The services enable FedEx to offer customers improved convenience, rigorous temperature control throughout the entire journey, and cost advantages
Image: FedEx has improved temperature-controlled shipping services. Photo: courtesy of FedEx.
FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx announced improved temperature-controlled shipping services using cold shipping packaging for healthcare customers in Japan. The services enable FedEx to offer customers improved convenience, rigorous temperature control throughout the entire journey, and cost advantages.
Using the service, customers receive packaging which has been pre-cooled at the shipment’s required temperature so that items can be packed at the correct ambient level. FedEx picks up the packages for international transport after the customer has completed packing and placed a request for pick-up.
The major change is that the packing for an international shipment is completed at the customer’s place of business. Previously, FedEx used domestic temperature-controlled shipping services to deliver shipments to its cold chain facility where FedEx repacked the shipment for international transportation. With the new operation, the process is seamless – there is no need for the extra step of repackaging. Customers can expect to save time and the cost of sending shipments to FedEx via a domestic shipping service.
The packaging for cold shipping uses vaccum-insulated materials, which weigh less than conventional materials and offer advantages in terms of shipping costs. Customers can easily pack their shipments by simply placing them in the inner box of the packaging. To support preparations for shipping, the packaging will arrive with a printed instruction sheet, pre-printed air waybills, and invoices.
“Customers’ needs for temperature-controlled shipping in the healthcare industry is diversifying, and the required temperature range varies with the items they ship,” says Masamichi Ujiie, regional vice president, North Pacific, FedEx Express. “With the service, FedEx has added a reliable option for shipments of specimens, clinical trial drugs, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Customers continue to receive monitoring services that combine the use of temperature loggers with a monitoring service by expert staff and high-quality transportation” he adds.
FedEx offers two different packaging options with the service:
The va-Q-one is for temperature zones of minus 25℃ to minus 15℃, 2℃ to 8℃, and 15℃ to 25℃, which are highly requested by healthcare customers. The box maintains its temperature for 96 hours by using coolants and has five different sizes with a capacity ranging from 4 to 74 liters.
Bio Cool is capable of keeping the temperature at minus 79℃ for 48 to 96 hours using dry ice. Customers can choose from four different sizes with a capacity ranging from 10 to 80 liters.
Source: Company Press Release