The Shanghai-based ground handler is currently building a new perishable centre. The state-of-the-art facility will go online next July.
Once operational, the cool centre will enable the company to provide the market with the entire range of temperature conditions needed for handling perishables and pharma products year round. As
did Brussels (BRUcargo), it will gain IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Certification for Pharmaceutical Logistics.
According to PACTL, their new perishable centre will meet all the necessary temperature requirements to support continuous cool chains and features a deep freeze area (-18 degrees Centigrade),
several cool storage facilities (+4 to +8 degrees Celsius) and an ambient temperature storage zone (+15 to +25 degrees Celsius). It provides an acceptance area with separate x-ray machines and a
build-up zone, a 1,500 square meter handling area for quick break-downs and a specially designated delivery sector.
Growth of pharma continues
Lutz Grzegorz, Vice President of PACTL comments: “As most of our airline clients are offering and further developing sophisticated perishable and pharmaceutical services, we expect the recent
growth in our perishable and pharmaceutical business to continue.” Markus Knickmann, Manager of the Strategic Business Development Department at PACTL adds to this: “It’s our job to support the
efforts of our customers by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure as the basis for competitive products; this will allow them to gain a better position in the relevant markets.”
The new perishable centre will cover a total area of more than 3,500 square meters. If needed, a further 500 sqm of storage space can be added to the facility.
New dollies close a gap
In order to close the gap between the facility and the aircraft, PACTL is considering investing in 10 foot lower-deck refrigerated dollies and making them available to the ramp handlers so that
they can use them to transport items between the apron stands and the warehouse and be able to store perishables at the apron stands.
Operations at the new perishable centre will be fully integrated in PACTL’s IT system. A computer-based tool will provide reliable forecasts to the staff in charge of capacity management and will
feature appropriate status updates and location information, assures the handler.
The IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) aims to upgrade and standardise the pharmaceutical supply chain. Its regulations are based on Good Distribution Practices (GDP), as
well as IATA’s Temperature Control Regulations (TCR). Independent Validators assess the relevant facilities, procedures, processes and quality system of each company that applies for
certification, and trains key staff.
Heiner Siegmund
Write a comment