Hybrid Containers Ensure Resilient Pharma Shipment from Beijing to New York
The pharmaceutical supply chain is complex and fraught with challenges. It demands meticulous planning and execution over several months to ensure life-changing medicines' safe and timely delivery. Maintaining the integrity of pharmaceutical products during transit is no small feat despite the constant threat of temperature excursions, regulatory hurdles, and logistical challenges. Even one minor incident in transit can result in significant financial loss.
To navigate these challenges, the industry needs flexible and resilient solutions that ensure the integrity of shipments even when the unexpected occurs. SkyCell’s recent collaboration with BEIJING CHEMFAST INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION CO., LTD. , a freight forwarder specializing in temperature-controlled logistics, on a shipment from Beijing to New York demonstrated the robustness and reliability of our 1500X hybrid container and SkyMind platform.
This successful shipment exemplified how #SkyCell’s advanced technology and proactive lane risk management can overcome the complexities and uncertainties of the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring that critical medicines reach their destinations safely and efficiently.
Navigating Unexpected Challenges
Our journey began at Beijing Airport, where our SkyCell 1500X hybrid container was scheduled to travel to JFK Airport in New York. The contents required a consistent internal temperature range of 15°C to 25°C, while our SkyMind simulation predicted that external temperatures could reach up to 33°C. Despite these challenging conditions, we were confident that our hybrid container was up to the task.
The first hurdle occurred during customs clearance at Beijing Airport when the container door was unexpectedly opened due to the potential identification of a Dangerous Goods (DG) item. This exposure to ambient temperatures could have jeopardized the entire shipment, as the external temperature exceeded the required upper limit by several degrees.
However, thanks to SkyCell's precision engineering, the internal temperature remained stable, safeguarding the medicines from any temperature excursions that could compromise their integrity.
The container was opened for inspection at Beijing Airport at an ambient temperature of 28°C. It then underwent customs clearance, during which the temperature dropped to 22°C. However, the internal temperature remained stable. After three hours on the tarmac, the ambient temperature rose to 30°C. Throughout the flight, the external temperature dropped to as low as 15°C, and upon arrival at JFK Airport, the ambient temperature had again risen to 28°C.
Subsequently, the container was stored in a temperature-controlled room at 22°C for nearly a day before being transported by truck to a warehouse. During transit, the external temperature briefly rose above 30°C, as predicted.
Remarkably, the SkyCell 1500X container maintained a consistent internal temperature between 19°C and 21°C throughout this journey. It effectively preserved the integrity of its valuable contents despite the environmental challenges encountered during transport, arriving at its destination six days later without any temperature deviations.
Real-Time Monitoring and Peace of Mind with SkyMind
Throughout the five-day journey, the freight forwarder monitored the shipment in real-time using the SkyMind platform. This capability provided peace of mind, allowing for prompt detection and management of any potential temperature excursions. Despite the door opening incident and subsequent exposure to ambient conditions, the internal temperature only experienced a slight uptick, remaining well within acceptable limits.
This shipment marked our first collaboration with Beijing Chemfast. Chris Cao, the airfreight manager at Chemfast, expressed her satisfaction by sharing the positive experience on WeChat, highlighting the shipment’s success and the reliability of SkyCell’s #hybridcontainers and SkyMind platform.
“It’s our first time using SkyCell’s container to ship a high-value pharmaceutical product. Even though the container door was opened at the airport under the ambient temperature condition due to inspection, the inner temperature of the container remained intact.? We are quite amazed by SkyCell’s container performance. And the real-time visibility of SkyMind gives us peace of mind during the whole shipment journey. We, as the freight forwarder and the pharma client, are both very satisfied with the 1st shipment and confident in the quality of SkyCell’s container. We’d love to use more services from SkyCell in the future”, Chris Cao, Airfreight Manager from Beijing ChemFast.
Prepare for the Unexpected with SkyCell
The successful delivery from Beijing to New York showcased the resilience and effectiveness of the SkyCell 1500X hybrid containers and SkyMind platform. Despite unexpected challenges, the shipment maintained its required internal temperature, ensuring the safety and integrity of the pharmaceutical products. Our customer was able to monitor the shipment in real time and be proactive in case of any incidents.
This journey highlights our commitment to providing reliable, real-time monitoring and adaptable solutions for temperature-controlled logistics. With a market-leading temperature excursion rate of less than 0.05%, SkyCell’s technologies protect shipments and reduce in-transit failure rates to almost zero.
We will continue to work hand in hand with our customers to transform the pharma supply chain. For more information on how SkyCell can support your supply chain needs, ensuring the safe and secure delivery of sensitive products, contact us today.