Sonoco ThermoSafe: Passive Temperature Controlled Unit Load Devices

Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco and provider of temperature-controlled packaging of pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines and other temperature-sensitive products, announced its Pegasus ULD line of passive temperature-controlled unit load devices. The Pegasus ULD is a passive bulk temperature-controlled container for pharmaceutical use that is an approved unit load device, which allows it to speed through existing international ground handling and customs processes at the lowest possible cost.

Engineered with composite materials, the unit load device is designed to offer a lighter system that is substantially more damage-resistant than traditional metal containers. Additionally, users should experience integrated real-time data capabilities, including internal and external temperature tracking and robust geolocation, according to the company.

To create the Pegasus ULD, Sonoco ThermoSafe signed a long-term exclusive development and manufacturing agreement with AeroTUF, a supplier of innovative composite ULD containers. The partnership combines ThermoSafe’s thermal engineering technology and pharmaceutical logistics with AeroTUF’s materials science and aeronautical engineering capabilities. The first Pegasus ULD model, to be launched in the upcoming months, is meant to be the lighter AKP size, which fits a full U.S. pallet and shares the same footprint of the AKE size without the imbalanced overhang section which accounts for over 80% of transit damage in AKE/RKN containers.