trans-o-flex ThermoMed, the specialist for temperature-controlled shipments within thetrans-o-flex family, has expanded its international network through a new cooperation with the
French pharmaceutical specialist Eurotranspharma SAS.From 1 June onwards, customers from the pharmaceutical industry will be able to ship theirmedical products from collection to delivery in France within the 2-8° controlled temperaturerange.
Carsten Glos, managing director of trans-o-flex ThermoMed, commented: “Since activetemperature-controlled transport has been established as the standard transportation choice fortemperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products in Germany, the demand for international transportsolutions in this product group has also risen due to the international interdependence of theindustry.”
Over the past few years, the company has already expanded its network through the integration ofAustria and the Benelux countries. “With Eurotranspharma, we have found a partner who alsospecialises in transports for the healthcare industry and therefore complies 100% with our qualityrequirements,” he added.
Eurotranspharma is certified according to the ISO 9001 norm (quality management), just asThermoMed. France will be covered by a network consisting of three main sorting centres and eightregional distribution points. Furthermore, two new regional distribution points are planned in thesouth-west (Bordeaux) and north-west (Loudeac) to consolidate the French network this year.
The fleet of 345 transporters and commercial trucks will be controlled and monitored viasatellite. At any time, clients will have access to online shipment tracking based on the barcodescans of each individual shipment over the complete transportation process up to the delivery.Additionally, customers will be provided with the monitored temperature records of their shipmentselectronically.
The standard delivery time from the point of collection in Germany or Benelux to the deliverydestination in France amounts to 48 hours. Temperature-sensitive shipments from Austria will reachtheir French destinations within 72 hours. The same delivery times apply for shipments coming fromFrance, ThermoMed stated.
Shipments transported by trans-o-flex ThermoMed within the temperature ranges of 2-8° and 15-25°do not require special packaging for temperature-sensitive goods as it is needed with passiveinsulators. This reduces expenses in shipping caused through the retrieval of reusable containersor the disposal of non-reusable packaging. At the same time, the chargeable freight weight isconsiderably reduced as no heavy thermo-packaging and cooling elements are required.
The company’s door-to-door distribution network throughout Germany consists of two sortingcentres and 38 depots. ThermoMed, headquartered in Weinheim (south-west Germany) operates its ownspecialised vehicle fleet with more than 600 specially instructed personnel dedicated to handlingpharmaceutical goods according to GDP standards while maintaining cold-chain compliance.
The trans-o-flex Logistics Group, a 100% subsidiary of Austrian Post, recorded revenues ofaround €524 million in 2010 and employs about 1,600 staff.
