Nation-wide start of trans-o-flex ambient in Germany
Shipment tracking with temperature curve as standard: trans-o-flex launches network for EU-GDP-compliant transportation of pharmaceuticals in the range 15/25 °C
At the beginning of October, following a successful test run, trans-o-flex Schnell-Lieferdienst introduced trans-o-flex ambient, its new nation-wide network for the transportation of pharmaceuticals in Germany. trans-o-flex ambient has been developed to transport pharmaceuticals on pallets or in parcels within the temperature range of between 15°C and 25°C without any additional thermally-insulating packaging. Transportation takes place with special temperature-controlled vehicles as well as in conventional vehicles equipped with actively temperature-controlled thermos boxes. The temperature is monitored and documented during the entire transport chain.
A completely temperature-controlled sorting centre is available for the central handling of the goods. In addition to this, all of the other hubs also operate fully air-conditioned and temperature-controlled storage areas – for example, when returns have to be temporarily stored over weekends. The shipment tracking system records the individual temperature curves for every single shipment. The system meets the intensified rules of the EU-GDP (Good Distribution Practice).
“We expect that all pharmaceutical companies will gradually use actively temperature-controlled systems for the transportation of pharmaceuticals”, says Christian Knoblich, Managing Director of trans-o-flex Logistics Group and responsible for the Pharmaceuticals business. This is why the trans-o-flex Group invested several millions of euros in the development of this network. This also includes the complete air-conditioning of the central hub in Kassel, the air-conditioning of all sealed warehouses as well as the installation of devices for temperature measurement and documentation at all locations and their connection to a central temperature control system. The operation of the network requires 80 actively temperature-controlled semitrailers for the regular traffic services, 60 fully temperature-controlled lorries for the pick-up and delivery of pallets as well as approximately 1,500 distribution vehicles with thermos boxes.
Prior to the official start, the system was tested in a 1-month test-run in co-operation with the renowned pharmaceutical company Berlin-Chemie as the pilot customer. “From 1st September, trans-o-flex, every day, picked up 2 semitrailers with temperature-sensitive goods from our location in Berlin and delivered them using the new ambient network”, summarises Bernd Kühn, Head of Distribution Domestic of Berlin-Chemie AG. “We were very happy with the entire handling and documentation. Above all, it was the high delivery quality that convinced us“. In addition to Berlin-Chemie, many additional customers also decided to immediately use trans-o-flex ambient for the transportation of their pharmaceuticals.
Quelle: Österreichische Verkehrszeitung
Portal: www.logistik-express.com