Equipment Handling & Transit
We manage the lifecycle of production assets in transit. Ensuring highly sensitive camera, lighting, and grip equipment is loaded, moved, and staged with uncompromising security.
Protecting the Tools of the Trade
The technical equipment used on a major production represents both a massive financial liability and the physical means of capturing the film. If a specialized lens is damaged in transit, or a key generator delayed, production halts entirely. We view equipment logistics not merely as shipping boxes, but as managing critical assets. Our handling protocols prioritize security, climate control, mechanical safety, and rigorous tracking from the rental house to the set, and back again.
Fragile Transit & Protective Cases
We work directly with camera and sound departments to understand the specific tolerances of their gear. High-end cinema glass, delicate sensors, and finely calibrated stabilized heads require more than just being strapped into a truck. We assess the protective casing strategies—ensuring heavy-duty flight cases are securely ratcheted to load-bearing rails to prevent shifting during alpine climbs or sharp urban braking. We factor in vibration mitigation, especially for cross-continental road hauls where sustained transit can unseat optical alignments.
Loading, Unloading, and Tail-lift Protocols
The highest risk period for any piece of equipment is during loading and unloading. We mandate the use of vehicles with appropriate commercial tail-lifts, hydraulic ramps, and secure staging areas. Our logistics planners coordinate the physical layout of the load. It is a strictly controlled puzzle: heavy grip equipment, dolly tracks, and cables load first and low; sensitive electronics and immediate-need camera carts load last so they can roll directly off the truck and onto the set without delay. The loading order directly dictates the speed of the morning setup.
Temporary Storage & Security
Productions frequently require overnight staging between consecutive shooting days. Leaving loaded technical trucks exposed in public areas is an unacceptable risk. We coordinate secure, well-lit, and constantly monitored temporary storage compounds. Whether utilizing enclosed municipal parking structures or establishing private lock-ups guarded by overnight security details, we guarantee the safety of the assets.
Environmental Control & Power Staging
Modern equipment is highly sensitive to extreme temperatures. Leaving a truck full of lenses parked in sub-zero conditions overnight leads to condensation and fogging issues that cost hours of shooting time the next morning. Conversely, extreme heat degrades batteries. We arrange for climate-controlled storage where necessary, and we plan temporary power solutions at staging bases so that DIT stations and camera departments can safely charge block batteries overnight.
Equipment Manifests & Customs Auditing
The administrative side of equipment logistics is as demanding as the physical movement. Every cable, filter, and monitor must be cataloged. When traversing borders outside the immediate EU—such as moving from mainland Europe into the UK or Switzerland—we rely on perfect ATA Carnets. We oversee the manifest auditing process before the trucks ever leave the facility. A meticulous manifest ensures smooth border interactions, preventing eager customs officials from dismantling meticulously packed pallets to verify random serial numbers.
Timing Between Locations
When a production moves halfway through the day (a unit move), the equipment logistics are put to the ultimate test. We coordinate "pre-rig" and "de-rig" schedules. By managing secondary lighting and grip packages that advance ahead of the main unit, we ensure that when the director and cast arrive at the new location, the fundamental technical infrastructure is already in place and waiting.