DHL Global Forwarding has opened a new logistics center for life sciences and healthcare products at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands.
The Life Science Competence Center is located in the airport’s business park and serves as a hub for the preparation, temporary storage, and transport of active and passive temperature-controlled pharmaceutical and medicinal products. The 1m (US$1.1m) facility covers more than 10,000ft² and will be operated by 14 specially trained logistics specialists.
The center is equipped with numerous temperature and humidity sensors that immediately sound an alarm should conditions fall outside of established parameters. Furthermore, the center meets the latest safety standards and complies with all European directives that apply to such transportation and storage facilities.
The services offered by the new competence center cover the needs of the growing number of customers looking for global end-to-end solutions in temperature controlled air transport and will be complemented by DHL Thermonet, the company’s service for managing temperature-sensitive air-freight shipments. DHL Thermonet provides seamless temperature visibility along the supply chain, 24/7 proactive monitoring and intervention based on pre-determined touchpoints and DHL’s RFID SmartSensor technology.
Nigel Wing, global head life sciences and 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 good manufacturing practice (GMP) and good storage practice (GSP).
“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. With its strategic location at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, this new competence center 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, while meeting the high quality levels expected of the life sciences industry.”
May 19, 2016