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Making the most of lab relocation from a marketing perspective

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Lab moves are often facilitated for positive reasons – signifying progression, expansion or an exciting new chapter in the history of a laboratory facility or organisation. Despite this few remember to make the most of their lab relocation from a marketing perspective – maximising the benefits of the move and ensuring your lab and the work you do is more well-known, possibly resulting in greater exposure designed to open up investment opportunities and secure important press coverage in industry publications and beyond. Here we share three ways to maximise the marketing potential of your upcoming lab relocation.

Outline and communicate the benefits of the move

Start by setting out the benefits associated with the move. Why is it happening? What will it achieve? How will it improve service delivery? Are you moving on to bigger and better premises? Perhaps you are joining forces with another high-profile team for an exciting collaboration designed to make waves in the industry. This is especially important when there is a negative motivation behind the move or controversial aspect to the relocation. Spinning the situation in your favour will help outsiders to see the changes in a positive light – but it may also help you to get staff and investors on board where disagreement or trepidation are concerned.

Announce in advance to secure press coverage

Press coverage is notoriously difficult to secure if you aren’t prepared. Start by compiling your list of benefits into a succinct, comprehensive document designed to attract and excite journalists. Make a carbon copy then tweak according to the publication you are aiming for. For example, if your breakthrough in cosmetic research affects both the industry and the consumer, compile a press release that focuses on the technical and scientific aspects and achievements for industry press, and a piece aimed at the benefits for the end user to satisfy mainstream publications. If this is of significant importance to you it’s well worth hiring a PR firm with industry experience to manage the marketing and print promotion aspect on your behalf.

Chart the lab move on social media

If your company or organisation uses social media, be sure to announce the move then chart its progress across all platforms. This keeps followers involved and informed and can encourage heightened interest from various groups. Share images and video media from start to finish and don’t be afraid to be creative – building up to the point where you can share and show off the end result.

Why Your Choice Of Laboratory Moving Company Counts

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When it comes to laboratory relocation, specialist assistance is almost always required. Here we explain why lab moves can be so complex, and how to choose a reputable, responsible removals firm to help you organise your lab move confidently and cost-effectively.

Safety is key

First and foremost, safety (both for laboratory staff, transportation partners and the general public) must be considered. How will hazardous materials, chemicals and dangerous goods be packaged, transported and safely stored upon arrival? What documentation is needed? Regulations will need to be adhered to. Safety must be thoroughly considered before the move, with comprehensive plans put in place in conjunction with a dedicated dangerous goods specialist and the lab move project manager.

Packaging matters

How you pack and prepare lab equipment, medical equipment and certain substances and materials for transportation matters. You may need to ask for professional advice regarding packaging for specialist items. When dismantling equipment for reassembly it’s important to work in chronological order, with sensible, clear labelling applied to each component. An itinerary and inventory must also be generated to cover the move as a whole and prepare for every eventuality, with contingency time built in just in case.

Risk assessment and project management

Managing the move as a whole will become a full-time job for its duration, so it’s important to be prepared for the time and resources this may take up. It’s also key to have some experience of lab relocation, as this will guide your response and approach.

The importance of hiring professional lab movers

When you consider the myriad risks associated with lab moves as detailed above, specialist assistance becomes both relevant and essential. Whilst lab employees and management have a detailed and intimate knowledge of their equipment, materials and the nature of the relocation, transportation specialists will appreciate the project from a holistic perspective, focusing on the practical elements, regulatory compliance and any special provisions that will need to be made. Experience counts in this industry – even if you have a complex or unusual requirement, you want to be sure that the company you deal with is competent and confident in handling the project in question. Always ask for details of experience, accreditations and qualifications and relevant recent testimonials where possible.

In need of a professional laboratory moving company? Speak to our dedicated team today to learn more about our approach, experience and credentials.

The Logistics Of A Specialist Lab Equipment Move and When To Communicate The Move To Your Clients

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Whilst a laboratory move itself needs plenty of planning and preparation, the logistics and peripheral tasks surrounding relocation day also need to be taken into consideration. Here we explain why notifying relevant parties is important – with a few tips to help you to successfully communicate the move of specialist lab equipment to your clients, staff and suppliers.

Make plans for notification and updates early on

Considering how and when you’ll notify relevant parties during the preparatory stages of your laboratory relocation removes the headache of arranging emails, letters and making calls when you’re in the middle of a move. Make a list in advance, separating groups of interest parties including professional partners, suppliers, sponsors, staff and clients. You may also like to include press on the list if you want to make the most of the relocation as a promotional opportunity.

Letting people know minimises the disruption of downtime

Laboratory relocation can naturally cause some disruption and/or downtime – especially where transportation of specialist lab equipment is involved. You’ll need to let clients and associates know that this may be the case – but do so in a positive way, emphasising the importance of the move and the benefits it will bring in the future.

Get creative and use relocation as an opportunity to reach out

A relocation is in fact the perfect time to reconnect with clients and suppliers you may not have spoken to in a while. You may like to put together a newsletter either online or on paper, detailing the move but also any important progress that has been made within the past six months. Sharing and celebrating achievements may bring unexpected positive results alongside the move – such as fresh funding, grants, lucrative new partnerships and collaborations.

Need expert support for an upcoming relocation involving specialist lab equipment or chemistry equipment? Get in touch today to discuss your specific requirements.

Showcasing our services at Multimodal 2022

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The ever-popular Multimodal 2021 exhibition – 19 to 21 October – gives us a unique opportunity to demonstrate our extensive services to a supply chain and logistics community of shippers, retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and exporters.

We’re now looking forward to Multimodal 2023, 13 to 15 June at Birmingham’s NEC.

Multimodal is the industry’s meeting place where cargo owners and shippers attend to find ways to improve their supply chains and discover innovative ideas to solve their transport and logistics issues.

Over 250 companies exhibit at Multimodal offering solutions across all modes together with the latest technological advances to make supply chains more cost effective and more efficient.

Free to attend conference streams offer an educational programme with something for everyone.

Nottingham Trent University

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The Project

Throughout October 2020, Johnsons Laboratory Logistics undertook a major relocation at Nottingham Trent University. Three buildings formed part of this relocation which saw our team relocate 7,50cbft. This included:

  1. The new MTIF Building (relocation destination)
  2. iSmart Building (main site of relocation assets/equipment)
  3. Engineering/IDI building

Prior to the live relocation, the research team highlighted two items of equipment of significant weight/mass, a list to which we added a third item which would require specialist moving:

  1. A granite section weighing approximately 4500kg
  2. A stack of three lasers (LAMBDA PHYSIK), each laser weighing approximately 500kg
  3. Trotec SP500 Laser Cutter

To facilitate the packing of smaller items and office items prior to relocation, the iSmart and Engineering/IDI users had their crates delivered four weeks prior to the relocation week, and retained them for four weeks subsequent to the relocation week.

  • Specialist air ride relocation vehicles to complete the relocation
  • ADR trained/certified staff and compliant vehicles to complete the chemical/sample
  • relocations
  • Packing/moving of all assets/larger laboratory items using specialised packing/moving
  • techniques
  • Unpacking of all larger items into final position in the MTIF building
  • Packing and unpacking of all IT
  • Laboratory: 180 no. L3C crates + 60 IT6 crates 
  • Thermal Shippers provided for the safe transfer of any cold-chain material from the fridges/freezers
  • Pallets to relocate the large/bulky laboratory equipment
  • Bespoke Wooden Crates to be used to relocate any delicate / high-value laboratory equipment
  • Shock and tilt monitors to be used for the relocation of the delicate/analytical laboratory
  • equipment
  • Open-cell protective foam for delicate laboratory equipment
  • Specialist moving equipment/vehicles; HIAB / Telehandler
  • Specialist ramp to be supplied to allow the safe access/relocation of all items via the rear
  • double door exit of iSmart Building (rated safe for 5000kg)

We hired in a HIAB vehicle to relocate the 4.5T granite system that is used as a delivery system for high-end optical elements that manipulate the laser beam of a KrF laser. The sensitivity of this piece of equipment needed to be relocated with was paramount to the success of the overall project.

The Project Manager, Danny Doherty, arranged for a test list to be completed first. This was to ensure the weight was equally attributed on the ratchet straps and it bore no risk of falling.

Danny also orchestrated the solution for the equipment being delivered to the second floor of the MTIF building with no access to goods lifts or stairways of sufficient capacity for the equipment being relocated there.

Due to the project planning and management undertaken, the consistent team and onsite presence of the Project Manager, all elements of this relocation were completed successfully. The Research Team, whose equipment it is, were complimentary in their overview of the service delivery, expressing thanks at the ease we were able to place on the project. 

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