Airfreight-focused logistics solution

Transporting pharmaceuticals is never a risk-free process, with various factors to consider, including keeping products at the correct temperature range to ensure their usability does not decrease in transit.

The correct temperature is essential for the distribution of pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceutical companies require the right type of transport mode and equipment used for a specific product against the right price. Temperature management is a crucial factor in the distribution of pharmaceuticals. It is important to be able to monitor the temperature throughout the complete supply chain. Today, the most commonly used solution for 2–25°C ambient transportation is the shipper purchase insulated pallet box.

The disadvantage is that this way of transportation can become expensive. As pharmaceuticals are considered high-value goods, they demand a safe, well-monitored and GDP-approved process throughout the complete supply chain. The distribution of pharmaceutical products with a demand for doorto- door consistent 2–25°C ambient transportation versus a competitive price is a huge challenge for many airlines and logistics providers.

The solution
Geodis Wilson is continuously developing its scope for the distribution of temperature-controlled shipments, specifically in airfreight, with the ability to secure the correct temperature and stay compliant with GDPapproved procedures at all times. This is an ongoing process between pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers of materials and logistics providers, when operating a successful supply chain.

The G Box offers environmental protection and insulation for the pharma supply chain.

The Geodis Wilson ‘G Box’ was developed to provide stability and protection for 2–25°C ambient shipments. The G Box provides the correct insulation qualities against various temperature variations. The G Box is strong, flexible and water repellent with 0.3% absorption by volume and with thermal conductivity properties of 0.030W/mk. It has a vapour resistivity of 480MNs/gm. Due to its flexibility, the G Box can be used with AMA (main deck containers), AAP (lower deck containers) or even AKE units. The company has also recently developed the G 2 Box, an independent free-standing version of the G Box, which allows shippers greater freedom of choice of carrier as the G 2 Box fits directly on to the airline pallet. The shipments are loaded in a secure and ambient temperature environment and can be measured by the customer’s temperature monitor or Geodis Wilson-developed temperature monitors throughout the whole doorto- door transportation.

In developing the G Box Geodis Wilson is able to offer a price competitive solution for ambient cargo. The price competitiveness is based on:

• lower packaging costs on insulated pallet boxes
• lower handling charges for the shipper
• cargo optimisation and freedom to choose any airline due to high flexibility.

Freight services for the pharmaceutical market
Due to strong relationships with preferred global operating airlines and local trucking companies Geodis Wilson is able to utilise direct carriers, reducing transshipment points and additional handling and risk to the product. The company is focused on clear procedures for changes of transport mode; a thorough route risk analysis is completed to ensure quality compliance as this has been recognised as one of the challenge areas for a time-effective and secured solution.

The customer uses Geodis Wilson’s Freight Monitor and a document management system to locate shipping information, wherever the cargo may be. This doesn’t just provide increased control over the shipping process, it also guarantees that the

Company profile

Geodis Wilson makes customers
more competitive by delivering
their cargo across five continents
by sea and air and by making
their supply chain transparent
and easy to manage. The Freight
Management division of Geodis
Group has more than 5,000
employees in more than 50
countries. The Geodis Group is
a global logistics provider with
26,000 employees in a network
covering 120 countries.

For further information, visit:
www.geodiswilson.com.