trans-o-flex announces a strong expansion of its capacities for the GDP-compliant transportation of pharmaceuticals - New logistic solution is based on air-conditioned transhipment, special vehicles and vehicles with temperature-controlled boxes for the last mile
The trans-o-flex Group has now set the date for the introduction of a new national network for the actively temperature-controlled transportation of pharmaceuticals. "We are going to introduce the new Ambient network on 1st October", says Christian Knoblich, Managing Director Sales and Marketing of the trans-o-flex Logistics Group. "The basis of the new network consists of a central transhipment centre, which will be fully air-conditioned and operated as of October, as well as a combination of various transport technologies for the last mile." Transportation in the temperature range of between 15°C and 25°C will partially take place in special temperature-controlled vehicles as well as in conventional vehicles equipped with actively temperature-controlled boxes. Knoblich: "We monitor, control and document compliance with the new EU GDP standards over the entire process."
The reason for the changes initiated by Schnell-Lieferdienst and supported and promoted by Austrian Post (Österreichische Post AG) was the tightening of the EU regulations for the transportation of pharmaceuticals (EU GDP). These changes aim at sharpening trans-o-flex' profile in order to stand out against its competitors even more clearly. In addition to this, the new network will also make it possible for the company in its Pharma & Healthcare core business to ensure that, even against the background of the increasing demand for temperature-controlled transportation, sufficient capacity will be available for the direct delivery of parcels and pallets. Already today, the trans-o-flex Group, with its trans-o-flex ThermoMed system, offers its customers a GDP-compliant transport solution for sensitive pharmaceuticals. Today, this network is used for the transportation of pharmaceuticals that require the temperature ranges of between 2°C and 8°C or between 15°C and 25°C. Once introduced in the clearly larger trans-o-flex Schnell-Lieferdienst business, the new Ambient network, will serve to gradually increase the capacity for transports in the room temperature range as of autumn this year. For the time being, the goal is to double the transport possibilities in the temperature-controlled range.
"The logistic challenges of a network for actively temperature-controlled transportation consist not only of setting up the necessary premises but also of ensuring a national delivery system for the last mile", explains Knoblich. By combining the various vehicle types and equipment components, trans-o-flex managed to optimise the ratio between investment costs, shipment volumes and necessary coverage for the start of the actively temperature-controlled transports within its Schnell-Lieferdienst business. "We use special temperature-controlled vehicles for our regular services and extremely busy routes." Apart from that, trans-o-flex focuses on the use of certified and actively temperature-controlled boxes that have been permanently installed in delivery vans. "Here as well, we adjust our solutions to the needs and will use boxes of different sizes."
According to Knoblich, the solution offered by trans-o-flex as of October fulfils the different requirements and needs. "We meet the GDP requirements with respect to temperature stability even over long distances and periods and do not have to change the main processes for our customers." Thus, customers can continue the proven concepts in the directly delivery to pharmacies as well as in the wholesale supply for goods delivered as both parcel and large pallet shipments in a GDP-compliant manner.