Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

Voice of the experts: Logistics and temperature-controlled distribution

Healthcare Packaging (HCP) speaks with Angelos Orfanos, President, Life Science and Healthcare, DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation, about key supply chain issues.

HCP: Tell us about DHL.

Orfanos: DHL is part of the world’s leading mail and logistics group, Deutsche Post DHL (dpdhl.com). The Group provides customers with easy-to-use standardized products as well as innovative and tailored solutions ranging from dialog marketing to industrial supply chains. About 480,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories form a global network focused on service, quality, and sustainability.

The DHL part of the business comprises DHL Express, our global express parcel business, DHL Global Forwarding Freight and DHL Supply Chain, which in the U.S. operates under the Excel brand name.

HCP: Where does the life sciences business fit in?

Orfanos: Our life science business is quite broad as part of delivering the service and solutions our customers require. We draw on the strength of all our DHL business units. Life sciences includes global pharmaceuticals, both ethical and generic manufacturers, as well as biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, and laboratories.

The specialized offering for the sector includes more than 100 pharmaceutical-grade warehouses around the world that are compliant with GDP (Good Distribution Practice) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) quality standards.

Because we are global, we customize life science capabilities in each of our business units, so we basically created a global infrastructure that is tailored to the needs of life science customers. For that, we now have 102 warehouses for long-term storage and we have four regional hubs that are “life science-grade.” In addition, we have 35 “life science-certified stations” at the airports where most of the industry is moving the heavy airfreight shipments.

HCP: How does that work?

Orfanos: I will tie that in using the example of the concept of cold chain and packaging. Let me first describe the infrastructure and tell you why we did it, what we are trying to achieve, and how we are serving the customers, and then I will explain the packaging opportunity and the issues that are out there.

If you look at heavy airfreight transportation, which is different from the small parcel business, customers are moving large volumes of 1,000 kilos or 2,000 kilos on skids, and they are moving them around the world between manufacturer sites or customer distribution centers, and speeding them to different markets.

We established dedicated life science-certified facilities within our airport network, which are within an airport station that handles all sorts of products. If you look at a specific facility, let’s say in Brussels, Belgium, for example, which is a major distribution hub for Europe. We put up a dividing wall. Behind that wall, we operate just the life sciences shipments. In that area we validate the infrastructure, meaning the cold rooms, where we store at 2° C to 8° C, and in 15° C to 25° C controlled-room temperatures. We set up customized standard operating procedures for handling these type of products because we believe they need much more knowledgeable handling in a controlled environment with specific processes to manage it. These will cover most of the medical device and pharmaceutical products are moving through.

Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in life sciences packaging
<strong>At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, you’ll see machinery in action and new tech from 2,300 suppliers, collaborate with experts and explore transformative solutions. Join us in September to experience a breakthrough for life sciences products.</strong>
REGISTER NOW & SAVE!
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in life sciences packaging