The globalisation of operations in the pharmaceutical industry has accelerated the need for validated temperature-controlled packaging (TCP) that can ensure that drugs and vaccines are still active and safe when they arrive at their destination.
The Meditherm M14.0 is being introduced for the first time in the US at the East Pack exhibition in New York, which gets underway today. It offers a 500 litre capacity and is intended for sale rather than lease, although Laminar is also offering a repair and refurbishment service.
Laminar said that the M14.0 shipper has been specifically designed to cope with global transport, and tested the product in 450 transatlantic trips between Europe and the US, with no temperature excursions recorded. The product handles ambient temperature challenges from -15C to +40C and can maintain the desired temperature for up to seven days.
Another feature emphasised by the company is that the M14.0 can be delivered and returned to base flat-packed, which should reduce freight costs and extending the shipper's lifespan. In addition, because it is re-usable it offers additional cost reduction and environmental advantages.
Two other products exhibited by Laminar at East Pack are the Mediporter and the Thermoporter.
The former is designed for use by pharmaceutical wholesalers seeking a cost effective alternative to delivery by refrigerated vehicle. It consists of a heavy-duty plastic outer container with a hinged lid and tamper evident sealing system. Silica-filled vacuum panels provide internal insulation and the payload is contained in a specially designed solid polystyrene container, with purpose built cool packs fitted over the top of this.
OPG, the largest pharmaceuticals distributor in the Netherlands, has trialled 1500 of the Mediporter TPCs, and is due to receive an additional 3,000 at the end of the test period.
The Thermoporter is suitable for the transport of vaccines, clinical specimens and similar temperature sensitive items. It is intended for courier work and for use by paramedics and nurses, because it can also be validated to maintain stable temperatures for multiple openings on a journey cycle.