United Cargo has launched Temp Control, a service designed for shipping pharmaceutical products that require strict temperature controls and monitoring during transport. The service provides three temperature ranges: Freeze (-10 degrees C to -20 degrees C), Cool (+2 degrees C to +8 degrees C) and Ambient (+15 degrees C to +25 degrees C). United Cargo is working with Envirotainer, a provider of temperature-controlled air cargo containers.
Shipment temperature readings are taken at specified transport points and results are available 24 hours a day, the carrier says.
United is not the only one jumping on the cold storage and transport bandwagon. DHL Global Forwarding opened of a life sciences center with such capabilities in Puerto Rico early this year, part of a company initiative targeting the drug and medical device makers located there. DHL handles small and large volumes of vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and other temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostic, and medical materials.
Likewise, specialty third-party logistics provider Sentry Logistic Solutions has invested heavily in validated systems and facilities. CEO Jennifer Marcum says in a Pharmaceutical Commerce report that growing interest in wellness and disease prevention corresponds with a rise in vaccine shipments, with their strict temperature requirements.
- here's the United Cargo announcement (pdf)
- see the Pharmaceutical Commerce article