With two large warehouses specifically designed for the storage of laboratory equipment and delicate medical machinery, Benchmark Services is the trusted partner for many manufacturers of specialist freezer and ultra low temperature equipment. These manufacturers rely on Benchmark because of their expertise in careful handling and high quality service.
One such client is PHC Europe BV who manufacture high-performance laboratory equipment and whose brand is built on a reputation for quality engineering of equipment for life sciences facilities. Once their products are ready, they needed a trusted logistics specialist to deliver their items efficiently, ensuring the equipment arrived in pristine condition.
For the delivery of a number of biomedical freezers to the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, PHC Europe BV relied on Benchmark Services. A collaborative approach, careful planning and decades of experience in laboratory equipment delivery meant PHC Europe BV had the perfect partner for their logistics requirements.
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Providing specialist freezer deliveries for PHC Europe BV
PHC Europe BV appointed Benchmark Services to manage the delivery and positioning of laboratory cold storage equipment at the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) facility on the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC). The PHTA is a major new research facility designed to boost scientific development and features a wide array of state-of-the-art laboratory spaces across the campus.
PHC Europe BV were fulfilling a requirement for cold storage solutions which could meet the high demands of scientific research. The equipment included, amongst other items, ultra-low-temperature freezers, such as -150 °C cryogenic chest freezers. These ULT freezer units require an understanding of the health and safety issues associated with very low temperature refrigerants and expertise in delivering biomedical equipment without disruption – core elements of Benchmark Services’ project management.
These high-specification freezer units would be preserving biological samples and research materials and therefore the level of service for delivery needed to match the quality of manufacture.
The freezers transported for PHC Europe BV
-150 °C Cryogenic Chest Freezers
Cryogenic chest freezers are used to store biological samples over a long period of time. Stability and temperature regularity are crucial to ensure that samples aren’t compromised by fluctuations or power spikes. Correct positioning for access and ventilation clearance when installed is also an important factor that needs to be considered when planning the project.
Cryogenic chest freezers are large and heavy; they have complex internal insulation and temperature processing systems that must be treated with extreme care when handling. Any bumps, bangs or severe rotations can significantly impact the overall performance of the new unit and require expensive repairs and Benchmark Services has an exceptional record when handling, moving and installing high specification freezers, and the team were well aware of the risks and had the equipment, experience and training required to deliver these cryogenic freezers successfully.
ECO -80 °C Biomedical Freezer Units
The industry standard for storing vaccines, cultures and samples, -80 °C biomedical freezers from PHC Europe BV are designed to be energy efficient and provide long-term temperature stability.
Benchmark Services prepared the delivery of these units to ensure they had a level site, ample air circulation around the unit and access for maintenance and servicing.
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Laboratory Capacity Refrigerators
Less extreme in temperature requirements, these refrigerators need to be precise to ensure reagents and other materials are stored at the correct temperature. An uncalibrated refrigerator, or one not running at optimum performance, can either be too warm or too cold. Benchmark Services are laboratory relocation specialists, providing PHC Europe BV with the peace of mind that the refrigerators would be carefully sited and installed, with minimal downtime and reliability guaranteed.
CO2 Incubators
CO2 incubators are particularly sensitive to vibration, unstable flooring and fluctuations in the environment. Siting the incubators near a gas supply also needed to be considered.
Logistical planning and site restrictions
A brand new facility, the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, has been designed with convenience for laboratories and research companies in mind. However, the building has controlled access, structured loading procedures, and there are multiple companies throughout the building, which means minimising disruption was key for a successful install. As part of the site review, the Benchmark Services team assessed the access routes, lift weight capacity and size, loading tolerances across the floors that would be traversed and the layout of the laboratory in which the freezers were being installed.
Planning is a crucial element of any successful move, and the Benchmark Services team invest time and focus on ensuring that the site visits are detailed, the plans are communicated clearly with all stakeholders and a suitable risk assessment is completed to identify any potential pitfalls during the move. The team will often deliver during out-of-hours to minimise disruption across a site and ensure access is as free as possible. Specialist transportation equipment that minimises vibration and impact shocks is also deployed when required.
Ultra-low temperature freezers require stabilisation before use. The Benchmark team sited the equipment, ensuring the freezers were levelled precisely, all doors and seals were inspected, and the freezers had time to settle before use. This minimised the risk of performance issues once the laboratory was up and running.
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Conclusion
The installation of ULT and cryogenic freezers plus specialist refrigerators required coordination and technical expertise. PHC Europe BV produce incredibly high-quality precision instruments, which, on this project, required immediate commissioning for their client.
Steve Knights, area sales manager for PHC Europe BV BV, said of the project: “Thank you to Tom and Les from Benchmark Services for their patience and expertise getting through today. We look forward to seeing the building up and running (of the labs) in the very near future.”
Research facilities are expanding or relocating across the UK, and this means equipment manufacturers and lab managers are increasingly requiring expert logistics specialists who have the experience and credentials necessary to deliver specialist biomedical equipment.
Read our other case studies hereDelivering Biomedical Freezers: Frequently Asked Questions
Can biomedical freezers be relocated after installation?
Relocating a biomedical freezer after installation is possible, but should only be attempted by laboratory relocation specialists such as Benchmark Services. Attempting to move the equipment without the proper training and expertise will result in uncalibrated, imprecise performance from expensive machinery.
Why should biomedical equipment manufacturers use specialist delivery partners?
Ultra-low temperature freezers and cryogenic equipment are high-value and sensitive to vibrations and fluctuations in the environment. General logistics companies will offer a relocation service, but they won’t have the credentials, training or years of experience to understand how to treat precision equipment. This includes commissioning, positioning on-site and deliveries to restricted access areas such as first floors. Working with a specialist laboratory relocation company such as Benchmark Services will reduce long-term costs in calibration, damage to research materials and repairs to expensive equipment.
What risks do manufacturers face if delivery and installation are handled incorrectly?
Improper handling of ULT or biomedical freezers can result in compressor damage and temperature fluctuations. This can lead to warranty issues, delays to commissioning and storage of critical materials and potential long-term impacts on grant funding and project deliverables. Working with a specialist, such as Benchmark Services, will mitigate many of these risks.
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Other Information you may be interested in
Our Relocation Services https://www.benchmark-services.co.uk/services/relocation-services/
Our Storage Services https://www.benchmark-services.co.uk/services/storage/
Our Freezer Transport Services https://www.benchmark-services.co.uk/services/freezer-transport-services/