Panalpina Brazil invests in cold chain logistics solutions

With extensive expertise in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals market and being recognized as one of the leading logistics operators in the country for this segment, Panalpina Brazil announces the expansion of its operations with a considerable investment in end-to-end logistics solutions for the cold chain.

The most significant aspect of the venture involves the company warehouse in Cajamar, São Paulo, now exclusively dedicated to the cold chain segment, with the capability to store various types of temperature-controlled cargo, such as medicines, cosmetics as well as food and perishables. The facility, with over 4,000 m² of total area, has three cold chambers: the first is set to -20°C; the second to temperatures ranging from 2°C to 8°C; and the third, and largest, covers temperatures from 15°C to 25°C.

The warehouse has 10 docks for loading and unloading products, approximately 1,500 pallet positions and an area for services, such as packaging, labelling, kitting and repacking, among others.

For the logistics director of Panalpina Brazil, Marcelo Tonet, another highlight of the warehouse is the state-of-the-art equipment. “All systems, for example, have a back-up in place. Therefore, if any system fails, the spare one is automatically activated, ensuring the operations continue,” he says.

Tonet also stresses the facility’s sustainability. “For the fluids that are used for cooling down the warehouse, we chose to adopt a solution of ammonia, which is eco-friendly and sustainable, because it is an organic rather than a chemical substance. In other words, the production process does not involve the use of fossil fuels; on the contrary, it uses a natural compound,” he adds.

Besides warehousing, Panalpina Brazil also offers national and international logistics for temperature-controlled cargo. “Our transport and distribution network was fully revamped and today it has a much broader scope with nationwide coverage and international connections. For deliveries in Brazil, we also use domestic air freight. Both our air and road subcontractors are able to handle any type of temperature-controlled cargo in a fully compliant manner,” he points out.

Tonet also highlights the monitoring system adopted by the company, SmartView. The system allows customers to monitor, in real time, the cargo temperature and humidity using sensors and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology installed at strategic locations, such as at the airports of Guarulhos (SP) and Viracopos in Campinas (SP), at the logistics operator partner terminal in Santos (SP), and at the Panalpina warehouse in Cajamar (SP). While Panalpina’s operations in Guarulhos and Viracopos are already GDP-certified (Good Distribution Practice), Cajamar will follow this year.

Panalpina Brazil’s latest solutions and the company’s full portfolio of products and services will be presented at the largest logistics, freight forwarding and foreign trade event of Latin America, Intermodal South America, which will be held from March 19 to 21, at São Paulo Expo, in São Paulo.