ATLANTA, May 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS® (NYSE: UPS) today announced the expansion of its
temperature-controlled supply chain capabilities in Europe with the
opening of a healthcare-dedicated air freight forwarding facility
at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands. The opening
demonstrates UPS's continued investment for growth in specialized
market segments, in this case, for logistics needs of healthcare
and life-sciences companies in the region.
The new 600-square-meter, GDP-compliant facility is designed to
meet the highest standards in pharmaceutical freight forwarding,
featuring 15ºC -to-25ºC and 2ºC-to-8ºC temperature zones as well as
24/7 monitoring and alarm systems to protect the integrity of
temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments. UPS operators follow
in-depth training programs and adhere to healthcare-specific
protocols to ensure that inbound and outbound products are handled
safely and securely during transit.
"With the rise of biologics and temperature-sensitive
products as well as changing regulations governing the
transportation of pharmaceuticals across different geographies,
companies need increased control and protection of their products
during transit," said John Menna, UPS vice president of global
strategy, healthcare logistics. "The new life-sciences center at
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol allows us to process shipments under
strict temperature conditions according to expectations set out in
the EU GDP guidelines."
Utilizing its own healthcare-dedicated, GDP-compliant facility
at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol allows UPS to provide more control of
the cross-docking and interim storage of healthcare shipments -
helping customers mitigate risks and comply with high quality
standards. At the facility, UPS also provides for the assembly of
insulated pallet packing options and the maintenance of
actively-controlled container solutions. UPS staff on-site are
trained to ensure appropriate handling and adherence to operating
instructions of packaging suppliers.
The announcement comes six months after UPS announced its
agreement to acquire pharmaceutical logistics company Poltraf Sp. z
o.o. The acquisition further strengthens UPS's healthcare
capability in Europe, enabling compliant logistics services to
customers in healthcare markets of Central and Eastern Europe. The
acquisition adds three facilities with advanced warehousing
management systems, full quality assurance services, and an
experienced workforce to UPS's existing European healthcare
network.
UPS delivers value to healthcare and life sciences companies
through a broad portfolio of specialized freight and small package
services. UPS's healthcare network also offers around-the-clock
monitoring and security, kitting and labeling as well as order
management and accounts receivable. Services across all locations
are accessible via one global IT order management platform. UPS
helps healthcare companies meet stringent and often complex
regulatory requirements, provides flexibility for a changing
business environment, and reliably serves an increasingly global
customer base.
For more information on UPS's healthcare logistics capabilities,
visit: www.ups.com/healthcarelogistics.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a
broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages
and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the
deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the
world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than
220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found
on the Web at ups.com®and its corporate blog can be
found at Longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS
news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
CONTACT: David Graves, UPS Corporate Public Relations
davidgraves@ups.com
Stefan Bueldt, UPS Europe Public Relations
sbueldt@ups.com
