The cool chain has always been a critical element of the logistics space but, over in the wake of the Covid pandemic, there has been a particular focus on the segment, as people inside and outside the industry saw first-hand how essential it is.
“The international air cargo sector is the backbone of everything,” Andreas Seitz, Managing Director of DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, stated. “During the pandemic, while most aircraft were grounded, pharma and Covid-related supplies were among the few cargos still flying.”
“We experienced a peak in demand due to the overall chaos in global logistics. In such situations, the need for the most reliable packaging solutions becomes critical. However, this peak was temporary,” Seitz explained.
“Now, we are back to normal, which for us means continued growth. The primary drivers remain the same: the increasing demand for temperature-controlled and temperature-sensitive medicines and the global need for high-end therapies.”
Dodging disruption
Given the challenges that the logistics industry has faced in recent years and the ongoing threat of instability in the supply chain due to geopolitical challenges, DoKaSch has focused on an underlying approach – reliability.
Bringing more than 30 years of experience in the industry, DoKaSch focused on designing containers that protect their cargo in the face of any damage or delay.
Citing an area where this is important, Seitz explained how units could be flying to Asia through the Middle East and be cancelled due to conflict in the region. This would potentially result in units being stranded for an extended period of time at a hub, risking spoiling the contents inside.
“Our containers are designed to withstand logistic interruptions; they can be left idle for weeks and months, simply plugged in, and continue to function like a mobile warehouse,” Seitz explained.
“This capability turns what could be a significant risk into an opportunity. Our containers’ ability to maintain their function during transport interruptions provides a critical advantage, ensuring the safety and integrity of the cargo even in the face of global disruptions.
When you have millions of Euros worth of goods on a pallet, you don’t want to save a few hundred euros at the expense of reliability. Our entire mindset is focused on maintaining and ensuring reliability at all costs.
“The more unpredictable the logistics, the more crucial it is to have such a dependable system.”
Action after visibility
Digitalisation has been a game-changer in cold chain logistics, enhancing visibility and monitoring capabilities. Although for high end, autonomously functioning packaging solutions, the need for extensive digitalisation is less critical compared to simpler products.
“While everyone loves visibility, the added value it brings to already reliable solutions is marginal,” Seitz claimed.
“The real value lies in taking action based on that visibility. In logistics, it’s not enough to simply know what’s happening; you need the capability to respond.
“You see that something is not compliant at a certain point in the transport process or at a specific location worldwide, having visibility alone doesn’t solve the problem. Someone must step in and take corrective action, and that’s the bigger challenge.”
