Sofrigam boosts insulated packaging performance with ThermaVIP+™ technology

Rueil Malmaison, France: – Temperature-controlled logistics and pharmaceutical cold chain packaging specialist Sofrigam S.A. has further improved the efficiency of its vaccine shipping solutions by incorporating highly advanced ThermaVIP+™ insulated panels from Avery Dennison.

The measure is part of a range of measures taken by Sofrigam to meet the COVID-19 challenge, with the unprecedented logistics challenge of shipping vaccines at huge scale worldwide emphasizing need for greater durability and thermal efficiency in packaging.

Unparalleled performance

Avery Dennison’s innovative ThermaVIP+™ vacuum insulated panels offer new levels of thermal and mechanical protection, allowing Sofrigam to increase both the durability and thermal performance of its cold chain packaging range.

The panels are now incorporated into Sofrigam’s Elite Cubic cold chain parcel shipper that are ideally suited to transport of refrigerated or frozen vaccines, maintaining temperatures as low as -80^oC.with dry ice packing.

Mechanical strength

Sofrigam’s testing of Avery Dennison’s new line of ThermaVIP+ panels reinforced with PU encapsulation showed them to have outstanding thermal performance and so resilient to impact and mechanical damage that they could be re-used without refurbishment, an unexpected and highly valuable benefit. Their solid format also made assembly simple and speedy.

Sofrigam has now adopted the ThermaVIP+ panel solution to its 40-strong high-performance Elite Cubic line of premium parcel shippers that are specially adapted to withstand logistic circuits with differing logistical and climatic conditions, ideally suited to meeting the challenges of COVID- 19 vaccine distribution from factory to clinics and pharmacies worldwide.

Extended delivery window

The increased thermal reliability of the panels also increases the window of feasible transit time from 5 days to a 7-day shipment time. This drastic extension led Sofrigam’s customers – and new potential customers – to feel increased confidence that their sensitive biopharmaceuticals would not be exposed to temperature excursions due to unexpected delays, and that critical and often life- saving supplies would be more likely to arrive securely, on time and undamaged.

“Addition of these excellent new Avery Dennison panels means Sofrigam can now offer the pharma supply chain temperature-controlled shipping solutions with unequalled thermal and mechanical protection to ensure the safe, effective and economical delivery and distribution of the latest generation of COVID-19 vaccines,” commented Laurence Labranque, Head of Sofrigam’s US Business Unit.

About Sofrigam

With more than 40 years of experience, Sofrigam provide a comprehensive portfolio of innovative packaging and related solutions that allow pharmaceutical and other clients to optimize their temperature-controlled logistic supply chains.

From its French roots, Sofrigam has become a global company, operating in the USA, Canada, UK and across Europe, with manufacturing centers in North America and Europe.

Sofrigam is now an international group whose four entities meet the cold chain management needs of the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, from drug production to last-mile logistics.

Sofrigam designs and develops cold chain management solutions (containers, packaging, bags and pouches) for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemical manufacturers. Initially a specialist in passive packaging, Sofrigam is now moving towards innovative active technologies with its Coldway Technologies unit. The synergy between the technicality of Sofrigam packaging and the Coldway Inside technology, an autonomous thermal energy production system, represents a major innovation in cold production and storage.

For those involved in ‘last mile’ logistics and urban deliveries in the health and agri-food sectors, Coldway Technologies solution provides a disruptive refrigeration system: self-contained, eco-friendly and adaptable to any type of container or vehicle.

All the solutions proposed by the Sofrigam Group entities are tested, pre-qualified and validated by the Ater Metrology thermal testing laboratory in order to guarantee their quality and performance.

Further information at: www.sofrigam.com

About Avery Dennison

Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science company specializing in the design and manufacture of a wide variety of labeling and functional materials.

The company’s products are used in nearly every major industry and include pressure- sensitive materials for labels and graphic applications; tapes and other bonding solutions for industrial, medical, and retail applications; tags, labels and embellishments for apparel; and radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions serving retail apparel and other markets.

Headquartered in Glendale, California, the company employs more than 30,000 employees in more than 50 countries.

Reported sales in 2019 were $7.1 billion.

Learn more at: www.averydennison.com and www.thermavip.com

Resources

Click on Sofrigam vaccine shipping solutions enhanced with ThermaVIP+ technology for more information.
Click on Sofrigam with Avery Dennison to download detailed case study.