Sonoco ThermoSafe and Unilode Aviation Solutions have announced an MRO partnership for Sonoco’s passive temperature-controlled container Pegasus ULD® at a time when pharma manufacturers are ramping up production to get vaccine doses out the door.

Sonoco is looking to accelerate the use of its ULD product and as such is looking to rapidly expand preparation, handling and repair locations on a global basis, said Ron Haub, segment director at Sonoco ThermoSafe.

“With Unilode, we are pleased to be working with the world’s largest owner/manager of ULDs and their massive airport network, which will accelerate the adoption of the Pegasus ULD during the world’s most demanding need for pharmaceutical distribution,” Haub noted.

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The new agreement leverages on Unilode’s MRO footprint at key airports in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific for repair, handling, inspection, cleaning and equipment inventory control services.

“Unilode has stepped up its efforts to broaden its MRO customer portfolio and provide high-quality maintenance and repair services to specialised ULD manufacturers and service providers in the pharmaceutical industry, in addition to its core airline market,”

“This partnership will allow both companies to contribute to the global distribution efforts of the Covid-19 vaccines and other pharmaceutical products, which require temperature-controlled containers for the transport in the air cargo supply chain,” said Marc Groenewegen, chief commercial officer.