What are White Glove Removals & When is it Required?
The term ‘white glove’ generally refers to something technical; white glove removals involve delicate and very expensive equipment that must be handled with the greatest of care. Almost every industry demands specialist transport and handling, and some more than others. In this short article, we examine the details of white glove removals and help you gain a deeper understanding of the industry and how it operates.
Planning a major project
Let’s imagine a heavy industry plant is due to be relocated; the project involves a lot of calculation, as to the dimensions and weight of large items. Ask any commercial interstate removalists in Melbourne, and they will confirm that it is all about research and planning. How will a large piece of equipment be moved? Is it best to disassemble, or at least partly? These are questions that need answers, and the feasibility team would be the first to look at a major industrial relocation project.
Disassembly
More often than not, equipment has to be prepared accordingly prior to any relocation; if it is required, then a specialist team is brought in who is certified to work with that equipment; it has to be that way, the manufacturer insists. This can be a long and drawn-out stage of a project, but it needs to be done safely and without interrupting regular activities. Plants rarely shut down to allow for such operations.
Specialist transportation
Large items demand special trucks and usually a police escort, while a route needs to be planned; air freight is used when practical; low-loader truck beds that are tailored for specific pieces are used. Of course, drivers must be certified, and they need to review on a regular basis to retain their licence. Heavy cranes are often used; of course, safety is at the forefront of every operation. Insurance is high, but it is necessary when ultra-expensive equipment is moved and installed. Imagine a fossil fuel power plant that had to be dismantled and scrapped! This would be a 6-month project, possibly longer.
Delivery & Installation
When new machinery is ready to be installed, it is usually transported and handled only by the white-glove team, which has complete control over the area, including personnel who are allowed to stay. A large MRI scanner, for example, might need to be taken to the 3rd floor, then it has to be taken along corridors to the final resting place. These are major projects that can only be safely completed by people who have been trained to handle this equipment. Commercial HVAC systems are commonly installed by white-glove teams.
Industries that use white-glove removals
The following industries make regular use of white-glove teams:
- Aerospace
- Auto manufacturing
- Power stations
- Mining
- Civil engineering
- Industrial climate control
- Pharmaceutical & medical
- Government utilities
- Data centres
- Retail shopping malls
Many more sectors require white-glove logistics, and in Australia, we have a market leader who specialises in specific industries. Whatever the industry, there will be a white-glove provider that is approved by the manufacturer to handle the equipment. It takes an awful lot of resources to carry out a single major project, so these companies have built up considerable resources that they need.
Bidding for contracts
Large products go up for tender, with qualified contractors selectively bidding for specific contracts that they want. This process can take a few months, and eventually, a contractor is chosen, and preparation can get underway. Sometimes there is serious competition, and that can cause some tension.
Timeline restrictions
Of course, such a large operation would have a timeline, and the project must be completed according to the agreement. There are heavy financial penalties when a contractor does not meet their deadline, which puts the team leader under a lot of pressure.
Experienced management
Things do go wrong, and it is the sign of an experienced manager who overcomes issues and gets the project over the line. Of course, the greatest of care is taken when moving large and heavy equipment, and many aspects must be taken into consideration. Some projects involve the general public, and this can cause extra problems, as safety becomes paramount. Working under pressure is nothing new to a white-glove logistics manager, a professional who would have at least 5 years of experience managing major projects in Australia.
If you have a large-scale removal coming up for your business, you would like to consult with an established white-glove removalist who can take a look at the project. Google can help you bring up a list of established white-glove specialists. Then you can browse until you find something that interests you. Start with an informal enquiry, and that should lead to a few proposals, which is the first stage of the project.