With a whole series of initiatives the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt is currently approaching the international pharmaceutical industry in Germany. The objective of the numerous discussions and consultations is to work together to develop new ideas and concrete innovations aimed at allowing pharmaceutical shipments to be handled even faster and more efficiently via Frankfurt Airport. The programme opened last week with the “Air Cargo Community Frankfurt meets Pharma” Forum. At this intensive exchange at which, in addition to representatives of pharmaceutical companies, the Regional Council of Darmstadt also participated as an important public authority, there was a discussion about the expectations and future requirements of the industry with regard to an optimum air transport chain. At the same time, representatives of the Community outlined just what comprehensive services are already available at the location, especially for the safe transport of highly sensitive pharmaceutical shipments – services that go far beyond the range of many other major airports and provide the basis for Frankfurt’s leading position in Europe.

Meeting of the BPI Foreign International Business Committee at Frankfurt Airport

Only a few days after the Forum, it was followed by a meeting of the International Business Committee of the Federal Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) directly at Frankfurt Airport with approximately 30 participants. Here again, extensive options were intensively discussed as to how the participating logistics companies at the airport, from the airlines right down to the ground handling agent can additionally improve their portfolio of services for pharmaceutical companies.

“Both events went very successfully for everyone involved”, reported Joachim von Winning, Executive Director of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt. “On the one hand, we have been able to pick up some excellent suggestions for the work of our competence teams in the Community. On the other, we were able to explain the key strengths of the location and present them in detail. Following this positive experience, in a third stage we will now visit other pharmaceutical companies and hold direct discussions with those responsible for logistics there”.

Over 7,000 square metres of certified warehouse space and a genuine “5-minute product” on the apron

Frankfurt Airport offers ideal conditions in order to satisfy the increasingly demanding requirements for rapid, reliable and efficient air transport for pharmaceutical shipments. Already today, with more than 7,000 square meters of temperature-controlled and GDP-certified storage and handling areas (-24°C to +24°C) in the front row and with direct access to the apron the location is the number 1 in Europe. In addition, there are also numerous high-quality services which freight forwarders can take advantage of as required. These include, for example, modern thermal transporters specially designed for the transport of temperature-sensitive goods on the apron. So, irrespectively of weather conditions and the temperature outdoors, they ensure the proper compliance with the necessary cold chain.

In this connection, Frankfurt can also boast one special feature: with the help of thermal vans, an extremely powerful infrastructure for ground handling has been developed on the basis of which – despite occasionally slightly longer distances at Germany's largest airport – the handling of goods in a non-temperature controlled environment is always less than five minutes.

Joachim von Winning: “In particular, this unique ‘5-minute product’ demonstrates that Frankfurt is in a position to offer the industry and the freight forwarders top services which are among the best worldwide. For us this is the best foundation for building on and, in cooperation with the stakeholders including public authorities, to further optimize the performance around the transport of pharmaceutical products and to strengthen Frankfurt’s position as the leading hub for air cargo and especially for the transport of pharmaceuticals”.

 

Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V.

The Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V. is an association of companies, institutions and organizations with the clear objective of promoting the airfreight location of Frankfurt. Its total of 33 members includes representatives of all areas of the air cargo supply chain. The association has three working groups “Temperature-controlled Transport”, “Processes & Infrastructure" and "Location Marketing & Community Building", as well as various specialist groups which represent the entire range of services offered at the airfreight location of Frankfurt. The prime objective is that the Frankfurt Airport will, also in future, continue to clearly be Europe’s No. 1 in the air freight business and, as the leading cargo hub, significantly enhance its competitiveness compared with other airports in neighbouring countries. The location of Frankfurt, today with more than 2.2 million tons of air freight (2014) and 11,600 employees in the cargo area, should also continue to grow significantly in the coming years and, in doing so, capture an even larger share of global freight volumes for itself.

Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V.
Frankfurt Airport Center
Hugo-Eckener-Ring HBK 15
60549 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

t +49 69 690 23511
www.FRA-fr8.com

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Claasen Communication, Hindenburgstrasse 2, 64665 Alsbach, Germany, t +49 6257 68781,