DHL Global Forwarding has announced the opening of a new logistics centre for life science and healthcare products at Amsterdam-Schiphol. The new Life Science Competence Centre is located next to the airport at the business park Schiphol Southeast. It is expected to serve as a hub for the transport, transport preparation, temporary storage, and transport follow-up of active and passive temperature-controlled pharmaceutical and medicinal products. The facility was the result of a €1m investment and covers 1,000 sq m. The centre is to be run by 14 specially trained logistics specialists.
One area of the new centre is expected to be dedicated to pharmaceutical products that must be stored at constant temperatures between two and eight degrees Celsius, while the second one allocated to a controlled temperature range of between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. There is a special temperature-controlled loading area, with a loading dock for both ULD’s and pallets. It is planned that actively cooled containers can be charged and dry ice can be replenished. The centre is equipped with numerous temperature and humidity sensors that is expected to immediately sound an alarm should conditions fall outside of established parameters.
The logistics centre is also expected to provide DHL Thermonet, the standard product of DHL Global Forwarding for managing temperature sensitive air freight shipments. DHL Thermonet is planned to provide constant temperature visibility along the supply chain, 24/7 proactive monitoring and intervention based on pre-determined touch points and DHL’s RFID SmartSensor technology.
Nigel Wing, Global Head Life Sciences & Healthcare, DHL Global Forwarding, said, “The life sciences and healthcare industry is regulated by increasingly stricter compliance requirements that stretch beyond the historic boundaries of GMP& GSP (Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Storage Practice). At the same time, dealing with increasingly sensitive pharmaceutical products, often of high value, that have specific handling and temperature tolerances brings new complexity to the supply chain.” Wing added, “With its strategic location at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, this new competence centre further strengthens our existing temperature-controlled network worldwide. The facility is certified as part of our network of DHL Thermonet stations and allows us to expand and share our knowledge and expertise globally, whilst meeting the high quality levels expected of the life sciences industry.”
Source: DHL Global Forwarding
