An art handling company is a specialized transportation firm that can move, pack, and install artworks and antiques. Art handling companies have trained personnel and specially equipped trucks and storage areas with which to make art work transfers. Many of the people working as art handlers are artists themselves and many others have come from museums and galleries. These specialists, combined with art handling tools and equipment, make up a team of people who are more than simple movers; they are also creative problem solvers when it comes to the demands of artwork in transit.

There are many types of services that are needed to accommodate the wide range of artworks encountered. These generally include trucking (local and long distance), freight forwarding (domestic and international), wrapping and packing, crating, installation, and storage (regular and climatized). Some companies can offer highly specialized services such as inventory/registration, rigging, and curatorial assistance for large collections. It is important to note that not all companies offer the same services, and some companies choose to focus on only certain services as their forte. Please take a few minutes to peruse our website and learn more about KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH specialties. 

Shuttle truck runs exist for reasons of economy and efficiency. Most customers (consumers and institutions) cannot afford to reserve the use of an entire truck solely for their shipment; those costs would be prohibitive. To meet the needs of customers spread across the entire country, art handling companies have developed shuttle routes.By making use of a shuttle transfer, a customer’s artwork will travel in a specialized truck with other artworks belonging to other collectors and institutions. The company organizing the shuttle run will be in charge of distributing the items along the route as the trip proceeds.

KROLL ART & PROJECTS´prices are determined by tabulating the volume of the goods and the distance that they will travel. Volume is calculated by taking the measurements of the items and converting them to cubic footage. There may be extra fees added for special services requested by the customer, such as insurance, wrapping, extra labor, materials, etc.

Our trucks are monitored by a team of dispatchers at our office. Every pickup and delivery receives advance notification from our office and from the drivers themselves if necessary.

"Air ride" is a type of suspension system that is added to a truck’s rear axle(s) to help protect the load as the truck moves down the road. The factory standard leaf springs are removed and in their place, the truck is equipped with pneumatically air-fed cushioning bags to absorb shock and bumps. An air ride system on a truck is easily identifiable by its black mushroom-like cushions just behind and between the rear tires. All of KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH trucks have this equipment.

The term “climatized” is often misapplied and misunderstood in the world of art shipping.So called “climate control” can refer to either temperature control maintenance, or to full temperature and humidity control maintenance of the cargo area in a truck. Most art handling companies employ equipment that monitors and applies cold or heat to the cargo area when outside conditions require it. Some truckers can offer fully climatized service that maintains both the temperature and the relative humidity, although this is usually only available in tractor-trailer sized vehicles and at extra expense. Temperature control is maintained by a thermostat and switches on and off based on the temperature outside of the truck. A truck with this type of equipment must also have an insulated cargo body with well-sealed doors in order to keep the environment maintained. All of KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH trucks have temperature control with extensive custom insulation and sealant built in to the cargo areas.

Many items can suffer when exposed to extreme heat or cold. Wooden antiques react terribly to freezing temperatures as the joints can expand and crack, while some paintings do not fare well in extreme heat as the canvas behind the paint can settle improperly. While normal changes in the weather usually do not pose a risk, extremes can be harmful. However, it is a sad truth that no equipment can control Mother Nature. KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH advises that customers consult with us about any items that need special attention. We believe that the best protection is in the packing and we advise that exceedingly fragile items be crated to afford maximum protection while in transit.

Art handling trucks will usually have lift-gates that facilitate the loading and unloading of heavy items when the point of delivery does not have a tailboard loading dock. There should also be an alarm system protecting the freight. These systems usually function in a manner similar to car alarms, making a signal if unauthorized entry is attempted and also preventing the vehicle from being moved without the proper keys and codes. Many trucks are also equipped with a “high-cube” body, this being an especially tall cargo area to accommodate large contemporary paintings without causing them to lean when in transit. A sleeper cab is sometimes used to assure that the drivers can remain with the truck at all times. For reasons of safety and security, art handling trucks should be staffed by two drivers. At KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH, we employ all of the above to protect you goods.

Not all companies use the features described above. Most use a combination of features with temperature control, air ride, lift gate, and alarm being the norm. Since there is no standardized rule for art handling trucks, it is important that the customer inquire as to the type of equipment that will be employed in their shipment.

Soft packing is a generic term that usually describes any type of packing short of a crate. Soft packed items are covered with malleable protective materials such as plastic, bubble-wrap, and cardboard. Crated items are surrounded by custom made wooden cases that afford maximum protection. Crates normally have sturdy outer wooden (or plastic) shells surrounding a foam protective inner layer that contains the item in transit. A crate may be required when an item is too fragile, highly valued or oddly shaped to entrust soft packing. A crate is always required when sending goods by airplane or common carrier. KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH staff is fully trained in both soft packing and crating and we can assist you with any packing project related to your goods in transit.

Yes. Many artists and institutions prefer to wrap their items for shuttle themselves. By doing so they can save money and pack their items to meet their own standards. Before pre-packing the goods, it is recommended that customers elicit suggestions as to what types of pre-packing are needed and acceptable for their items. KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH staffs are all trained art handlers (many are former drivers) and we are glad to offer suggestions and any advice that customers may need when undertaking their own wrapping.

Most art handling companies provide additional insurance if needed for a customer’s shipment. It is important to note that at KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH insurance is never automatically provided. As a forwarding company we are only liable according to our general trading conditions (allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen) and is our liability limited to 8.33 special drawing rights per kilo gross weight or to an amount of 1.022,58 Euro per CBM (see article 5 our trading conditions). In general, as a customer one should not assume that an insurance is automatically included when organising a transport via a specialised art handling company. By insuring items in transit, a customer asks a shipping company to assume the risk for the full value of goods from one point to another point. To have the company assume the risk and put the coverage in place, there will be an additional fee for the premium added to the customer’s bill. This fee is determined by the overall value of the goods in transit.

No. Some mishaps cannot be covered by insurance. Most shipping companies have exclusions that the customer should review in advance. When a loss or damage happens due to an excluded occurrence, the customer will be denied a claim settlement even if insurance was purchased in advance. Most exclusions involve conditions which are out of the shipping company’s control. Examples of common exclusions are acts of nature (such as a flood) and concealed breakage (as when a shipping company received a pre-sealed carton or container). Customers should always ask specific questions and be fully aware of what specific coverage they are purchasing. Please see KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH complete terms and conditions for details.

An art handling or shipping company will easily sell insurance for any amount a customer declares, but shipping companies are not responsible to substantiate values as stated by a customer. It is important that owners of artworks have an independent means of verifying the value of goods in transit. Having proof of value is the best tool for adjusting with the insurance company in the unlikely event of a mishap. This proof can take the form of photos, receipts, sales records, or previous policies and valuations provided to other insurance companies. In general, the more documentation, the better, as this can protect the owner of the goods once a shipment has commenced.

Keep in mind that one rule governs all shipping projects: time and money are inversely related. The more time one offers the shipping company, the less the project is likely to cost, and vice versa. For this reason, customers should get their information together as early as possible before a shipment needs to happen. Customer should also try to be as thorough in their information as possible. The shipping company will need full details, including; the precise sizes of items, origin and destination details, specifics on packing requirements, and available timetable to complete the project. It is also a good idea to fax written estimates and confirmations back and forth between customers and movers, as this will provide essential records for the bidding process. Please contact us for details.

KROLL ART & PROJECTS GmbH is a full service and door to door art handling company. But we need your help to do our job as well as possible. When booking transit with us, we ask that you please give us the most complete information that you have. Besides sizes and wrapped conditions of your items, we need to know full details on the pickup and delivery points as well as any special conditions for transit or access. Always clearly mark or tag your packages and make it clear to us when special handling is required. Remember that if you’ve packed it, we can’t see inside of it, so we could always use your help to ensure the safety of your items. You can also assist us by notifying everyone involved in the shipment with our planned dates of arrival and to expect phone calls from our dispatchers. Always remember that the more information you share with us, the better we can serve you and keep your costs down.

Thanks.