Lufthansa Cargo's Pharma Hub in Frankfurt is Europe's largest hub for temperature-sensitive air freight. Photo: Lufthansa Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo's Pharma Hub in Frankfurt is Europe's largest hub for temperature-sensitive air freight. Photo: Lufthansa Cargo
2025-05-23

Since the end of April, the new "Pharma Control Tower" service has been available, which aims to guarantee more transparency and security during transport. In 24/7 monitoring, a team of experts oversees temperature-sensitive shipments that transit through the Lufthansa Cargo hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, and Brussels.

Customers can also make inquiries about shipments to and from the 30 CEIV-certified stations worldwide through the "Pharma Control Tower." The company says that one benefits from a central contact point that allows for quick feedback and increased response speed in case of discrepancies. This is irrespective of whether "Active Temp Control" or "Passive Temp Support" has been booked. Active Temp

Control offers seamless temperature management through container technology and specially coordinated processes. Passive Temp Support protects against temperature fluctuations through specialized infrastructure and supplementary protective measures.

Thermo Cover for additional protection against outside temperaturesFor "Passive Temp Support" shipments, special thermal covers will also be used immediately, which are intended to additionally protect temperature-sensitive shipments from heat or cold during apron handling. The so-called Thermo Covers are expected to be free of charge and will be used on air cargo pallets in the Main Deck and Lower Deck, initially being tested from May to September on routes between Frankfurt and Atlanta, Cairo, Chicago, and Toronto. It is being

considered to gradually offer the service with additional destinations and beyond the current timeline.

Real-time monitoring for transparency and controlWith SmartULD, Lufthansa Cargo expands its portfolio with an add-on service that can optionally be booked in addition to "Active Temp Control" for some container types and aims to provide a digital solution for real-time tracking of temperature-sensitive shipments. Sensors in the containers continuously record temperature data and allow for the creation of a temperature profile from delivery to pickup. All information is also centrally and user-friendly accessible on the website.

Passive Temp SupportAccording to the airfreight company, "Passive Temp Support" can now also be booked with td.Zoom.

It offers maximum transport speed for temperature-sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biotechnological materials, or high-tech products. The new combination allows particularly fast, prioritized access to capacity and the shortest transit times in the network without weight restrictions.

In the future, customers will also be able to view temperature data of the containers at selected stations via the website. With its network of over 350 stations, including 230 stations for "Passive Temp Support" products and 120 stations for "Active Temp Control," the airfreight company ensures a high level for temperature-sensitive goods. The central hub is the CEIV-certified Pharma Hub in Frankfurt, Europe's largest hub for temperature-sensitive air