Columns may meet all the required criteria for flow symmetry and efficiency once they’re packed, but shipping columns to off-site collaborators can introduce problems.  Shipping columns means they are moved on and off of loading bays, trucks and airplanes.  This exposes columns to temperature swings, vibration and changes in orientation – vertical, horizontal and in between.  While this is happening small amounts of air can enter columns, or liquids inside the columns can off-gas, resulting in bubbles or voids in the column resin.