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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. 

The Project

In January 2020, Johnsons undertook the planning and relocation of Croda’s laboratory relocation from Ditton in Cheshire. Our ADR trained team use a number of pieces of relocation equipment to safely and carefully relocate all laboratory items/equipment (scissor lifting tables/pallet trucks/non-slip wheeled sack trucks and skates). Special shock and tilt monitors were used on the delicate/high-value items that we packed and relocated to ensure that they can be checked at the delivery end, with an auditable trail to confirm that careful, safe and correct handling techniques have been used.

Scope of Services

• 2 no. days Laboratory Move Manager to undertake the planning and preparation prior to the commencement of the move
• Provision of our DGSA (Dangerous Goods & Safety Advisor) to support and provide the legally required transportation documentation
• Supply of experienced/trained/uniformed JLL relocation team members
• Supply of ADR compliant vehicles and certified ADR drivers as required (to relocate the biohazard level 1 & 2 freezer contents)
• Provision of shock and tilt monitors for high value/delicate equipment (Mass Spec/HPLCs)
• Packing and unpacking of all larger/heavier laboratory items in to/out of bespoke wooden crates and on/off pallets
• Supply of UN compliant thermo-shipping poly boxes and 40kg dry ice to support the relocation of the biohazard level 1 & 2 contents
• Supply of 6 x bespoke built wooden crates with insulated foam lining (for the relocate of larger/delicate equipment), as well as crates, bubble wrap and labels
• Supply of polyboxes and chilled gel packs to support the relocation of loose fridge items that cannot be secured in the fridge for transport
• Building protection for al main doorways/walkways/lifts as required
• Goods in transit Insurance of up to £1m total value as standard

Testimonial

“Could you please say a big thank you to the whole relocation team. It went really well, smoothly, with no major problems, so I’m very happy with the whole process.”

Relocation of Level 1 and 2 Freezer Contents and -80 Freezer

To support the integrity of the biohazard level 1 & 2 freezer contents, we supplied UN compliant/standard thermal shippers with dry ice/gel packs.

For the relocation of the -80 freezer, we supplied a 185-litre capacity TC10 thermal-shipper. The TC10 is a high-quality Thermal Control Unit made with polystyrene and fibreboard and has been specially designed to relocate frozen material with dry ice being used as a coolant. The TC10 has a dry ice loss rate of 457.5 grams per hour (based on an average outside temperature of 30 degrees) so ensured that any -80 freezer contents that were being transported would have sufficient coolant to cover the relocation requirement with an adequate amount of contingency time being incorporated.

In addition to the physical transportation of the freezer, it provided an extra level of contingency should the -80 freezer have had any issues and didn’t power upon arrival at the new address.

Move Management

One of our leading Laboratory Move Manages was assigned to undertake this project, completing all the necessary planning tasks, ensuring all aspect of the project were planned and completed safely and correctly. Prior to the relocation, he attended site and undertook a number of measures to ensure the live move day ran effectively:

• Measured up all larger items that required bespoke wooden crates (items that will not fit into standard L3C or IT6 crates)
• Ran through the logistics of the relocation with the Croder Laboratory Manager to see if there was a preferred sequencing method
• Confirmed the relocation requirements for the fridges/freezers and ensured that we were in possession of all information to safely and legally relocate all the contents
• Validated all requirements/items that are to be relocated
• Supplied packing and labelling advice for the items that the client was responsible for
• Completed an audit of the site/s to ensure that compliant Risk Assessments and Method Statements are produced and provided and record what building protection is required