When to use a thermal cover/blanket for a +2 to +8 degree C Pharma air shipment ?

When to use a thermal cover/blanket for a +2 to +8 degree C Pharma air shipment ?

Thermal blankets are very popular for +15 to +25 degree C pharma CRT products. At the same time, for the past many years, Weather Shield has been supplying thermal covers & blankets grades for +2 to +8 degree C products as well, for skid pallets (US/Euro), drums, small shippers, airline pallets (PMC-Lower-Deck / Main-Deck).

These are the 4 scenarios where the shipper/forwarder/carrier should consider using Weather Shield thermal covers & blankets for +2 to +8 degree C products.

Scenario - 1

If the shipper is located in a cold country and the origin, trans-shipment & destination airports are cold as well, the only worry is the short tarmac exposure to direct solar radiation, in such a case these highly heat reflective thermal blankets are very good in keeping the shock extreme temperatures (generated by direct solar radiation) away from the product. Considering the cold chain is only broken at the apron area at the airport while loading/unloading the cargo in-the/out-of-the aircraft. Even in such a scenario the tarmac exposure time should ideally be around 30 minutes and must not be more than 3 hour for +2 to +8 degree C product, based on the quality of blanket.

Scenario - 2

If the shipper is using a validated shipper box for +2 to +8 degree C, in that case these thermal blankets are very good in keeping shock extreme temperatures & direct solar radiation away from the product, resulting in an increased life of validated shipper boxes. Generally the validated shipper boxes and active containers are validated at certain ambient temperature range. This ambient temp. range is mostly varies between +15 to +40 degree C for products that have a safe temp. range of +2 to +8 degree C. Thereby, a simple and basic thermal blanket will increase the transport shelf life of any active/passive/validated container.

Scenario - 3

If the customer wants to use only thermal blankets for +2 to +8 degree C products, then we recommend higher grades such as Weather Shield Grade 5MB4, M6, M10 & M15 combined with a layer of ice/gel/PCM packs. These are called hybrid thermal blankets that are a standalone solution for +2 to +8 degree C products. We would highly recommend an in-house trial to validate these solutions. Moreover we need to calibrate the amount of?ice/gel/PCM packs and the grade of thermal blanket based on the lane risk assessment data. There is a huge saving on the cost of packaging and cost of air transportation, when choosing this option.

Scenario - 4

If the customer is currently using nothing over his +2 to +8 degree C products and would not like to have a foolproof solution because of constraints such as cost, volume, shape, size, etc, then to start with, they can choose any thermal cover. Slowly but surely, we can persuade the shipper to consider a foolproof solution. Using a thermal cover is the first small step. Shipper can graduate to a better solution step by step and one day secure his cold chain for his +2 to +8 degree C product completely.

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to share with us.

Contact us on: +91 7500888862.

Email :?[email protected]

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