Envirotainer AB, a Sweden-based provider of active temperature-controlled air cargo containers, made its mark recently when British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) made Kuwait the 50th station across its network designed to handle imports of Constant Climate, its new temperature-controlled product for pharmaceuticals.Wong Joon San has the story.

As the name suggests, freight delivered using Constant Climate is kept at a constant temperature throughout the journey, through the use of active temperature-controlled Envirotainer ULDs.

Speaking of the service, which was launched on 25 May, Stuart Forsyth, BAWC product development manager said: “Temperature-controlled goods is the fastest growing sector in the global air cargo market and the announcement of our 50th Constant Climate station demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supplying customers with specialist products that make a difference to their business.”

Despite the global economic crisis, Envirotainer is continuing to expand its offering in the field of temperature controlled services.

The company is working with several leading players like Panalpina and DB Schenker to provide them with specialised equipment, knowledge and expertise to provide temperature controlled air cargosolutions.

Panalpina
In the case of Panalpina, Envirotainer has been working with the company for more than six years in various markets around the world, but both companies for the first time agreed to a global cooperation in September last year. Besides jointly serving the pharmaceutical industry, Panalpina has also agreed to take part in Envirotainer’s QEP program (Qualified Envirotainer Provider)– a quality training programme.

Peter Claessens, Panalpina’s global head of Industry Vertical Healthcare, said: “Panalpina might today not be the biggest player in cold chain logistics, however, we bring knowledge and concepts to the market which are unique. We have learned from our existing cold chain customers and invested in our capabilities. Now it is time to give other customers access to our network and capabilities. Envirotainer is thereby an important puzzle-piece in our offering to the industry.”

Through this closer working relationship, Panalpina can offer pharmaceutical customers an integrated door-to-door cold chain in the air and on the ground with its own dedicated capacity and with all the parties involved in the chain under the company’s direct control, he said.

“Panalpina is managing this process by ensuring customised standard operatingprocedures that are implemented by all parties in the entire cold chain. Managingour own capacity is thereby an importantelement,” Claessens said.

Patrick Gueth, Panalpina’s Regional Head Europé IV Healthcare, said: “The investment in the QEP program is further strengthening our capabilities in that segment as well as increasing our credibility in the market.”

Martin Peter, Vice President Sales of Envirotainer, said: “Strengthening the Partnership with Panalpina is an important step for Envirotainer giving access to new clients and new markets Envirotainer is not present today. Panalpina has unique strengths Envirotainer can benefit from.”

“The commitment of Panalpina to invest time and efforts with the QEP program is important and will further increase the capabilities of organisations and individuals in handling Envirotainer’s containers.”

DB Schenker
Recently, Envirotainer signed a global master lease agreement with DB Schenker to supply its specialised equipment, knowledge and expertise to provide temperature controlled air cargo solutions.

The offer was designed to meet the specific requirements of customers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, and other industries that have special requirements for valuable and extra sensitive products.

“This new form of cooperation will leverage our performance for our healthcare customers in secure and temperature controlled supply chain,” says Thomas C. Lieb, chairman of the Management Board of Schenker AG.

“With our air, ocean, land and rail transport services we already offer customers a single source for high-quality integrated cold chain solutions, connecting the markets in Europe, the Americas, and in Asia-Pacific,” he added.

Thomas Persson, CEO of the Envirotainer Group, says: “It is exciting to see how the local partnership we had with DB Schenker and Envirotainer, for years, in different regions of the world has grown to a global partnership between our companies.”

He says the existing solid foundation will now become the platform to launch the next big steps in the partnership. DB Schenker has worked successfully with Envirotainer for many years in numerous countries.

This agreement will allow DB Schenker to further expand its capability and offer in logistics for temperature-sensitive products and in providing services to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.

Continental Airlines
Separately, Continental Airlines, which has been accredited under Envirotainer’s QEP, employs industry-recognised best practices when managing shipments using Envirotainer’s temperaturecontrolled air cargo containers.

According to the airline, Continental Cargo’s ClimateSecure product offerings are now a million dollar business.

Envirotainer has so far audited and accredited Continental Airlines’ stations in Houston, Newark and San Francisco. The airline has also made a commitment to roll-out the QEP program at other major global stations, including Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Tokyo – Narita, London, Milan and Sao Paulo.