PharmaceuticalsReview Envirotainer set to open Asia headquarters


Sweden-headquartered Envi- rotainer, which provides temperature-controlled air cargo containers, is moving ahead with the establishment of its new Asia headquarters in Singapore, says commercial director Björn Siloa. “We’re in the process of


hiring local people ... and once we have our staff we can select a location,” he explained. Director research and


development and quality assurance Nicholas Martin considers that Singapore is “the natural place to be in Asia” because of its geographical position, the industries active there and its focus on the healthcare sector. Many international companies gather there, he noted. “Healthcare is growing throughout Asia,” Martin continued. “Our biggest markets have tradi- tionally been Europe and North America, but the fastest-growing one is Asia.”


LifeConEx ready for changes


Nina Heinz, head of quality at specialist logistics services provider LifeConEx, notes that the company’s acquisition last year by DHL will lead to some changes. She said: “LifeConEx is a


small company and is only five or six years old, so compared to DHL, they’re two different worlds. But we’re already pret- ty closely aligned,” having been 50 percent owned by DHL before the take-over. Right now, she is confident


that the life sciences and phar- ma markets are seeing healthy growth. There is interest from pharma companies in emerg- ing markets such as India, where a lot of generics are


being produced; Korea, where there is development in the biotech field; China, which is both a manufacturer and a growing consumer of pharma- ceutical products; and Brazil, where consumer demand is rising and there are stricter regulations in place. With regard to the latter,


Heinz said: “It is a challenge to meet such strict requirements when the infrastructure is not great. Countries like Brazil are raising the bar but struggling to have the necessary infras- tructure in place.” Elsewhere, LifeConEx is a


strategic partner of IATA (the International Air Transport Association ) and is also part of the time and temperature task force with GACAG (the Glob- al Air Cargo Advisory Group). Heinz stated: “We are


working on the implementa- tion of the IATA time and temperature label, which will be mandatory as of July this year. The label makes the shipper responsible for ensur- ing the shipment receives the correct handling all along the chain.” The benefits of the label are


Heinz: “we’re working on awareness”


that it will give unified, simpli- fied instructions for the whole chain and will be universally applied and understood, she said. Currently, misunder- standings arise regarding the temperature ranges required for storage and transportation of pharmaceutical products; the new label aims to elimi- nate confusion. “We’re also looking for-


ward to the changes to Chapter 17 of the Perishable Cargo Regulations, which will simplify and clarify the text,” Heinz added.


PHSE expands into Germany


On 1 April, Milan-based for- warder PHSE – a specialist in the temperature-con- trolled movement of pharmaceutical healthcare goods – opened a new branch in Germany. Gianluca Meneguzzi,


commercial director, explains: “We are starting off with four skilled staff in the office south of Frank- furt. “PHSE Germany is focus-


ing on the biopharma logistics market,” he contin- ued, adding that the CEO – Rolf Lucht – was for almost a decade operations director at a German company handling only temperature-controlled pharma shipments. Back in Italy, business over the course of the second half


Meneguzzi: “competition in this business is wild”


of last year was markedly better than during the first, difficult six months, Meneguzzi revealed. “The pharma industry in Italy didn’t see the downturn of manufacturing and remained healthy,” he pointed out. Expansion in Italy continues. PHSE opened a new office in


Florence in January and is planning to launch a new Padua branch later this year. Plus: “In the next 3-5 years, PHSE will probably also be present in other EU countries.”


Swiss WorldCargo ups Newark lift


Swiss WorldCargo, the air freight wing of Swiss Interna- tional Air Lines, says that pharmaceutical goods are expected to be a key commod- ity moving as bellyhold freight on the airline’s newly- upgraded service between Zurich and Newark Liberty International airport, which became effective on 31 March. Swiss has replaced the leased all-business-class B737


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equipment previously used on the route with widebody A340-300 aircraft. Located in the heart of


New Jersey and its vibrant industrial sector, Newark can act as the perfect entry point to one of the world’s major manufacturing areas for phar- maceuticals – with 15 of the industry’s leading com- panies present in the region.


9 April 2012


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