Conservation by Design
Conservation by Design (CXD) manufactures and supplies conservation-grade archival storage boxes, papers, boards, enclosures, equipment, and museum display cases to museums, galleries, libraries, and archives worldwide from its Bedford, UK facilities, operating via a global e-commerce platform since 1992.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersMilton Keynes, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Conservation by Design does
Conservation by Design (CXD) is a UK-based manufacturer and global supplier of conservation and archival storage products, founded in 1992 by Stuart Welch and headquartered at Timecare Works in Kempston, Bedford. The company designs and manufactures what it describes as the world's largest range of acid-free archival storage boxes, alongside conservation-grade papers, boards, enclosures, equipment, oxygen-free treatment products, museum display showcases, and the bespoke Planorama anodised aluminium drawer storage system, all from its own Bedford factories. It serves museums, galleries, libraries, and archives worldwide and holds a Royal Warrant by appointment to His Majesty King Charles III. Its products are certified to ISO9706 (archival paper standard) and Photographic Activity Test (PAT) standards, and proprietary technology includes the Planorama drawer system and oxygen-free storage solutions targeting difficult preservation problems such as pest eradication, flood-damaged material recovery, and storage of oxidation-sensitive materials including plastics, rubber and geological specimens.
CXD operates a product-led, e-commerce-first go-to-market motion through cxdinternational.com, with live inventory visibility and unit-based pricing ranging from approximately £0.68 for basic envelopes to over £1,000 for specialist equipment. Stock items are self-serve, while specially commissioned products (bespoke Planorama units, museum showcases, large oxygen-free installations) are handled through direct phone and email consultation, supported by an appointment-only showroom at the Bedford headquarters. The company distributes globally to enterprise institutional buyers, with carriage charged at cost (minimum £15) and small-order surcharges applied below £50. Sub-brands include Timecare (archival boxes), Planorama (drawer systems), and EcopHant (eco-friendly Superior Millboard boxes); heritage offerings such as Moulin du Verger handmade papers and a Japanese conservation brush range extend the catalogue into restoration specialities.
The company is a privately held private limited company incorporated in England (Conservation by Design Ltd.) with no disclosed institutional investment, funding rounds, subsidiaries, or M&A activity. No revenue, headcount, or financial figures are publicly disclosed, and ownership appears founder-aligned. Marketing reaches the conservation professional audience through the website, an email newsletter, the Timecare Magazine, downloadable catalogues, an active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube, industry events, the Montefiascone Project Stories scholarship programme, and case-study content such as the Prague Floods 2002 documentation. Geographic reach is claimed as worldwide with no restrictions identified.
Conservation by Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Conservation by Design
- Legal name
- Conservation by Design Ltd.
- Website
- https://cxdinternational.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Conservation by Design (CXD) manufactures and supplies conservation-grade archival storage boxes, papers, boards, enclosures, equipment, and museum display cases to museums, galleries, libraries, and archives worldwide from its Bedford, UK facilities, operating via a global e-commerce platform since 1992.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Conservation by Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Archival and Conservation Storage Products
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & Office & Store Fixtures (2540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Physical Artifact Storage (Museum Collections, Historical Documents, Rare Materials) (TLALALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Education & Research Archives Storage (Universities, Libraries, Labs) (TLALALAH)
Keywords
Where Conservation by Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milton Keynes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Conservation by Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Archival Storage Solutions: CXD generates revenue through the sale of physical conservation and archival products including boxes, enclosures, boards, papers, equipment, furniture, and showcases. Products are sold individually with per-unit pricing. The company offers both stock items with live inventory visibility and specially commissioned custom products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unit-based pricing for individual products across all categories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Conservation by Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Conservation by Design (CXD) manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of conservation-grade archival storage and display products for cultural heritage preservation. The portfolio includes acid-free archival boxes, transparent enclosures, conservation boards, specialist papers (including Japanese and handmade papers), oxygen-free treatment systems, the bespoke Planorama® anodised aluminium drawer storage system, museum showcases, and conservation studio equipment and tools. Products are manufactured at the company's Bedford factories and supplied to museums, galleries, libraries, and archives worldwide.
Product overview
Conservation By Design (CXD) operates as a comprehensive conservation and archival products company offering a multi-category portfolio of physical storage and display solutions. Since 1992, CXD has served museums, galleries, libraries, and archives worldwide. The core offering consists of: Boxes (including Paper & Book, Photograph & Media, Textile Storage, 3D Objects, and Roll Storage boxes); Enclosures (transparent album pages, pockets, wallets, and photographic storage); Boards (boxboard, bookbinder board, mounting board, foamboard, and aluminium honeycomb panels); Paper & Materials (archival paper, handmade papers including Japanese and European papers, tissue paper, and repair tapes); Equipment & Tools (conservation equipment, Kasemake box making system, cleaning, deacidification, environmental monitoring); Oxygen Free Treatment products (scavengers, barrier pouches, vacuum packing); Furniture including the Planorama anodised aluminium drawer storage system; and Museum Showcases. Key sub-brands include Timecare Museum Ringbinder Boxes, Premier Archival Boxboard, EcopHant eco-friendly boxes, Heritage Archival pHotokraft papers, and Moulin du Verger handmade papers and boards. Products are manufactured at the company's Bedford facilities and distributed internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Timecare: Range of conservation storage boxes and archival products
- Planorama
- EcopHant
Products and services
- Archival Storage Boxes A comprehensive range of archival storage boxes in various styles and materials (paper & book, photograph & media, textile storage, 3D objects, and roll storage) for storing paper, books, photographs, textiles, 3D objects, and rolled documents. Made from acid-free and lignin-free materials for museums, galleries, libraries, and archives.
- Archival Enclosures
- Conservation Boards
- Conservation Papers and Materials
- Conservation Equipment and Tools
- Oxygen Free Treatment Products
- Planorama Storage System
- Museum Showcases and Display Cases
- Conservation Studio Furniture
- Kasemake CXD Box Making System
- EcopHant Eco-Friendly Storage Boxes
- Moulin du Verger Handmade Papers and Boards
- Heritage Archival pHotokraft Paper
- Japanese Conservation Brushes
Companies that use Conservation by Design
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Conservation by Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Conservation by Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Conservation by Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Conservation Resources: Conservation Resources is a UK-based supplier of archival and conservation materials, providing acid-free enclosures, boxes, papers, and conservation supplies to museums, libraries, and archives. As a UK peer with similar geography and product range, it is one of the closest direct competitors to CXD.
- Talas: Talas is a New York-based supplier specializing in archival, bookbinding, and conservation materials, serving libraries, archives, and conservation studios. It competes directly with CXD on archival papers, bookbinding boards, Japanese papers, and specialist conservation tools.
- University Products: University Products is a US manufacturer and distributor of archival, preservation, and library supplies, including acid-free boxes, enclosures, and conservation equipment. It is comparable to CXD in product breadth, target market (institutional libraries and museums), and emphasis on certified archival materials.
- Gaylord Archival: Gaylord Archival is the largest US-based supplier of archival and conservation storage products for libraries, museums, and archives, offering acid-free boxes, folders, enclosures, and preservation supplies. It is the most directly comparable peer to CXD given overlapping product categories, similar customer base of cultural heritage institutions, and competing on certified archival materials.
- Hollinger Metal Edge: Hollinger Metal Edge is a leading North American archival products manufacturer offering acid-free storage boxes, folders, and enclosures under well-known brands. It competes directly with CXD in archival storage boxes and serves the same institutional customer base of libraries, archives, and museums.
- Archival Methods: Archival Methods is a US manufacturer and distributor of archival storage and preservation products, including folders, boxes, and enclosures made from archival-grade materials. It serves the same institutional customer base as CXD and overlaps significantly in product category and certification-driven procurement.
Broad incumbents
- Demco: Demco is a large US supplier of library and educational products, including archival and preservation supplies as part of a broader catalog of furniture, processing supplies, and equipment. It serves the same library customer base as CXD but is a broader incumbent rather than a specialist in conservation.
- Brodart Supplies & Furnishings: Brodart is a large US-based supplier of library and educational furnishings and supplies, including archival and preservation products as part of a broader portfolio. While not a specialist, its archival and library supplies division competes with CXD in the library and archive market.
Regional players
- NESCHEN (Niederländische Conservation): NESCHEN is a European manufacturer of self-adhesive films, archival mounting products, and conservation materials, with a focus on picture framing and document preservation. It is a regional peer comparable to CXD in conservation materials and is increasingly relevant as a European competitor in the institutional framing and conservation market.
Emerging players
- PFS Preservation Framing & Supply: PFS Preservation Framing & Supply is a smaller US-based archival and preservation supplier specializing in framing materials, mounting boards, and conservation supplies. It represents an emerging/niche player with partial overlap to CXD's framing, mounting, and archival product lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Conservation by Design social profiles
Digital presenceConservation by Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Conservation by Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Conservation by Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Conservation by Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Conservation by Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Conservation by Design
What does Conservation by Design do?
Conservation by Design (CXD) manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of conservation-grade archival storage and display products for cultural heritage preservation. The portfolio includes acid-free archival boxes, transparent enclosures, conservation boards, specialist papers (including Japanese and handmade papers), oxygen-free treatment systems, the bespoke Planorama® anodised aluminium drawer storage system, museum showcases, and conservation studio equipment and tools. Products are manufactured at the company's Bedford factories and supplied to museums, galleries, libraries, and archives worldwide.
Is Conservation by Design a public or private company?
Conservation by Design is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Conservation by Design founded?
Conservation by Design was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Conservation by Design based?
Conservation by Design is headquartered in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Conservation by Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales - Archival Storage Solutions.
Who are Conservation by Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Conservation Resources, Talas, University Products, Gaylord Archival, Hollinger Metal Edge and Archival Methods. Broad incumbents are Demco and Brodart Supplies & Furnishings. NESCHEN (Niederländische Conservation) is listed as a regional player. PFS Preservation Framing & Supply is listed as an emerging player.
Does Conservation by Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Conservation by Design.
What industry is Conservation by Design in?
Conservation by Design's product category is Archival and Conservation Storage Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLALALAJ, Specialty Physical Artifact Storage (Museum Collections, Historical Documents, Rare Materials), with a secondary code of EDAEAGAJ, Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation). Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 2650.