Sofigram Frizbox optimizes cool chain cargoes for airfreight

Monchy-le-Preux, France: – Cool chain packaging specialists Sofigram has pioneered Frizbox® Pallet Shipper as an optimized solution for air transport of heat sensitive pharmaceutical and biological products.

Air transport is commonly used to distribute temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals for its speed and safety. Air shipping is fast, safe and secure but poses three particular issues for cool chain integrity:

• Compliance with cold chain standard qualifications (FDA, ISTA, etc.) to maintain product integrity and safety
• Reduced loading times for cost-effectiveness
• Optimization of volumes shipped by air to limit carbon footprint

Sofigram says its new Frizbox® solution overcomes all three challenges with a palletized format that interfaces with standard air cargo containers while providing temperature controlled and insulated polyurethane protective packaging that conforms to industry standards.

Air cargo challenges

Abbes Kacimi, Sofrigam cold chain expertise manager, said the air cargo environment posed particular problems for temperature sensitive medicines.

“The logistics circuit for this means of transport is characterized by specific open or closed, hot or cold, segments such as the runway, transit and passage through customs,” said Kacimi.

“This circuit requires a reliable, stand-alone resource without any external energy sources, that can maintain the products within the required temperature range,” he explained.

Sofigram designed the Frizbox® Pallet Shipper as a flexible, simple and economic solution that makes it possible for companies to ship small and large volumes safely and cost effectively.

Autonomous temperature control

Gel packs are the only cold source inside the Frizbox packaging, guaranteeing autonomy from any other cooling sources for at least 10 days.

Sofrigam’s pre-qualified insulated shipping packaging format is much bigger than that usually used, corresponding to exactly one quarter of a standard full width aircraft unit load device (ULD). This makes it possible to load up to four Frizbox shippers directly into an LD 6 container.
With an inside volume of up to 2,000 liters (2m3) and a temperature maintenance time of up to 120 hours, the insulated Frizbox® container keeps the products at a controlled temperature between 2°C and 8°C, or between 15°C and 25°C.

The Pallet Shipper currently satisfies many pharmaceutical laboratories in the world by meeting all their requirements. It complies with all leading standards governing the cool chain transport of heat sensitive goods, including Good Distribution Practice (GDP), Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) and International Safe Transit Association (ISTA).

About Sofigram

French company, Sofrigam S.A. designs and manufactures cool chain pharmaceutical shipping solutions and insulated boxes for the life sciences industries as well as for distribution and logistics companies.

The company was founded in 1979 by an industrial pharmacist and initially developed eutectic painkillers before specializing in the design and manufacture of insulated and refrigerated packaging, including pre-qualified insulated shipping solutions. The company is headquartered in Ile-de-France with a production site at Arras.

Sofrigam offer solutions for the cold chain logistic problems experienced by the pharmaceutical industry. It offers a range of standard and made-to-measure thermal packaging products as well as customized services designed to achieve secure, cost effective and ecological cold chain logistics.

Sofrigam has become one of Europe’s leading cold chain specialists, sharing its expertise via seminars, publications and R&D collaborations. It also offers customized products and services designed to achieve cold logistics that are secure, cost-effective and comprehensively compliant.

Sofigram partners with Ater Métrologie, a French-based ISTA and ISO 9001 certified laboratory that specializes in testing, validating and pre-qualifying temperature-controlled packaging and cooling systems. The laboratory carries out some 2,000 tests each year.