Temperature goods

Temperature controlled logistics involves the storage, preservation and transportation of cargo that is sensitive to atmospheric conditions and requirements to maintain a certain temperature. This is very important for medicinal products, as spoiled drugs can lose their efficacy and have serious consequences on the patient’s health and wellbeing.

Elevated or sub-zero temperatures can affect the chemical stability of the medicine and may even alter its physical properties. This can occur in the form of sedimentation and separation of emulsion systems.

Due to the implications of improperly stored drugs, regulator demands have become more stringent and pharmaceutical companies need to be able to prove that their products are transported via a temperature controlled supply chain.

Types of temperature controlled logistics

• Refrigerated vehicles. This category includes conventional vehicles that have thermostatically controlled cargo compartments, enabling the temperature range to be maintained.  Refrigerated vehicles often come in the form of small vans and trucks, which can be equipped with electronic control systems to manage temperature. While some vehicles in this category rely on the engine to supply power to the refrigeration unit, larger vehicles have independently powered units and electrical backups. 

• Passive shipping container. Passive shipping systems are storage containers that utilize a combination of insulating materials and electronics to maintain a temperature range. While they do not require human or external input to function, they can only maintain a temperature range for a set period of time before they expire, making them an effective option for short journeys.  Impact resistant  containers are often needed to mitigate any potential damage to the transported cargo during road transportation.  Passive shipping systems can be used alongside the other major types of temperature controlled logistics for an additional layer of protection. 

• Active shipping system. These are similar to passive shipping containers but are much larger in scope. Active shipping systems are used aboard airfreight and sea freight shipping – and are effectively large thermostatically controlled cargo containers. On air freight, they are typically powered via internal batteries or an external electrical source and maintain power via large cooling fans and heating mechanisms. Meanwhile, sea freight active shipping systems are generally powered by the ships onboard power supply.