🧊 Cold chain among biopharma’s top supply chain concerns

Welcome back to Cube Cold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature-controlled logistics.

In today’s edition:

• Regulations and cold chain among biopharma’s top supply chain concerns

• Emergent Cold LatAm acquires Red Polar

• Eurocold acquires Perth rental business

• new freeze vials for deep-cold storage

• Rotterdam: the gateway for growth in European cold chain logistics

News

Regulations and cold chain among biopharma’s top supply chain concerns According to a recent survey by Cardinal Health and BioPharma Dive, regulatory developments and cold chain logistics are among the top concerns for biopharma supply chain leaders.

• The survey, which included 150 logistics executives, found that 29% and 24% of respondents respectively said that improved temperature control solutions or stronger regulatory support/guidance would be beneficial.

• The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) is one of the regulatory developments causing unique challenges for the industry. The DSCSA aims to build an electronic, interoperable system to identify and trace certain prescription drugs as they are distributed in the United States.

• Cold chain logistics, which involves the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods, is another major concern. Maintaining the integrity and stability of these products throughout the supply chain is crucial, especially as the market for vaccine cold-chain logistics is expected to reach $4.9 billion by 2030.

• The survey also found that two-thirds of respondents—66%—said that they expected third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to become increasingly necessary, and 60% of them reported outsourcing at least some functions (such as DSCSA support, specialty storage/distribution, and sampling) to a 3PL.

• These findings emphasize the need for improved temperature control solutions and stronger regulatory support/guidance. (link)

Emergent Cold LatAm acquires Red Polar Emergent Cold Latin America, the region's largest provider of temperature-controlled storage and logistics solutions, has announced the acquisition of Red Polar, a leading cold storage business located in Bogotá, Colombia.

• Red Polar, founded in 2017, operates a single cold storage facility in the municipality of Funza and enjoys strong customer relationships and a positive reputation in the market.

• The Red Polar team will remain with the business and will benefit from Emergent Cold LatAm's operational expertise and best practices.

• This acquisition is Emergent Cold LatAm's second in Colombia. In 2022, the company acquired Frigorifico Metropolitano (Frigometro), a national cold storage network with facilities in four strategic locations across the country.

• The Red Polar transaction expands Emergent Cold LatAm's presence in Bogotá, Colombia's largest and most populous city, allowing the company to better position the customers of both businesses based on their supply chain needs.

• The company announced an immediate expansion of Red Polar that, when fully realized, will create a facility with a 25,000-pallet position capacity. (link)

Eurocold acquires Perth rental business Eurocold, a leading Australian refrigerated truck rental company, has acquired the refrigerated assets of the Perth-based Damien Cole Group (DCG) as part of its expansion strategy.

• This acquisition is part of Eurocold's next phase of expanding its platform through Australian capitals.

• Eurocold was founded in 2021 and specializes in refrigerated vehicles rental, and, currently, has a fleet of 260 vehicles.

• The company has committed to an AUD 100M investment in the Australasian refrigerated trucking industry over the next three years, with expansion plans through Perth and other locations.

• This acquisition comes after the French transport giant, Petit Forestier Group, took a majority stake in Eurocold, further supporting its rapid expansion.

• The acquisition of DCG's refrigerated assets is a significant move in Eurocold's growth strategy, enhancing its presence in the Australian market and supporting the refrigerated transport industry. (link)

SCHOTT Pharma introduces EVERIC freeze vials for deep-cold storage SCHOTT Pharma has introduced EVERIC Freeze Vials, a new product designed for the deep-cold storage of mRNA and gene therapy drugs.

• These vials can withstand storage temperatures down to -80°C, which is necessary for certain vaccines and medications.

• The EVERIC Freeze Vials are part of the established EVERIC portfolio and are manufactured in Müllheim, Germany.

• They are available in sizes ranging from 2 to 30 mL and can be supplied as ready-to-use (RTU) if requested.

• The vials have undergone rigorous scientific testing, with eight variants showing a 0% failure rate for all configurations, demonstrating that container closure integrity (CCI) can be maintained.

• The vials are designed to reduce the risk of breakage, a significant concern for pharmaceutical companies given the high value of the drugs contained within. (link)

Rotterdam: the gateway for growth in European cold chain logistics The article from FreshPlaza discusses the role of Rotterdam, home to Europe's largest container port, in addressing the challenges faced by the cold chain logistics industry in Europe.

• Cold chain logistics has seen significant growth worldwide, with the market expected to grow from $292.89 billion in 2022 to a projected $410.79 billion by 2028.

• This growth is driven by increasing demand for warehousing, particularly following the e-commerce boom triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Europe, in particular, is facing warehouse capacity challenges that necessitate innovations and investments in the cold storage sector.

• Rotterdam, with its extensive intermodal network of road, rail, and barge connections with the rest of the continent, is well-positioned to address these challenges.

• This interconnectivity positions Rotterdam as a gateway to the rest of Europe, enabling businesses to reach a wider market quickly and efficiently (link)

Other headlines

Tractors choke Spanish city streets as farmers protest EU policy. Spanish farmers drive tractors through city streets to protest against EU policies and rising costs, causing widespread traffic disruptions.

Oakland International has received B Corp Certification recognizing its high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Interstate Cold Storage boosts warehouse efficiency with new equipment investment. The new equipment is expected to significantly improve the handling of products, allowing ICS to better meet customer demands.

That’s it for today!

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