va-Q-tec and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Agree on Cooperation

By signing the global agreement with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, va-Q-tec expands its airline partner network with one of the largest airlines in Europe. The global distribution of the Corona vaccine is also made safer, more energy-efficient, and more environmentally friendly through this cooperation.

(Würzburg) va-Q-tec, a pioneer in highly efficient thermal containers and boxes for temperature-controlled logistics, has signed a global agreement (Global Rental Agreement, “GRA”) with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo). This marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the two companies. The airline, regarded as one of the largest in Europe and a specialist in pharmaceutical transport, now also offers the secure, energy-efficient, and straightforward handling of temperature-controlled transports with va-Q-tec’s thermal containers in its service portfolio. Strong partnerships like this are particularly important to tackle the mammoth task of global Corona vaccine distribution. The rapid availability and the extensive international network of AFKLMP Cargo and va-Q-tec enable efficient and secure solutions. For many years, va-Q-tec has been recognized as the world’s largest provider of this type with its fleet of over 2,500 passive thermal containers and the widest range of temperatures from room temperature to -70 °C.

Sustainability at the Core of the Cooperation

The sustainability aspect is also a focal point of the newly formed cooperation. For 16 years, AFKLMP Cargo has been listed as one of the global air transport companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. The particularly environmentally friendly and energy-efficient thermal containers and boxes from va-Q-tec fit perfectly into this excellent corporate strategy of the air freight company: The common goal of both companies is to make temperature-controlled logistics (TempChain) safer, more sustainable, and more energy-efficient. Designed as reusable solutions within a global rental network, va-Q-tec’s thermal containers are made of over 80% recyclable material. The energy efficiency of va-Q-tec’s containers and boxes is also outstanding: thanks to vacuum super insulation, va-Q-tainers have about ten times better insulation than conventionally insulated containers. Their multiple reusability also saves valuable resources and reduces waste.

Temperature Ranges Between -70 °C and +20 °C

However, in terms of their exceptional performance, va-Q-tainers are nearly unique due to the combination of high-performance vacuum insulation and innovative temperature storage elements: They maintain various temperature ranges between -70 °C and +20 °C for up to ten days – completely independent of external energy supply, unlike active containers with batteries and compressors. This autonomy represents a significant advantage, especially in challenging times like the Corona crisis, compared to active container alternatives. Moreover, va-Q-tainers do not require additional dry ice to maintain temperatures down to -60 °C. To achieve even lower temperatures of up to -80 °C, only a relatively small amount of dry ice is needed – significantly less than with other conventional solutions. This reduces the overall use of dry ice in pharmaceutical logistics, which significantly decreases hazards and CO₂ emissions.

Making Vaccine Transport More Environmentally Friendly

Thus, the extensive international transports of the Corona vaccine carried out with the containers are also made more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. Christel van Dael, Business Development Manager for Pharmaceutical Logistics at AFKLMP Cargo, explains: “The broad product portfolio of va-Q-tec is of great importance given the logistical challenges we face, for example, in the global transport of Coronavirus vaccines. Together, we can deliver vaccines safely and sustainably to the world.”Dr. Joachim Kuhn, CEO and founder of va-Q-tec, agrees: “Our containers save valuable energy, resources, and CO₂ emissions due to their optimal temperature retention properties, great autonomy, and low weight. Through our outstanding key technology, we have proven that we are a very reliable technology provider for our customers even during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we are now proud to be partners of the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Group and ready to tackle any thermal-logistical challenge together!”

About va-Q-tec

va-Q-tec is a pioneer of highly efficient products and solutions in the field of thermal insulation and TempChain logistics. The company develops, produces, and distributes highly efficient and thus thin vacuum insulation panels (“VIPs”) for insulation as well as thermal energy storage components (Phase Change Materials – “PCMs”) for reliable and energy-efficient temperature control. With this thermal key technology, va-Q-tec manufactures passive thermal packaging systems (containers and boxes) that can maintain constant temperatures for up to 200 hours without external energy supply, depending on the type. To carry out temperature-sensitive logistics chains, va-Q-tec maintains a fleet of rental containers and boxes within a global partner network, which can meet demanding thermal protection standards. In addition to healthcare & logistics as the main market, va-Q-tec also addresses the following additional markets: refrigeration & food, technology & industry, construction, and mobility. Founded in 2001, the rapidly growing company is headquartered in Würzburg.
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