To strengthen its supply chain capabilities for a growing number of complex biopharma products, UPS Healthcare has added an extra 21,860m2 to its European hub facility in Roermond, the Netherlands, which includes an in-demand freezer farm capacity.
The expanded hub can now store products at -80ºC in over 200 ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers and offers approximately 3,200 pallet positions for storage at 2°C to 8°C.
UPS has also installed 2,500 solar panels on the roof, providing over 1.2gWh of energy and enabling UPS to send power back to the grid, helping support local sustainability efforts with renewable energy. This initiative aligns with UPS’s goal to power 25% of facilities with renewable electricity by 2025 and reach 100% by 2035.
“Society’s healthcare needs are changing, and thanks to next-generation treatments, practitioners can provide patient care like never before,” said Anouk Hesen, operations director, UPS Healthcare West Europe. “These complex treatments are time- and temperature-sensitive and require the highest level of precision end-to-end logistics solutions, from the lab to the patient. By expanding this facility, we’re extending our cold chain capabilities to support a rapidly growing and innovating market.”
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global market for biologic therapeutic drugs is set to increase from US$373.5bn in 2024 to US$615bn by 2029, and the sector faces unique sustainability challenges, with Scope 3 emissions being nearly five times higher than Scope 1 and 2 emissions combined.