Moving a pharmaceutical company: How to prepare

Moving a medical, physics or chemistry research laboratory in Belgium has some special requirements that have to be managed down to the smallest detail. It is planned one year in advance with your moving company, as the risks of explosions and accidents are quite real.

There are three distinct aspects.

Moving the offices of a medical company

Moving the offices of any company, whether it is involved in pharmaceuticals, food or services, is done the same way: all handling is done by your mover, after an inventory and identification of all containers. Your mover provides packing boxes and plastic bins of different colours, so that you can identify the destination department or office.

Cleanrooms and semi-cleanrooms in a laboratory environment: movers adapt to them

A laboratory is generally made up of several distinct zones, both clean and semi-clean. The equipment the movers use will be adapted according to these needs:

• Cleanrooms are dedicated to scientific research. They are classified as ISO 6 or ISO 7. The tasks being performed require an environment free of pollution and contamination. The materials and equipment in these rooms are sensitive to variations in pressure, heat, humidity, etc. Any outside particle is considered undesirable and could ruin research results. Before entering a cleanroom, both staff and movers must put on coveralls and even goggles in an airlock
• Semi-cleanrooms are intermediate zones used for storage or maintenance, but also access to cleanrooms. A certain, but lesser, level of cleanliness must be maintained in these areas. To move a semi-cleanroom, movers must wear shoe covers, hair nets, aprons and gloves in certain cases. 

Type of packing in cleanrooms and semi-cleanrooms

Packing and transport materials are adapted to these immaculate environments: wood is prohibited, even if it has been treated. Synthetic materials such as Trespa or nylon should be used, since they do not retain any foreign bodies.

Transport of laboratory equipment: precision equipment

Laboratory equipment includes different types of measuring and analytical instruments for liquids, solids and gases. This delicate and costly equipment requires special attention.

In most cases, your suppliers are called upon to disconnect and pack these various objects in specific crates with the necessary care. Glassware and moving parts in particular benefit from special provisions. The contents of professional refrigerators and freezers are transported in a special transport vehicle in controlled temperatures with cryogenic liquid. 

Once at the destination, the various packages are stored in semi-cleanrooms. Laboratory staff or suppliers can then sterilise the supplies intended for cleanroom use.

Medical production lines and devices

The manufacturing of liquids, pills, oils or unguents for healthcare use requires a variety of robots and machines: conveyor belts, blister packers, foilers, baggers, civil engineering equipment (cranes, lifting equipment), etc. Once disconnected, they can be transported on sturdy pallets.

The laboratory’s own maintenance staff perform the necessary operations. To ensure that your industrial move is done without damage or stress, your mover will require that all equipment is ready for transport on moving day:

• All electrical devices are disconnected
• No inert or other gas, nor any liquid
• No traces of biocides or nuclear material

The shared objective is to minimise the non-production costs generated by the move.

Are you moving your pharmaceutical or healthcare company? Contact Maison Genné

Your experienced, CBD-certified mover in Belgium has the necessary know-how to support you optimally throughout your move. Contact Maison Genné to find out more about the provisions for a laboratory move or to get a quote. We will get back to you as soon as we can.