’t maintain a chain of custody. Benchmark Services has over 25 years of experience, and our staff are rigorously trained in lab equipment storage. We also have a huge range of accreditations tailored to laboratory relocations and storage. Find out more here.
Speak to our team about temporary storage support.
What additional lab storage features might benefit your lab?
Inventory management & 3PL Warehousing
When planning your lab move, why not consider implementing a 3PL warehouse and inventory management service? The Benchmark Services team can store the consumables that will swallow up space in your new lab unnecessarily, and we can ship them to the exact point of use whenever your team needs them. Our service is efficient, cost-effective, and tailored to laboratories and research facilities.
Find out more about inventory management here.
Storage of old equipment during recycling and obsolescence
Moving labs is often a great point to refresh equipment, upgrade machinery and dispose of unwanted or unused items. Benchmark Services can help you declutter your new lab space of equipment that is no longer required. We can provide temporary storage, plus our specialist partners can provide support in recycling and reselling anything that’s obsolete or unwanted.
Find out more about Benchmark’s recycling support here.
Utilising lab equipment storage correctly
Planning storage requirements early in a lab relocation project can provide flexibility and ensure the move is more efficient, well-phased, and faster to return to productivity. Whether it’s supporting a phased move, providing a trusted space during a refurbishment or pivoting to a 3PL-managed service, temporary storage works best when it’s planned ahead of the move rather than as a reaction during the relocation.
The right storage partner needs to be an expert in laboratory, medical and research equipment. They need to be able to manage chains of compliance, access logging and security, plus provide a space which is stable, clean and temperature controlled. Standard commercial warehousing doesn’t meet the specialist criteria required by laboratories, so find a business that has experience and expertise outside of general storage.
Benchmark Services has over 25 years of experience working with laboratories and research facilities. We are trusted by large pharmaceutical clients to store and deliver their equipment when the labs need them, and we have the accreditations and training to protect your chain of custody.
If you’re planning a lab move or a refurbishment, then please speak to our team. We can help deliver and store almost all of your equipment, furniture and machinery.
Speak to our team
Case Studies
Freezer transportation for the University of Nottingham
Salience Labs – An example of successful laboratory relocation
Delivery and Installation of Biomedical Freezers to Birmingham Health Innovation Campus
Laboratory Equipment Storage: Frequently Asked Questions
What types of equipment can you store?
We can store a wide range of laboratory instruments, equipment and machinery, including centrifuges, MRIs, and incubators. We are specialists in transporting and storing ultra-low-temperature and LN2 Cryo freezers. We can also store your furniture, stools, tables and benches alongside your flasks, petri dishes and other glassware.
Can you store samples as well as equipment?
We can provide support with sample storage. This depends on what the samples are and whether they are considered hazardous. Speak to our team and ask us about sample storage for more information.
How long can laboratory equipment be stored for?
We offer a very flexible storage service. We have both short-term options of a few days or weeks while facilities are being finalised or commissioned, through to long-term storage provisions coupled with call-off facilities for consumables or other regular use items.
Can we access lab equipment while they are in storage?
We can arrange access to your lab equipment through your dedicated storage customer service team. We will endeavour to provide access that is as flexible as possible, provided it meets compliance requirements from our other storage projects. When speaking to our team about your lab equipment storage, please include any access needs you may have.
Is laboratory equipment storage a standalone service or is it included as part of a full lab relocation package?
We can offer storage on its own or included in an overall laboratory relocation package. We can also provide a hybrid option involving our third-party logistics services if required. See our storage services here, or speak to a member of our team.