Sofrigam launches “off the shelf” Sofribox® range

news-releasesSofrigam S.A
February 22nd 2015

Rueil-Malmaison, France: – Cool chain packaging specialist Sofrigam continues to expand its range by adding a new “off the shelf” range of Sofribox® insulated shipping packaging.

The new range was formally launched at the ‘Cool Chain Europe 2015’ in Frankfurt at the end of January.

The launch comes less than a month after Sofrigam released a new flat pack version of its extra large XXL Pallet Shipper, also aimed at reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for its clients.

The new release is enabled by a recent comparative survey of equivalent temperature-controlled packaging that confirms the insulating superiority of Sofrigam solutions and provided data to optimize the new Sofribox design.

High performance

Sofribox is a sturdy and high performance refrigerated box designed for transporting temperature sensitive products. Constructed of high-density rigid polyurethane panels with external cardboard overwrapping, Sofribox is designed to accommodate chilled or frozen products, along with cold source such as gel pack.

Previously available in custom sizes to individual order, Sofribox will now be available ‘off the shelf’ from Sofrigam in a range of standardized popular sizes. All are qualified for use in the strict temperature range of 2° to 8° C and meet the three key requirements for cost-effective temperature-controlled packaging:

  • maximization of payload
  • minimization of packaging weight
  • minimal preparation time

The new range of ‘off-the-shelf’ Sofribox includes summer and winter configurations and can be supplied in single use or reusable versions.

Comparative survey

Over a period of two months, Sofrigam analyzed the performance characteristics of equivalent types of temperature-controlled packaging solutions, available to order from catalogues, by simulating as closely as possible the actual logistical journeys made by air and by road, in accordance with the profiles defined by AFNOR B and D and ISTA 7E –the most realistic. In addition, the operators scrupulously observed the position and number of temperature sensors stipulated in the regulations in order to conduct the tests.

The results of the comparative survey demonstrated the superiority of Sofrigam-designed and temperature-controlled products. With equivalent performance and external size, the payload was an average 20 percent higher, while packaging weight was almost a third lower, largely due to the use of high value insulating materials. Sofrigam’s cold chain shipping containers were as easy to load as competing products while provision of a panel of accessories speeded up handling and reduced preparation time.

“More than a tenth of the Sofrigam workforce is engaged in quality control, from receipt of the raw materials to delivery of the product and monitoring on the client’s premises,” said Sofrigam Marketing Director, Laetitia Perche.

“Extraordinary human skills and advanced production tools enable work to be carried out under satisfactory environmental conditions and ensure the application of best practice in manufacturing,” she added.

Ongoing research and development

The coming year will see qualification of a +15° to +25° C product range designed on similar principles, along with research on the creation of a single-configuration range that will be suitable for use all year round.

“Our partnership with the Ater Métrologie environmental testing laboratory, which is equipped with state of the art technical facilities, ensures that the thermal resistance of the containers is tested and qualified in order to guarantee the integrity of the products at every stage of the cold chain,” Ms. Perche explained.  

About Sofrigam

French company, Sofrigam S.A. is Europe’s leading specialist in the design and manufacture of temperature-controlled packaging solutions for the pharmaceuticals industry.

Founded in 1979, Sofrigam has experienced impressive growth over the past two decades. The Sofrigam plant for designing and manufacturing insulated containers, situated at Monchy-le-Preux, near Arras, is the world’s largest site to be solely dedicated to the production of temperature-controlled packaging solutions.

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.

Sofrigam 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.