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Lufthansa Cargo awarded CEIV certification for pharmaceuticals transport

[ September 20, 2016   //   ]

Lufthansa Cargo has been awarded the CEIV seal by airline association IATA. Over recent months, as part of a complex procedure, independent specialists have reviewed the airline’s processes when transporting pharmaceuticals using the Cool/td Active and Cool/td Passive products and have assessed Lufthansa Cargo as exhibiting superior reliability and expertise. As such, Lufthansa Cargo is now one of only six airlines worldwide to have received this certification for processes throughout the global route network. The Lufthansa Cargo Cool Center in Frankfurt was also successfully certified. With the 4500 sq. metre-building, Lufthansa Cargo ensures that pharmaceutical shipments are handled reliably and quickly at its home airport.

“Pharmaceutical shipments are extremely challenging and demand maximum reliability from airlines. Adhering to the required temperature is crucial to ensure medication can be used as planned following shipping”, comments Alexis von Hoensbroech, Board Member Product and Sales at Lufthansa Cargo. “Being one of the first airlines worldwide to receive IATA’s new international certificate is the fruit of the work we have done on our Cool/td product over the last few years.”

With CEIV Pharma (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics), the IATA airline association has developed a global standard for pharmaceuticals transport for the very first time. “In achieving IATA CEIV Pharma certification across its global network, Lufthansa Cargo joins an elite group of six airlines whose customers can have even more confidence that their pharmaceuticals will be delivered in impeccable condition”, said Glyn Hughes, IATA Global Head of Cargo. “IATA has created CEIV Pharma to help airlines, handlers and forwarders to be compliant with international regulations and to create one global standard for transporting pharmaceuticals.”

Temperature-controlled shipments are becoming an ever more important segment of the air cargo market for special products. But the demands placed on airlines are high. The temperatures required must be adhered to and documented throughout the entire transport chain. Because of this, Lufthansa Cargo has invested heavily in technology, infrastructure and processes over the last few years. Together with Dokasch, the company even developed the Opticooler – a refrigerated container, which functions exceptionally reliably due to compressor technology (with no need for dry ice). The Lufthansa Cargo Cool Center, which opened in 2011 offering direct access onto the apron, is one of the most innovative hubs for handling temperature-sensitive cargo across the world. Four cold-storage rooms kept at different temperatures as well as a deep-freeze room ensure that the required temperature is guaranteed for each and every piece of cargo.

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