TNT has opened a new transport hub in Heerlen, the Netherlands, dedicated to the shipping of medical devices to European hospitals and clinics.

The 2,000 sqm facility is located near the European distribution centres of 80 major medical device manufacturers. In service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it will consolidate medtech shipments from multinationals and SMEs. From Heerlen, TNT will make next day deliveries of medical devices to 96 per cent of Europe’s 16,000 hospitals. The majority of the shipped devices are used in surgery. Examples include pacemakers, stents, artificial knees and surgical products.

The Heerlen site is connected to TNT’s European road and air networks via the company’s hubs in Duiven, the Netherlands, and Liege, Belgium. TNT will also operate direct road connections between Heerlen and several European countries, such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. Same day service is available for emergencies.

Erik Uljee, managing director of TNT Benelux, said: “The new facility will help meet growing demand from medical device and equipment manufacturers, large and small, that need a reliable transport solution to serve hospitals in Europe.”

Healthcare is one of the most important industry sectors for TNT, as highlighted in its Outlook strategy. The company also offers various dedicated services for the global and local transport of pharmaceutical products, test medication and biological samples.