KWE, Cathay invest in pharma capabilities

Japanese forwarder Kintetsu World Express (KWE) and Chinese carrier Cathay Pacific are investing in their pharmaceutical logistics capabilities amid rising demand for safe and secure shipments. Logistics providers should accelerate their technological development and integrate solutions when it comes to pharmaceutical shipments, stakeholders said recently during a panel discussion at The International Air Transport Association’s (TIACA) Air Cargo Forum 2022 in Miami. [caption id="attachment_57133030" align="alignright" width="313"] Photo / Cathay Pharma[/caption] “I think as an industry we need to understand our role is to integrate solutions,” Trevor Caswell, Edmonton Airport’s (YEG) manager for demand and product development, said during the panel. “We need to let technology lead … I think where our opportunity is to look and adapt much quicker and embrace technology, not question technology.” See also: Data visibility, handler training crucial for pharma shipments NRT pharma Tokyo-headquartered KWE earned the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) in Pharmaceutical Logistics for its terminal operations at Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT). And Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) created the Narita Airport Community in 2019 with the goal of obtaining CEIV Pharma certification. At NRT, 13 stakeholder groups including KWE hold CEIV Pharma certification: Nippon Cargo Airlines, All Nippon Airways, DHL Global Forwarding Japan, Kuehne+Nagel, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Nippon Express, Yusen Logistics, Hankyu Hanshin Express, Vantec HTS Forwarding, and trucking group Oosumi Logistics. The International Air Cargo Terminal Co. holds ramp handler and cargo handling facility certification. IATA has awarded CEIV Pharma certification to 237 freight forwarding groups at various airports around the world, according to IATA’s database. Cathay Pharma Cathay Pacific Cargo will consolidate its pharmaceutical capabilities under a new brand, Cathay Pharma, as it increases its focus on cool-chain solutions. “We felt this was the ideal time to refresh our specialist shipment solution for our pharmaceutical customers,” Cathay Cargo Director Tom Owen said in a Nov. 22 release. “We understand all too well the potential costs in lives and dollars if pharmaceutical shipments don’t arrive in perfect condition, and want to ensure that we continuously improve and adapt to industry trends and developments as they happen.” The carrier will divide its operations into two umbrellas — Active and Passive — differentiating between the technology used to provide temperature control for shipments. Cathay also offers real-time Bluetooth tracking capabilities, holds a network of 70 pharma centers and can accommodate a variety of temperature ranges, from -80 to 40 C. Cathay opened HKG’s largest dedicated pharmaceutical-handling center Nov. 15, offering 1,250 square meters of space for pharma, able to process around 235,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical per year, according to a company release. The new facility comes with real-time temperature monitoring capabilities, a temperature-controlled dock shelter, 45 movable charging points and energy-efficient high-thermal insulation panels for sustainability. Cathay Pacific, which joined the Pharma.Aero initiative in 2019, has held IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification since 2017 as an airline and for its cargo handling facility at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

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