SkyCell, manufacturer of data-driven temperature-controlled hybrid containers for the pharmaceutical industry, has developed the new 1500F container, the eighth container in its product suite covering all temperature ranges for the high value pharmaceutical product transportation. The 1500F, which works across temperatures from -15°C to -25°C, offers a specialized solution for this growing niche market segment.
SkyCell’s solution maintains a steady temperature of -15°C to -25°C for more than 120 hours without recharging, enabling between 2 and 3 million vials to be transported in a single aircraft.
This container, built on SkyCell’s platform approach, is designed for strong performance with a lightweight design (only 470kg). The efficient design also leads to a reduction of CO2 emissions by as much as half, as the containers are built from a recyclable multi-layer material. This material absorbs impact and dampens the vibrations from aircraft and trucks that are—along with excursions outside optimal temperature range—a leading cause of in-transit product spoilage. This has led the company to have a verified product loss rate of less than 0.1 per cent.
The company worked with Ansys’ advanced AI software to calculate the most efficient design while maintaining focus on safety—both in terms of protecting the viability of the product and when it comes to the container itself.
SkyCell is expected to produce 70-100 units of the 1500F container per month, which, for example, could conceivably deliver enough vaccines to vaccinate a country like Switzerland in one month. The design of the 1500F container means it can maintain a stable internal temperature despite what might be happening externally. Additionally, thanks to advanced CAD design and SkyCell technology the company reports the containers can store up to five times more energy than traditional solutions, helping to keep the container at a steady temperature for more than 120h.
The container is also easy to handle, with no extra equipment needed. Only a pallet jacket is required to load the container onto a truck. Loading the container itself is a simple six-step process: open, close, load goods, close, and ship.
