Panalpina has become one of the world’s biggest Qualified Envirotainer Provider (QEP) for active cooling solutions. With the newest accreditation of twenty locations – almost half of them in Asia – Panalpina now has a total of forty-three Envirotainer accredited locations in twenty-seven countries to meet the soaring demand for forwarding temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals.
Swedish cool-chain logistics specialist Envirotainer has confirmed Panalpina’s accreditation of twenty additional stations worldwide as Qualified Envirotainer Providers (QEP), bringing the total of accredited stations to forty-three. Panalpina has gained this latest accreditation after meeting the strict requirements of Envirotainer’s Training and Quality Program for Good Distribution Practices of temperature sensitive healthcare products. All accredited locations can be found here.
Seamless cold chain
Envirotainer launched its QEP program at the request of shippers of pharmaceutical products and in response to industry guidance. The program acknowledges service providers capable of properly managing shipments using Envirotainer containers. Providers must meet their specific obligations as defined in the current Good Distribution Practices guidance documents, including the requirements of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Envirotainer and Panalpina have worked together for many years and in 2008 they signed a global cooperation agreement. Through this close working relationship, Panalpina is able to control cargo during the entire transport chain, offering healthcare customers an integrated seamless door-to-door cold chain in the air and on the ground.
Highest level
Chris Fore, Manager Industry Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Envirotainer, said: “Healthcare companies want to work with logistics partners that demonstrate the quality and disciplined processes required to maintain the integrity of their product throughout the cold chain. Panalpina’s accreditation of twenty additional QEP stations is a strong signal to those companies. Training, procedures and quality management systems are of the highest level at Panalpina.”
Closely-meshed QEP network
Thomas Berger, Global Head of Industry Vertical Healthcare at Panalpina, believes that: “Maintaining product safety and quality is a major concern and the regulatory obligations and consumer expectations facing the pharmaceutical industry are increasing. Healthcare customers can rely on Panalpina’s closely-meshed network of QEP accredited stations and professionally trained staff around the world.”
Soaring demand
“More and more perishable, temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products need to be forwarded over great distances. Demand is soaring,” added Berger. Pharmaceutical products such as vaccines, bio-engineered drugs, or blood plasma, are among those which must be kept at a precise temperature during transportation or their shelf life may be shortened and their effectiveness reduced or completely lost. Active temperature control means that the shipment is protected by an integral air-conditioning system throughout the journey. Inside the air freight container a precisely controllable thermostat keeps the temperature stable. Envirotainer is the market leading pioneer of such active temperature-controlled air cargo containers.
About Envirotainer
Envirotainer is the world-leader in secure cold chain logistics solutions, primarily within the health care and biotech industries. The company manufactures and leases active temperature-controlled container solutions for air transportation, including validation, support, and service.
For more than 10 years, the company has enabled reliable air transportation of sensitive and perishable products, through an open, global network of airline companies and logistic partners. Envirotainer has offices in 20 countries around the world and is headquartered in Lagga Marma outside of Stockholm, Sweden.
Envirotainer is a registered trademark of the company Envirotainer AB.
About the Panalpina Group
The Panalpina Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in end-to-end supply chain management solutions and intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments. Thanks to its in-depth industry know-how and state-of-the-art IT systems, Panalpina provides globally integrated door-to-door forwarding services tailored to its customers’ individual needs. The Panalpina Group operates a close-knit network with some 500 branches in over 80 countries. In a further 80 countries, it cooperates closely with partner companies. Panalpina employs approximately 15,000 people worldwide.
Contacts
Panalpina Group Envirotainer AB
Sandro Hofer Hanna Sigge
Phone +41 61 226 11 66 Phone +46 18 34 73 98
sandro.hofer@panalpina.com hanna.sigge@envirotainer.com
www.panalpina.com www.envirotainer.com
