Thermo King and Envirotainer have said they are ready to meet the increasing shipping needs of the healthcare and aviation industries when a COVID-19 vaccine is approved.
The company’s containers were designed for the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. The one pallet RKN e1 container, using Thermo King Air 100 refrigeration system, and larger RAP e2 container, using Thermo King Air 200 refrigeration system, maintain product temperatures in the +2 to +8 Celsius range, controlled room temperature (+15 to +25 Celsius) range or at any chosen set temperature between ±0 and +25 Celsius.
The active solutions operate on batteries in-flight, and on the ground, through an electrical connection that maintains the air-cargo container’s inside temperature while charging the batteries.
Delivering pharmaceuticals using the RAP e2 emits 0.9kg CO2e per vial shipped.
Both RKN e1 using Air 100 refrigeration unit and RAP e2 using Air 200 refrigeration unit are certified by both European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), and are qualified as good distribution practice compliant for pharmaceutical transport and storage.
“When a vaccine is ready, the challenge for the pharmaceutical market will be getting it to the patient as fast as possible by maintaining the integrity of the cold chain,” said Francesco Incalza, President Thermo King EMEA. “Our intelligent solutions can help address logistics complexities by maintaining temperature control and tracking the integrity of vaccine shipments at all points along the journey, including during air transport. We are ready to meet the needs for the mass global distribution of the expected temperature-sensitive vaccine.”
“Once vaccines become available, we know they will require temperature-controlled air freight and a global distribution in very large quantities,” said Michael Berg, CEO at Envirotainer. “Our long lasting partnership with Thermo King has led us to setting new standards in the industry. We have by far the largest container fleet and network in the industry, and we are ready to support fast and secure delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the people that need them, wherever they are in the world.”