DHL Group has announced major steps to enhance its life sciences and healthcare (LSH) logistics capabilities through an expanded dedicated airfreight cold chain network.
The network expansion is designed to transform the global transport of temperature-sensitive medicines, vaccines, pharmaceutical products and advanced cell and gene therapies.
The move forms a core part of DHL’s €2bn (c. £1.75bn) strategic investment in DHL Health Logistics and provides customers with full end-to-end visibility for highly sensitive healthcare shipments. The network addresses the increasingly complex logistics demands of leading pharmaceutical and healthcare companies worldwide.
“Life sciences and healthcare companies expect cold chain solutions that are reliable, compliant, and transparent from end to end — and those expectations are rising fast,” said Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.
“At the same time, they’re looking for ways to simplify supply chains and reduce costs. Our expanded network brings together DHL Aviation’s global air connectivity, our GDP-compliant station network, and our major investments in modern, temperature-controlled facilities. The result is a more resilient, more efficient logistics backbone for customers who depend on flawless quality to deliver critical therapies to patients.”
The expansion reduces reliance on third-party carriers, strengthens temperature control and connects more than 30 Good Distribution Practice (GDP)-compliant hubs worldwide.
The initial service will link Brussels and Cincinnati via a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter. At the Brussels end, DHL said the route is supported by 45,000m2 of pharma-only zones at BRUcargo.
Additional routes in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America are expected to follow, with India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, the USA, Germany and Ireland identified as priority markets.
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