By Emma Collins
Published November 4, 2019
A new art storage system has been launched after months of testing by many of the world’s leading galleries, museums and fine art shippers.
Made from recycled and recyclable material, the system known as ROKBOX, is said to be not just an upgrade on the wooden crate but also a fit for the 21st Century.
Wood has been the go-to solution to move and store artworks since the Renaissance Era. But not only is it not entirely protective – vulnerable to water absorption, vibration, water damage or an art collector’s worst fear, puncture damage – what’s more, because of the expense of storing purpose-built crates, they are often thrown away rather than reused.
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On the other hand, ROKBOX has been developed to withstand shock, water damage, humidity and punctures (and trust us, the testers threw everything they had at it), plus it’s far more sustainable than its wooden equivalent. Following a four-year development process, the ROKBOX team has honed its design to create a sophisticated reusable crate, packed with clever design features – a testament to how one can respectfully challenge industry norms through clever and intelligent design.
Formed from polyethylene, aluminium, silicone and recycled stainless steel, ROKBOX’s sophisticated design allows the user to easily secure any two dimensional artwork into the reusable crate and transport it safely and securely, without the need for internal packing materials. You can reconfigure ROKBOX’s patented floating panel and locking mechanism each time to accommodate different dimensions, avoiding the huge amount of wasteful packing materials and single-use wooden crates that end in landfill every year.
ROKBOX’s unique design is based upon the principle of securing an artwork to a rigid floating panel, which has been cushioned and expertly tuned to protect from shock, impact and vibration. It has been fine-tuned for a range of weight and size variations, meaning it’s just as safe to ship an invaluable print as a bulky canvas. It weighs 40% less than traditional crates, making it easier to handle and thus reducing drops and injury to art handlers.
Art transportation is a long-established business, and with this in mind users can use ROKBOX’s fixings or their own – the system works with the majority of global choices. Technicians can affix artworks to the panel without tools, reducing scope for human error and saving time. The design is so simple and ergonomic – when the artwork is locked in, it clicks like a seatbelt. You can feel it’s secure.
Launched in October 2019, ROKBOX is available to international fine arts markets in small (H109xW109xD28cm) and large (H159xW159xD34cm) sizes.
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