The transport and storage of temperature-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals or biotechnology materials are subject to stringent rules.
Storopack, a German specialist in protective packaging, offers pre-qualified thermal delivery systems which allow medical products to maintain the cold chain during transportation to their destination.
Storopack, based in Metzingen, has been active in thermal shipping for ten years. Up until now, customers could choose between standard boxes – loose Styrofoam boxes without batteries – or individually customised solutions. The company has recently added pre-qualified thermoboxes for 24hr and 48hr transportation to its product portfolio. The target group for the new offering includes companies from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries, such as laboratories.
The new, preconfigured system solutions for a temperature range between 2–8ºC are available in five sizes (5/10/21/31/36 litres) for 24hr transportation, and in four sizes (7/18/21/33 litres) for 48hr transportation. They are directly available from the warehouse and do not require investment in tools or equipment.
The development of the boxes was based on two different ambient temperatures, corresponding to a summer and a winter scenario. The solution includes all necessary components, such as an EPS box, an inner box, an outer box and a cooling agent. The boxes can be easily equipped with the individual components and they follow a simple system. Since there are no spacers, only the preconditioned cooling bricks (also referred to as foam bricks), need to be inserted into the box.
For the packaging of temperature-sensitive products in the thermoboxes, a defined number of cooling bricks is placed on the bottom of the insulated box. Then the inner box packed with the customer’s products is placed in the insulated box and the side walls are lined with more cooling bricks. The number of cooling bricks used will depend on the size of the box system. The remaining cooling bricks are then placed on the inner box, the lid of the insulated box is closed and the package is taped for shipment. For easier handling, the EPS insulated box can be placed in the outer box at the beginning of the process.
The system is complemented by high-insulation panels (HIPs), with which the insulating boxes can be additionally lined. Using these additional panels, the temperature holding time in the transport box is considerably extended. Unlike with vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), there is no risk of vacuum loss. The HIPs are available in thicknesses of 5–20mm depending on the performance requirements of the additional insulation. Their use is especially recommended for destinations with extremely high temperatures. The panels are reusable and can be flexibly adapted to the different box sizes. They are supplied flat, thereby reducing storage costs.
'The quality of the thermal packaging plays an essential role in the undamaged delivery of temperature-sensitive products to their destination. With our pre-qualified system solutions, we can support customers looking for a pre-qualified system for smaller production runs, while strengthening our competitiveness in the market,' said Olaf Neumann, Product Manager for Thermoshipping at Storopack.
'We see a growing market with system solutions and HIPs for thermal shipping and are currently expanding our offering. 96hr transportation and the 15–25ºC temperature range will follow.'
