Detailed Guide to Cool Chain Logistics

The Perfect Solution For Transporting COVID-19 Vaccines

The main objective of a temperature-controlled logistics system is to ensure that sensitive products are kept at consistent temperatures throughout the entire shipping process, be it via ground, air, or sea – and every step in between.

In a globalized world, top-tier logistics service providers like Miami-based Prime Logistics have become a vital component of the modern-day supply chain mechanism. Transporting large quantities of perishable goods and medical products over great distances and diverse climatic conditions requires precise temperature recording and monitoring services.

Typically referred to as cool-chain or cold-chain logistics, this system involves the safe transportation of a wide variety of items such as fresh fish and produce, flowers, and medical goods such as vaccines and biologics. But highly sensitive chemicals, high-tech electrical and electronics equipment, and many other shipments are also on the list.

A Common Misconception About the Cool-Chain

Since it is called cool- or cold-chain logistics, people naturally confuse it with a system that is meant only to maintain low-temperatures. While it is true that the vast majority of products in this category require consistently cold conditions during transit and short-term storage, not all cool-chain cargo needs to be transported at near or sub-zero temperatures.

During winter months, for example, transporters need to keep some fruits and vegetables warm in order for them to maintain their best quality. Different types of product categories demand different types of temperature and ambient conditions. This is the reason why cold or cool-chain logistics is also called temperature-controlled logistics.

Following are some of the instances where cool-chain logistics is useful:

  • Seafood and meat exports require “deep freeze” ambient conditions within the range of -28°C to -30°C.
  • Most fruit and vegetables, and certain types of dairy products require ambient temperature to be maintained between 2°C and 4°C.
  • Unless they are COVID vaccine requiring deep-freeze temperatures, many vaccines, biologics, and other pharmaceutical products require the temperature to be a bit higher, between 2°C and 8°C to be precise.

The average cool-chain logistics services maintain the ambient temperature between 12°C and 14°C. The typical products transported in such types of supply chains include fresh produce, processed food, and over-the-counter drugs.

A Specialized Provider for Cool Chain Logistics

Since transportation in a cool-chain logistics system involves maintaining a wide range of temperatures, it is imperative that specialized providers have the capability to deploy new techniques and technologies along with the basic know-how on putting it all together in the most optimal fashion.

Prime Logistics is one of the leading global players in the supply-chain logistics arena. In fact, the company has invested in vacuum cooling and pre-cooling technologies to further strengthen its fresh delivery supply chain. Very few enterprises can bear such a high capital cost of this type of equipment. But, the investment is paying off due to the sheer volume of merchandise they are handling, which justifies the expense. It even serves as a selling point in attracting customers looking to reap the benefits of longer shelf lives for their perishable products.

Rapid cooling is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of the cool chain. The ultra-modern ColdMAX vacuum coolers that Prime Logistics utilizes can process 4,000 kg of material in each cycle; sensitive products like perishable fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Equipment such as the ColdMAX can help to ensure optimum temperatures are maintained throughout the entire transit process.

From an economical standpoint, and for efficiency’s sake, it is therefore highly important to choose a provider that utilizes the latest in available technology and possess the know-how in applying it on command. Providers with widespread delivery networks like the Prime Logistics not only ensure safe delivery by leveraging the latest technological innovation, but they also bring down delivery fee structures, which ultimately reduce overall cost.

Cool Chain Delivery Phases & Their Importance During a Pandemic

The importance of cool-chain delivery has increased in the current pandemic-stricken world. Several global leaders in pharmaceuticals, namely Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca have strict temperature requirements to maintain their integrity during transport. For instance, the Pfizer vaccine has to be maintained at ultra-cold temperatures between -70°C and -80°C, and can only be refrigerated for up to five days at point of delivery. Moderna’s vaccine remains stable in a standard refrigerator for 30 days and can also be kept in ordinary freezers for long-term use.

The executing authorities demanded that a distribution network be built consisting of ultra-cold freezers and mobile vaccination clinics. Such specialized logistics require a provider with the capacity and experience to carry out such a job.

A Detailed Guide

How should a cold-chain logistics provider prepare itself for such an uphill task? Prime Logistics offers a detailed outline regarding how the logistics providers and product distributors need to work together to meet the challenges – with a strategy involving synergistic coordination among different phases of the logistics chain:

Transport: Being a global leader in supply-chain logistics, Prime Logistics has well-established collaborations with some of the world’s largest and most reliable air cargo carriers. Combined with Prime Logistics’ time-tested expertise in managing ad-hoc cargo charter operations, it creates an ideal pre-emptive delivery network that can prioritize and expedite the delivery when and where it is needed the most.

Storage & Material Handling: The most crucial phase in the chain is when it comes to the delivery of vaccines. Prime Logistics is seeing this as a combined effort to improve cold storage, material handling, and warehousing facilities together. For a cool-chain logistics provider, the efficient management of this phase starts with the tracking and monitoring of the shipments. Prime Logistics, for example, has invested in world-class inventory management and product monitoring technologies.

Another key area that is under Prime Logistics’ focus is increasing the capacity of the temperature-controlled warehouses, especially for the ones that are at their key transit points. Warehouses in any supply-chain logistics system cannot run without adequate manpower. Therefore, it is required to deploy necessary manpower and services at the anticipated staging locations of the vaccine.

Packaging: Delivery of vaccines at hospitals, clinics, and other vaccination distribution points is the stage where packaging becomes highly important. The packaging should not only be resilient to normal wear, tear, and damages but should also be sophisticated enough to maintain the required atmospherics of the vaccine. For example, in the case of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Prime Logistics is leveraging its experience of dealing with temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. It includes deploying government-approved procedures and trained staff at the locations of refrigerated warehouses throughout the network that will ensure the integrity of the last-mile delivery.

Information & Control: It is not a separate phase but something that invariably dictates the success rate of each of the phases above. To meet customer demand and the standards of service reliability, cool-chain logistics providers must always be ready to answer questions such as where is the delivery at present, when it will arrive at the location, and what could be the impacts of any delay. Prime Logistics has tackled these issues head on by increasing its global supply chain visibility and strengthening its system of receiving event-notifications on time.

To become more efficient in information monitoring and data tracking, Prime Logistics not only relies on its historical data, it also leverages the services of the global IT companies to redefine and digitize its operation. Companies involved in the supply chain logistics services of such emergency medical goods must use the latest technology available to enhance their efficiency, adaptability, readiness, and performance.

As a leader in this field, Prime Logistics is stepping well beyond traditional applications of information technology – especially to tackle the mammoth task of COVID-19 vaccine delivery. The company is exploring AI-powered augmented analytics to explore and analyze data. An efficiently analyzed dataset is of immense help when it comes to the effective running of the various operational procedures essential for on-time and safe delivery of refrigerated cargo from origin to destination.

Summary
Triggered by the pandemic, the global cold-chain logistics market is expected to witness significant growth in the years to come. Market research estimates suggest that the market may grow from the size of US$160 billion in 2018 to a size of US$585 billion in 2026.

To run a successful cool-chain logistics operation, a company needs to specialize in many aspects together. Like Prime Logistics, it would need robust carrier facilities across all modes of transportation including, air cargo, ocean freight, and roadway trucking. For one company, it might not be possible to excel in every area of transport but it certainly should establish reliable partnerships with third-party carrier companies in that case.

A provider of cool-chain logistics should understand the latest information management software well, and also be aware of the latest refrigeration, warehousing, and transportation technologies available in the market. It’s important to keep on reinventing the process and making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Lastly, the provider’s management and the staff absolutely must have experience in this field. They should have a clear understanding of which intervention points are critical in the chain and the possible areas where the process may go wrong. Deep and holistic knowledge about the stakeholders involved and being ready to respond to bottlenecks would make cool-chain logistics the most efficient supply chain in today’s world.

About Prime Logistics

Prime Logistics is a division of Prime Group, a Miami-based air cargo and international logistics conglomerate founded in Ecuador in 2001. With offices and refrigerated warehouses in Miami, Los Angels, New York, Quito, Bogota, and Amsterdam, Prime Logistics has hundreds of contacts and representatives around the globe skilled at providing expert logistics solutions. Myriad global industries are supported by our team in the shipping of commodities via air, land, and ocean – to virtually any location worldwide.

Friendly and knowledgeable customer-service and operations agents are available 24/7, by calling +1 305 592 2044 or via email at info@primelogisticsgroup.com. For information visit www.primelogisticsgrop.com.

Prime Logistics Expertise Now Includes ‘Spotting Trouble’

It’s great for a company to have all the best processes, all the best technology and all the best people, and we’re pleased to say we believe that’s the case at Prime Logistics. But in our modern society, unfortunately, companies need to be the absolute best at something else as well – spotting trouble before it happens, and moving quickly to handle the situation, as well as meeting unexpected challenges along the way.

Logistics & Security

Not surprisingly, during this COVID-19 era, many governments and companies have concerns about their deliveries and, particularly, the efficient and safe delivery of pharmaceuticals and vaccines in the shortest possible time.

To assist our valued customers, Prime Logistics and its sister company Prime Fresh Handling (PFH) both employ in-house teams that are highly knowledgeable about the massive yet intricate operational structure of global pharmaceutical logistics and the need for sensitive handling of any perishables such as vaccines.

It’s a massive system that involves tens of thousands of people, countless facilities and many extremely-difficult-to-reach transportation destinations. But that’s not all. Unfortunately, life-saving, high-cost drugs or technologically sophisticated biologics are often the target of criminals.

It’s not uncommon for international cartels to attempt to steal these products during delivery to sell them at cheaper prices or even to counterfeit them. The reality is that logistics companies and manufacturing firms must invest appropriately and be extremely diligent in making these deliveries secure.

Checks on the System

As a result, appropriate security deployments must be in place at each transit point – such as travel between the manufacturing location and the warehouse, between the warehouse and delivery fleets, and between delivery fleets and delivery-location storage.

It’s also important to have a robust security framework in place in the last-mile delivery phase. That will help ensure that products reach the intended recipient and aren’t diverted to unlisted wholesalers or suppliers.

In addition, both of these Prime Group companies have the latest, top-of-the-line systems in place to track and trace cargo 24-7. This year, we’ve also further enhanced our security measures to protect the goods or pharmaceuticals that the company has been entrusted to handle.

Investment in People

But the most valuable resource in assuring safe, secure and timely transit of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other goods is always the “human touch.” Thus, Prime Group has invested heavily in its “people,” both at Prime Logistics and PFH. That further assures the complex process for pharmaceuticals and transport of vaccines is secure. They are continually keeping a keen eye on ways to expand and enhance the skills and aptitude of our team members.

Fortunately, Prime Group is a member of the World Cargo Association (WCA), which serves nearly 10,000 members in 194 countries. Earlier this year, through its WCA relationship, multiple staff members of Prime Logistics and PFH received an “Anti-Bribery & Corruption Certification” issued by the London-based WCAworld Academy.

Newly certified are Commercial Manager Cristina Moscoso,  Administrative Assistant Mary Marino, General Manager Alex Parades, Regional Manager Jose Luis Suarez, Commercial Manager Jose Luis Vargas, and Manager Severyn Yanytskyy.

Now these employees are skilled at risk analysis, understanding the risks by the country or region of operations; doing risk assessments; tracking global opinion; selecting vendors and managing suppliers; and supporting customer due diligence.

 

We are extremely proud to have a strong team that’s WCAworld Academy-accredited in “Anti-Bribery & Corruption,”. It not only reinforces their commitment to continually expanding our knowledge base through education, innovation, and adaptation, but also reaffirms that Prime Group companies are trusted leaders in the global logistics industry.

 Such certification comes at a pivotal time for the air cargo industry, in particular, as logistics companies across the globe are maneuvering into position to support the crucial worldwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Prime Group staff recently have secured other important WCAworld Academy certifications as well.

 In earlier 2021, Prime Group was able to claim to have the first-ever U.S. based global logistics representative to be fully credentialed by WCAworld Academy as a Responsible Person for Logistics.

 “The WCAworld Academy is fully committed to assisting our members with the highest levels of training and compliance,” says Adam McKenna, general manager-WCA Pharma Group. “Prime Group’s dedication to training and constant improvement helps to secure their status as one of the most qualified pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics forwarders in the U.S. and we are delighted to have them as members.

 

So, moving into the second half of 2021 and beyond, customers who require complex logistics and safe care for their global shipments of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals can rest assured their valuable shipments are in the best hands.

Prime Logistics Is Suited up to Support Cold-Chain Distribution of Vaccines

With the addition of a fleet of all new temperature-controlled freezers at its MIA warehouse facility, Prime Logistics is doubling down its readiness to meet the pressing needs of customers serving the pharmaceuticals industry at a pivotal point in history. 

The company initially ramped up its freezer capacity in response to the soaring popularity of e-commerce distribution of frozen foods, as millions of consumers chose online shopping and delivery rather than leaving home. 

But of course, since the earliest days of the pandemic, Prime Logistics knew there would come a day when much more capacity would be needed to service the imminent release and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. That day has come.

In late November, as several pharmaceutical companies began releasing their pandemic fighting inoculations, it officially signaled to global shippers and handlers that their crucial role delivering coronavirus vaccines worldwide was now underway. 

Prepared & Ready

“The good news for Prime Logistics and our customers worldwide is that we’re ready,” says Omar Zambrano, the company’s chief operations officer.

“Between the new 400cbm capacity at MIA and the vast freezer space already in place at our consolidated freight stations at LAX and JFK, we are well positioned to safely store, stage, and transit highly-sensitive vaccines and other pharmaceuticals at a time when the world needs us most.”

Prime Logistics had in fact played a significant role in the distribution of vaccines in normal times through its well-established global time- and temperature-sensitive handling and distribution system. 

Says Prime Logistics Sales Manager Yulieth Onofre, “It is also important to point out, as demand heats up for temperature-controlled refrigerator and freezer units, our strategically positioned facilities have the available space to expand as greater capacity is needed.”

This addresses one of the biggest challenges facing the cold chain distribution process in delivering a temperature-sensitive COVID-19 vaccine. The supply of cold storage facilities is woefully outdated, at least in the U.S., so there is greater need for back-up modernized facilities, such as that which Prime Logistics has to offer.

According to a report from Supply Chain Dive, “Demand for cold storage has been on the incline for years as consumers have slowly adapted to shopping for groceries online, but the coronavirus shot that curve up sharply. So, even within a generally hot market, the supply side for highly desirable cold storage facilities is lagging.”

Onofre notes that maintaining supply chain integrity, from the starting point at the manufacturing site to finish, will require all parties to work together. Knowing that no single agency or entity can do this alone, Prime Logistics is aware of the urgency at hand and is ready to step up to do its part.

“This is where we clearly excel,” says Onofre. “With facilities, partners, and qualified agents all around the world, Prime Logistics is particularly experienced in the global management and delivery of temperature-sensitive products anywhere in the world.”

Every party realizes that supporting the global effort at vaccinating everybody in the country and across the world is going to be a phenomenal logistical feat. Knowing this, Onofre adds, “We absolutely have zero margin for failure. We are going to get this right.”

Information & Control 

Getting it right also means maintaining the integrity of the product from source to destination and every point in between. Beyond the challenge of physically transporting the vaccine across America and internationally, there is the additional obstacle of monitoring deliveries for theft.

This sudden burst of activity and demand, as vaccine producers are now ready to ship, will no doubt create openings for providers of transportation and warehouse facilities that may have poor security practices. The rush to market with large quantities of the inoculation will make it difficult for manufacturers to vet all their suppliers.

Not a problem for Prime Logistics, however, with its reputation for being one of the most professional and trustworthy providers on the industry. Its solid reliance on enhanced state-of-the-art inventory tracking and product monitoring technologies not only serves to answer the customer’s most basic questions—where is my shipment and when will it arrive?—but also adds the much needed element of security. 

Charter Operations

One other important service area where Prime Logistics excels is in the delivery of time- and temperature-sensitive products via its air cargo charter division.

Not only does the company enjoy long-time relationships with some of the world’s largest and most reliable air cargo carriers, Prime Logistics also has proven expertise in managing ad-hoc cargo charter operations. This also well-positions Prime Logistics to step up for its many customers in expediting vaccines and other pharmaceutical products when and where they are needed most.

Zambrano says it’s clear there is going to be an unprecedented demand for cargo space, far greater than there was for PPE at the advent of the pandemic. “Just as Prime Logistics pivoted and performed for our customers then, we’re on hot standby to manage charter flight operations as needed for this next round,” he said.

About Prime Logistics

Prime Logistics benefits from being part of the Prime Group, a network of coordinated cargo and freight specialists with offices and representatives worldwide. Based in Miami, the company has 20 years of expertise working with perishables and pharmaceuticals—two very specialized industries that demand intense attention to detail and infallible transportation solutions at a moment’s notice.

 For information, call 305-592-2044 or visit www.primelogisticsgroup.com

Prime Group Has Its Marching Orders in the Battle Against COVID-19

Every answer begins with a question. But these days, there seem to be so many questions, especially within the global logistics industry. Chief among them—are we ready with cold chain solutions to respond to the onslaught of COVID-19 vaccines once they’re ready for worldwide delivery?

At the Prime Group, the answer is yes. We are prepared.

As a company specializing in solid answers and smart solutions for its customers, we understand answers don’t always come easy, particularly in the midst of such a long-lasting “critical event” as a global pandemic.

Significant variability has always been the Achilles’ heel of the global supply chain. Natural disasters, equipment failure, civil unrest, terrorism, blight – at least we knew what the basic categories were. But a pandemic with the power to shut down the entire global economy? That one wasn’t even on the radar screen!

And now, we are facing an all new phase of this novel “variable”—the release of billions of doses of highly-sensitive vaccines and the challenges that will present for a worldwide infrastructure to support rapid distribution and deployment all across the planet.

No small task.

By focusing on what we do well and applying new strategies in operating our businesses, I am confident that we can and will succeed in providing the right answers and solutions for our customers—and the world.   

It’s been said wars are won by superior logistics more than battles. It would appear we’ve got our marching orders.

Transport

The most important element of logistics is transport—and this is where Prime Group clearly excels. Without transport, goods are unable to move from one stage to another within a supply chain. We are supremely experienced in transporting complex time- and temperature-sensitive products all over the world. And we stand ready.

Our long-time relationships with some of the world’s largest and most reliable air cargo carriers and our proven expertise in managing ad-hoc cargo charter operations positions us well to do our part in expediting vaccines and other pharmaceutical products when and where it is needed most.

There is going to be an unprecedented demand for cargo space, far greater than there was for PPE at the advent of the pandemic. As the Prime Group was able to pivot and perform then, we are confident we can do it again for this next round.

Storage & Material Handling

The prevailing pre-pandemic logic, the old normal if you will, was that consumers tend not to demand goods at the same rate as a manufacturer supplies them. In supplying the entire world with a vaccine, that idea is about to be turned on its head.

This is where the role of cold storage, material handling, and warehousing comes in as well as the ability to better track and monitor the shipments. It is also an area of recent focus by the Prime Group—the rollout of enhanced state-of-the-art inventory tracking and product monitoring technologies.

To maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the cold supply chain, we are adding capacity among our network of temperature-controlled warehouses at key international transit points. We are also coordinating the necessary manpower and services needed on the ground at anticipated staging locations where the vaccines will be delivered to government agencies and world health organizations.

Packaging

Next is the role of packaging. With regard to the care and condition of the vaccine products, resilient packaging will be essential. But more than that, when released for emergency use, we expect this new class of COVID vaccines will come with strict temperature requirements, perhaps ranging between -70 and -80 degrees Celsius, and consistent temperature management.

With expansive knowledge and experience in the transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, the Prime Group is trained and ready to employ stringent government-approved procedures and staff at its strategically-positioned network of refrigerated warehouses to ensure product stability throughout the last-mile network.

Information & Control

In meeting the demand for reliable distribution of vaccines and crucial medical supplies, timeliness and accuracy of information is critical. Global supply chain visibility and event notification are key to Prime Group’s ability to meet customer demand and service reliability. Visibility starts with the ability to answer very basic questions: Where is it? When will it arrive? Is the expected date different from the planned date?

These days, we know we cannot simply look at past data to create models on which we can base long-term predictions. Instead, we must rely on short-term predictions. By partnering with leaders in the field of global IT software development, Prime Group has been redefining and digitizing its operations for enhanced efficiency, adaptability, readiness, and performance.

At such a strategically crucial moment, when there is so much at stake, we need fast access to mission-critical insights to meet the needs of our customers. Prime Group is also exploring AI-powered augmented analytics to help us explore and analyze data that will trigger various operational procedures essential to the on-time and safe delivery of refrigerated cargo from origin to destination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about tremendous change in the way that the Prime Group delivers necessary cargo quickly and efficiently around the world. As a result, we are in a better position than ever.

And as we see signs that researchers and pharmaceutical companies are on the verge of having a viable vaccine, we know that their success in winning the battle against this disease depends on an our ability to deliver.