To enhance its comprehensive cold chain capabilities in Europe, UPS Healthcare is investing €20m (US$21.5m) in over 200 state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled vehicles in Italy, France, the Netherlands and Hungary.
According to the company, 80% of pharmaceutical products in Europe currently need temperature-controlled transportation so there is a greater need for cold chain transportation than ever before.
“Whether it’s small parcels or large pallets, our pan-European end-to-end cold chain ground network is equipped to manage the most complex healthcare products,” explained Felipe Morgulis, president of UPS Healthcare, Europe and LATAM. “From transporting active ingredients or last-mile deliveries to hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies and patients, we provide control, adaptability and real-time monitoring to simplify the most time- and temperature-sensitive supply chains.”
These new vehicles will add to UPS’s fleet of more than 1,100 cold chain vehicles – already the largest in the world according to the company. Supporting long-haul and last-mile deliveries, the vehicles will help meet the growing needs of Europe’s healthcare industry across the entire region, with the European cold chain logistics market projected to reach US$239.71bn by 2032.
The dual-temperature vehicles provide transportation between 2ºC and 8ºC and 15ºC to 25ºC, ensuring reliable and secure deliveries to wholesalers, hospitals and pharmacies. This GDP-compliant service includes comprehensive vendor management and digital quality management systems ensuring all customers’ quality requirements are met.