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Sep 11, 2020 at 8:02 PMKühne + Nagel opens Pharma air freight hubs in Brussels and Johannesburg, ensuring direct access to the runway for quick cargo handling and product integrity. Both hubs are part of the Kühne + Nagel network for Pharma & Healthcare with over 230 GxP-certified locations worldwide.
(Schindellegi) With the opening of two GxP-certified Pharma air freight hubs in Brussels, Belgium, and Johannesburg, South Africa, Kühne + Nagel expands its global network for temperature-controlled transport and distribution of vaccines and other Pharma & Healthcare products.
Temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals often exhibit low stability outside the cold chain; therefore, direct access to the runway, which ensures immediate handling of sensitive cargo right at the aircraft, minimizes the risk of temperature fluctuations and ensures product integrity. The new facilities in Brussels and Johannesburg feature separate areas for temperature-sensitive products (below -20°C, +2° to +8°C, and +15° to +25°C). Additionally, there is the option to use dry ice for transport and storage below -60°C.
Facility in Brussels in close proximity to the airport
The new Brussels hub is located in Brucargo, in close proximity to the airport area. Brussels Airport is the first in the world to receive IATA CEIV Pharma certification. The Kühne + Nagel facility encompasses 15,546 m2 of storage space and is seamlessly connected to the recently expanded contract logistics site for Pharma in Geel, as well as to the pan-European land transport network of KN PharmaChain managed from Luxembourg.
The expanded KN PharmaChain location at Johannesburg International Airport also meets the requirements for handling temperature-sensitive cargo and offers a wide range of value-added services for distribution in South Africa and the rest of Africa. By using “Cool Dollies” (climate-controlled thermotransporters for the runway), Kühne + Nagel ensures the integrity of the cargo from the GxP-certified warehouse to the aircraft. The dollies can accommodate pallets for both the lower and main decks.
Handling of pharmaceuticals becoming increasingly challenging
Yngve Ruud, a member of the management board of Kühne + Nagel responsible for Air Logistics, comments: “The handling of pharmaceuticals is becoming increasingly challenging, with corresponding requirements for storage and transport conditions. However, such competencies and facilities are not available everywhere. With the new hubs in Brussels and Johannesburg, we ensure that our customers in the pharmaceutical sector can fully rely on Kühne + Nagel when it comes to the integrity of their products and compliance with regulations in the supply chain. This allows them to focus entirely on the health and well-being of their patients.”
Kühne + Nagel’s approach continues to set standards across the entire pharmaceutical logistics sector. The company operates over 230 GxP-certified stations worldwide. The specialized hubs for temperature-controlled logistics – including in the USA, UK, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, Italy, France, Singapore, India, Panama, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia – are part of this.
Photo: © Kühne + Nagel
