Marken has launched a new hybrid logistics service which leverages the UPS global transportation network including its airline, for a portion of the route. The hybrid offering reduces reliance on commercial aircraft for many routes, and represents the first time the entire end-to-end service has been executed under the control of the same parent company.
For one customer, Marken collects shipments of biologic material from sites in Russia, consolidates them in Moscow, and transports them to their final destination using the UPS airline, which flies from Moscow to its hub in Cologne, Germany, and onward to all European destinations. Similar hybrid solutions are being designed for customers in Mexico, the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
Marken has also developed a reverse logistics hybrid service for efficient return of re-useable packaging and tracking devices. This service is now being offered to clinical trials clients who prefer Marken’s specialised outbound delivery for sensitive clinical drug products using traditional routing, but who can also use UPS for the return of reusable materials. This new service minimises reverse logistics costs for non-critical items.
“We want customers to think of Marken as the clinical subsidiary of UPS,” said Wes Wheeler, Marken’s Chief Executive Officer. “We intend to continue executing on our strategy to be the supply chain service provider of choice for the clinical trials community, and to expand our broad range of services supporting the movement of clinical drug product, clinical drug substance, medical devices, biologic samples and other regulated materials.”
“Our traditional specialty services, which our clients have come to expect, remain in place as our core offering. With UPS behind us, we are now able to expand our services to include hybrid and integrator services as well,” added Wheeler. “We will maintain responsibility for the client relationship while leveraging UPS global transportation network and solutions capabilities when we can offer improved service or greater value.”
Source: UPS
