LONG BEACH - UTi Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:UTIW), a global supply chain services and solutions provider, has launched a new temperature-controlled partial shipping service for the pharmaceutical industry, the first to connect Belgium and Israel.
UTi’s “LCL Pharma” service provides a cost-effective alternative to airfreight for pharmaceuticals and other healthcare-related, temperature-sensitive products. It allows clients to make Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments without compromising quality standards. The service was unveiled last month at the Port2Port Cold Chain Forum in Tel Aviv, where it won the conference’s innovation award, and has launched following a successful pilot phase. Temperature-sensitive freight can be collected from across Europe and delivered to UTi’s GDP Certified Pharma Hub near Brussels. The hub is configured to run 15degreesC to 25degreesC but also has 2degreesC to 8degreesC zones and a dedicated Pharma DG area, enabling additional routes and services to be added in the future. Real-time monitoring and control ensures that cool chain integrity is maintained throughout its onward journey, even through customs. Phil Abbate, UTi Global Vice President, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, said: “We are always looking at how innovative supply chain solutions can deliver better results for our clients and their patients. Through our ‘pharma network of excellence’ we continue to push the envelope in seeking out cost-effective alternatives that address the high cost of shipping perishables. Our new LCL solution is just one example of this, providing our healthcare clients with a seamless, temperature-controlled service, thus allowing them to move goods more efficiently by shipping smaller volumes on a regular schedule.”