What’s going on: New healthcare treatments are reshaping the pharmaceutical industry – especially in Europe, where 80% of pharma products require temperature-controlled transportation. The demand for reliable, temperature-specific supply chain solutions has never been greater.
Where UPS Healthcare fits: To meet these growing needs, UPS Healthcare is opening state-of-the-art cross-dock facilities around the world – most recently in Milan, Italy and Frankfurt, Germany. Cross-docks minimize the need for storage in a traditional supply chain and ultimately speed up delivery by transferring goods directly from point of origin to point of sale.
“The latest biologics and specialty pharmaceuticals require precise, temperature-controlled logistics to get patient-critical products where they need to be, on time and at the right temperature,” said UPS Healthcare Europe Vice President Britta Weber.
These two new facilities ensure critical healthcare products reach patients safely and on time. Let’s take a field trip to learn about both:
Milan: Simplified shipping for faster deliveries
The 28,500m2 cross-dock in Milan features over 20,000 pallet positions and supports shipments requiring temperatures between 2-8 degrees Celsius. Strategically located near the airport, the facility eliminates unnecessary storage time – directly transferring goods from arrival to outbound vehicles. That means even speedier delivery times.
“Through our integrated, multi-modal network, we’re reducing supply chain complexity, building resiliency and offering more delivery options and control than ever before,” Britta said.
Frankfurt: A central hub for global reach
The 7,200m2 Frankfurt cross-dock provides temperature-controlled storage across three ranges: -25 to -15 C, 2 to 8 C and 15 to 25 C. Its prime location near our European air hub in Cologne means easy access to major transport hubs in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Liège, Rotterdam and Warsaw. The result? Short transit times, including speedy next-day and two-day service to destinations worldwide.
Expanding a global network of excellence: The Milan and Frankfurt facility openings join our lineup of cross-docking facilities, like in Hyderabad, India. Our facilities in Amsterdam, Miami, New York and Shanghai achieved CEIV Pharma certification – a global benchmark for transporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo.
Get the latest updates on our healthcare logistics and cold chain innovations.