Temperature-controlled deliveries

Medical products often have to be transported in controlled conditions. After rigorous testing, FedEx can offer temperaturecontrolled airfreight services to the pharmaceutical industry.

	Medical products are transported in temperature-controlled air-cargo containers.

FedEx Custom Critical, an operating company of FedEx Corporation, has been providing temperature-sensitive ground freight in the US since the 1980s. In 2002, enabled by its worldwide air network, FedEx Express expanded its service portfolio globally with the introduction of Temp- Assure Air.

Temp-Assure Air combines exclusive-use vehicles to provide pick-up and delivery, with the FedEx Express air network handling the transportation on most shipments. Products shipped via Temp-Assure are transported within temperature-controlled air-cargo containers, which are supplied by companies such as Envirotainer®.

Proactive customer service involving the following key factors help ensure successful Temp-Assure Air shipments:

• Pick-up and preconditioning of the cargo container and assistance in loading.
• Monitoring of the freight temperature throughout transport.
• Replacement of batteries and dry ice in the container as necessary.
• Provision of updates to the customer throughout transit and delivery. Returning the container after final delivery.

Customers benefit from complete custodial control of their shipments throughout the FedEx Express system and its service–provider network. Customers also receive live status updates, including temperature readings, throughout each shipment.

Secure transportation
In October 2005, FedEx Express launched Temp- Assure Validated Air to meet the needs of pharmaceutical and other companies dealing with regulatory compliance for their products. With this service, each shipment follows a stringent validation master plan with procedural controls to help ensure that proper temperatures are maintained.

FedEx Express performed extensive testing on its containers and aircraft before making this service a reality. The company tested container performance under normal and extreme conditions, as well as a thermal-mapped multiple FedEx Express aircraft on international shipping lanes over a period of weeks.

During these tests, temperature probes were placed throughout the cargo area of the aircraft, monitoring temperatures as the aircraft flew throughout the FedEx Express system. When the process was complete, the test data confirmed that controlling ambient temperature was a key to a successful validated process.

On every Temp-Assure Validated Air shipment, FedEx Express now regulates container placement within the aircraft and communicates the appropriate cargo-hold temperature to create the best environment around the container. After delivery of each shipment, the customer is supplied with a hard copy temperature documentation to assist in providing a compliant audit trail.

Both Temp-Assure Air and Temp-Assure Validated Air services are available to FedEx Express customers worldwide. In addition, FedEx Express offers a variety of cold-chain solutions, including packaging for diagnostic or clinical trial shipments.

Cool packaging
Worldwide demand for temperature-controlled shipping continues to expand, as more industry sectors require it to maintain product integrity. By working closely with a specialised packaging manufacturer and using the latest in packaging and temperature-control technology, FedEx offers passive cooling packaging systems, designed specifically for use within the FedEx Express network.

A range of standard packaging is readily available in 2l and 5l boxes. FedEx also has the capability to develop customised sizes to suit specific product and shipping requirements.

By using highly efficient advanced packaging materials with a minimum amount of water-based ice, FedEx packaging provides controlled temperatures of 2ºC to 8ºC and -25ºC to -10ºC; and substantial reduction of transport and storage costs, thanks to a perfect ratio between outer dimensions and net volume.