Records are usually worth far more than the shelving holding them. Protecting documents through dismantle, transport and reinstall is the discipline that separates specialists from removal firms.
Stage 1 — Decant strategy
Three options: client decants in advance; we decant into sealed crates; or we shrink-wrap entire bays for in-situ lift. The right option depends on file format, sensitivity and timeline.
Stage 2 — Sequenced labelling
Every crate or wrapped bay carries a colour-coded label tying it to a specific bay number at the destination. This means re-shelving order is preserved — finding rate is unchanged the moment the system reopens.
Stage 3 — Dust and pest control
Old archive zones can carry decades of accumulated dust. HEPA vacuums and dust sheets are used during track lift. For genuinely heritage collections we work alongside the client's conservator.
Stage 4 — Transport conditions
Air-ride curtainsiders, palletised loads, ratchet strapping. For sensitive collections we run climate-stable single-load vehicles direct, no part-loads.
Stage 5 — Re-shelving and audit
The reverse of decant: crate by crate, bay by bay, back to original sequence. Final audit checks file count against the pre-move register before sign-off.