pharmadex

Pharmadex is looking to grow its pharmaceutical transport operations having added two Montracon refrigerated trailers to its fleet.

Both Montracon trailers can transport goods at controlled ambient temperatures of between 8°C to 25°C, and at cold chain temperatures of between 2°C and 8°C.

The 13.6m tri-axle trailers also come with a Datacold 600T temperature recorder with four temperature probes mounted in the trailer body and Bisonal air chutes mounted into the roof to ensure even airflow along the entire trailer.

Pharmadex said it added the trailers to its 15-strong fleet in response to recent EU legislation that requires temperature controlled storage conditions for pharmaceutical products to be maintained during transportation.

The new legislation, introduced last year, will see curtain-sided vehicles, currently used to transport many medicinal products, gradually replaced by refrigerated units.

Currently the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which regulates the distribution of pharmaceuticals, is not demanding an immediate end to the use of curtain-siders.

However, Pharmadex business development director Tony Page told Motortransport.co.uk: “Before the new legislation, controls on how pharmaceuticals were transported were not maintained or only very loosely. Now MHRA want to see measures taken to ensure those conditions are maintained.

“MHRA accepts that it can’t happen overnight as there is not enough capacity. It is a challenge but we are hoping this will open up a niche market for us bringing us greater rewards in the future.”

The company, which is licensed by MHRA to store pharmaceuticals, operates a daily, 24 hour, high dependency drug distribution service direct to all UK hospitals, throughout the year.

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