DHL announces new dedicated Life Science Competency Center in Puerto Rico

DHL Global Forwarding has announced the opening of a new dedicated Life Science Competency Center in Carolina, Puerto Rico, which is part of a market leading initiative by DHL Global Forwarding to provide a global network of dedicated people, customized processes, and a quality controlled environment for the life sciences industry sector.

The new Life Science Competency Center enhances DHL Global Forwarding's existing service offering and is designed specifically around the shipping requirements of the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device manufacturers doing business in Puerto Rico.

"This facility was specifically designed to provide our customers with the highest levels of service and to meet their increased demand for facilities that offer high security, standardized processes, a clean environment, and are regulatory compliant," said Archie Torrado, District Manager for DHL Global Forwarding. Life Science Competency Center will also add temperature and humidity control rooms to the facility in 2009.

DHL Global Forwarding has been serving the Puerto Rico market since 1958 providing a full range of freight forwarding services, including customs brokerage, domestic and air and ocean services. In October 2007, DHL Global Forwarding announced its move to this new facility, which has a capacity of over 70,000 square feet of warehouse space and is equipped with the latest technology and security systems.

DHL leads the development of cold chain solutions

In June 2008, DHL Global Forwarding announced the expansion of its network of Envirotainer QEP certified sites and, as a result, is now the largest mover of the air transportation containers manufactured by Envirotainer.

DHL leads the development of cold chain solutions, including temperature controlled package handling, in-transit visibility to shipments and best-in-class controlled environments for cold chain storage.

DHL personnel are now trained and certified by Envirotainer, a leading provider of temperature-controlled air cargo containers, for safe and proper handling of its containers for customers with temperature sensitive products at major airports across North America, including San Juan.

"Few industries pose as much of a challenge to shipping and logistics than life sciences and healthcare. Temperature instability can impact the quality of the material, increase the product order-to-delivery cycle time, and create additional process management costs," said Angelos P. Orfanos, President Life Sciences & Healthcare, DHL Global Customer Solutions.

"DHL's capabilities for the life science and healthcare sector enable customers to safely and securely transport small or large volumes of critical vaccines, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API's), and other temperature sensitive pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostic and medical materials."

These centers are being developed at select airports around the world with high traffic flows for this industry group and require very specialized handling. "We are very proud and excited to make Carolina, Puerto Rico our first North American competence center," continued Orfanos. The DHL Carolina facility will also serve as a regional training center for additional DHL facilities dedicated to life science and healthcare warehousing and shipping services to ensure ongoing process improvements.