UPS has announced major upgrades to its healthcare-dedicated warehouse and distribution network in the US and Europe.
They include adding 1.3m sq ft of total distribution space in key US markets and receiving the European Union’s Good Distribution Practice (GDP) compliance certification for its healthcare operations in France and Germany.
Altogether, the US express parcel and logistics giant’s healthcare warehouse and distribution space in the US will total 4m sq ft by 2020.
Among the largest upgrades include a new 450,000 sq ft facility near the healthcare campus by UPS’s Worldport air hub in Louisville. A new centre in Harrisburg will measure 315,000 sq ft and is located near UPS’s local transportation hub that has the capability of reaching key northeast markets in one day.
The centre is also near UPS’s Swedesboro healthcare operation which is the first in the UPS network to offer medical device services such as autoclave capabilities, decontamination and replenishment of surgical kits, and instrument inspection.
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Darren Cockrel, UPS president of global logistics, said: “By increasing warehouse and distribution space and optimizing multi-client facilities, our customers have greater opportunity to reduce supply chain costs, and get their shipments to the right places globally at the right time and in full regulatory compliance.”
Other US cities with expanded healthcare warehouse space will include Atlanta, Columbus, Reno and Tracy.
“We align our healthcare distribution network to deliver a broader 1-2 day coverage, giving customers transit time benefits and later pickups they need to provide competitive advantage,” said Dan Gagnon, UPS vice president of global healthcare and life science strategy.
UPS recently received the EU’s GDP certification for pharmaceutical shipping in France and Germany. The GDP healthcare-product distribution guidelines are set by the European Medicines Agency, describing the conditions that a wholesale distributor must meet to ensure the quality and integrity of medicines throughout the supply chain.
