The logistics service provider Movianto specializes in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors and has been part of the Walden Group since 2020.
European Network
As demand for international storage and distribution concepts in these areas increases and ultra-low-temperature freezing is required for some vaccines, for research materials, raw materials or semifinished products as well as biotechnologically produced products, the company has built an appropriate European network.
"We have scaled our know-how and capacity in this area so that we now have ultra-low-temperature freezers in nine European countries," says Thomas Creuzberger, CEO of Movianto.
According to him, implementation is underway in Switzerland and Slovakia, and at
the company's own storage sites in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic the demand of the pharmaceutical industry could already be covered.
Transport to distribute the products is also offered. The transport of the goods can take place in specialized containers that maintain ultra-low temperatures constantly - or the goods are thawed under controlled conditions during shipping preparation and then, with active cooling, either frozen (-20°C) or cooled at 2 to 8°C, to the destination.
Validation of Equipment and Processes
The logistics service provider began, according to its own statements, more than ten years ago to
build storage capacities in the area of ultra-low-temperature freezing and to develop corresponding shipping processes. The capacities were further expanded during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, for example, national solutions for centralized storage and nationwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines have been implemented.
"It's not just about procuring the right specialized refrigerators, but above all about validating the equipment and ensuring the processes associated with them," explains Creuzberger, and adds: "We analyzed the proven solutions, which were initially developed independently, then created a best-practice model from them. This has now been transferred to all of our country subsidiaries so that we
are prepared for the increasing demand."
Ultra-Low-Temperature Freezing for Which Products?
These are relatively small quantities of high-quality and sensitive products. Creuzberger speaks of national tenders, but there are increasingly tenders in which capacities in various European countries are being requested. Special freezing requirements would also be needed for the growing number of biotechnologically produced products.
But this temperature range is also important in vaccine development, as especially for new vaccines there are not sufficient stability data for different temperature ranges. These data are only gathered over time.
"And until then, in order to ensure 100 percent efficacy, storage will be in the ultra-low-temperature range,"
