Protect artworks safely and efficiently for transport

Packaging is key to the safe transport of sensitive works of art – from clear labelling on the outside to reliable ways of fixing them to sturdy cardboard boxes as secure outer packaging. Rajapack GmbH, packaging mail order company for the B2B sector, is on hand to provide its customers with advice and assistance on the right packaging solution: a wide variety of objects such as expensive prints, antique sculptures or framed pictures in a wide range of formats can be transported safely thanks to the versatile portfolio of the packaging experts.

When works of art go on a journey, fear often travels with them – because the objects are often particularly sensitive. If they are damaged during transport, there is the threat of immense costs for restoration, if not complete loss of value. The importance that museums, galleries and private dealers attach to transport safety is correspondingly high. Reliable packaging is also one of the obligations of every art insurance policy, i.e. if the packaging was inadequate, the insurance company will not pay in the event of damage. Accordingly, it is important to use suitable materials and products – and in comparison to the damage that can occur without them, these are also very inexpensive in most cases.

RAJA is constantly being asked for packaging for art objects - and so far we have found the right packaging for every art object. In addition to reliable direct protection such as bubble wrap with fleece content or edge protectors, the focus of the orders is usually on warning labels that make sensitive contents recognisable at first glance during transport. There is also continuous demand for secure fixing options and, of course, strong cardboard boxes and containers as outer packaging.

Suitable helpers for transport protection

Warning labels such as “Top”, “Fragile” or “Keep dry” inform forwarders on the outside of the packaging about the correct handling of the load and thus contribute significantly to the success of an art transport. Every transport means extreme stress for works of art: even vibrations or shocks during the journey are enough to cause damage. Damping packaging that absorbs shocks is therefore obligatory. As direct protection for products with sensitive surfaces, many art dealers resort to bubble wrap films such as Softbul: it combines the protective properties of cushioning against impact or pressure with the gentle properties of fleece. Edge protection corners or profiles are also virtually part of the basic equipment for safe transport – especially of sensitive frames.

Shipping tubes such as the cuboid Quattropack model are particularly popular for shipping art prints:

The packaging offers enough crumple zone on all edges to reliably prevent kinks. Stretch films are the right helpers to protect a wide variety of objects from dirt or dust or to fix them securely for transport on pallets: they are tear-resistant, flexible and stretchable and adapt optimally to the shape of a product. Cardboard packaging in mostly particularly stable designs is also used as outer packaging for transporting works of art.

Special products such as containers that protect against moisture and splash water and are therefore particularly suitable for transport by ship are recommended for larger works of art.

And for the very large works, of course, individual solutions are needed to send them safely on their journey.