TLX Cargo has launched the airfreight industry's first cover that seals cargo against viruses during transportation, which is expected to be particularly useful during the current coronavirus outbreak.
Built from a viral barrier material, the TLX WEB15 cover is a two-part product – comprising of the cover and base – sealed with tape, rather than stitched material.
TLX Cargo's commercial director, Thomas Hunt, explained: "Our clients have been faced with the problem that although they can control their products against viral contamination within their premises, they are unable to assure their customers that the container itself is not contaminated.
"We took the problem to our partner company Web Dynamics Ltd, who have over twenty year’s experience in manufacturing viral barrier materials".
The cover's breathable and waterproof material acts as a barrier to viruses between 0.1–0.2 microns, and therefore gives shippers the peace of mind that their cargo is being delivered "under controlled conditions irrespective of the external environment".
The cover's material passed tests carried out by US-based Nelson Laboratories, a leading laboratory for viral barrier testing.
TLX Cargo explained in a statement: "The Web 15 fabric used in this new cover passed the Nelson test when the bacteriophage applied at a pressure of 14 kPa (2 pounds per square inch) failed to permeate from one side of the material to the other".
