Transparency and process optimization are most challenging for pharmaceutical logistics. To improve both throughout the entire supply chain, all members of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt now invest in the optimization of the ordering process and operation management of pharmaceutical transports. These efforts are based on a combined IT solution for automated and electronic process support which allows a complete exchange of information between all members of the supply chain. "With this new concept, we are able to decrease the complexity of ordering processes and increase reliability and speed at the same time by steering the flow of information of all participants digitally", explains Anke Giesen, Executive at Fraport AG and Vice Chairwoman of Air Cargo Community Frankfurt. An academic analysis by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences identified potentials for optimizations, which are now being implemented by community members like airlines, freight handling, forwarding businesses, ground handling services as well as IT and scientific Service providers.
Fraport ground handlings services (BVD) and the handling companies Swissport, Celebi, LUG and FCS are currently being audited according to CEIV pharma on behalf of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to confirm the high quality of their pharmaceutical transports. "The approval of an independent authority will emphasize our competence as Europe’s leading gateway for pharmaceutical products", says Joachim von Winning, Executive Director of Air Cargo Community Frankfurt. More than half of the airlines that belong to the Community are already certified according to CEIV pharma. This also applies to the Perishable Center and forwarders like Bolloré Logistics.
With regard to pharmaceutical commodities, Frankfurt Airport is well established as Europe’s leading gateway: More than 100.000 tons of medicinal products, vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are handled annually. Especially Lufthansa and LUG are now expanding their dedicated handling space for pharma products with multi temperature zones to 11,000 square meters. In this area, palettes can be split up or combined without disrupting the cold chain. Moreover, Frankfurt Airport uses thermo transporters on the apron for nearly twenty years.
Caption: Board of Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V.
From left to right: Patrik Tschirch (LUG aircargo handling GmbH), Andreas Heil (Kewill GmbH), Anke Giesen (Fraport AG), Joachim von Winning (Air Cargo Community), Goetz Wendenburg (Kuehne + Nagel (AG & Co.) KG), Soeren Stark (Lufthansa Cargo AG), Michael Hoppe (BARIG e.V.)
About Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V.
The Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V. is an association of companies, institutions and organizations with the clear objective of promoting the airfreight location of Frankfurt. Its total of around 50 members includes representatives of all areas of the air cargo supply chain. The association has five competence groups "Temperature-controlled Transport", "Processes & Infrastructure" and "Location Marketing & Community Building", as well as various specialist groups which represent the entire range of services offered at the airfreight location of Frankfurt. The prime objective is that Frankfurt Airport will, also in future, continue to clearly be Europe’s No. 1 in the air freight business and, as the leading cargo hub, significantly enhance its competitiveness compared with other airports in neighbouring countries. The location of Frankfurt, today with nearly 2.2 million tons of air cargo (freight and mail, 2016) and 14,000 employees in the cargo area, should also continue to grow significantly in the coming years and, in doing so, capture an even larger share of global freight volumes for itself.
press contact:
Mainblick – Agentur fuer Strategie und Kommunikation GmbH
Uwe Berndt
Rossdorfer Str. 19a
60385 Frankfurt
Phone.: +49 69 / 48 98 12 90
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