How UPS is Leading the Charge in Healthcare Logistics
UPS’ healthcare division is dedicated to helping partners create and manage resilient healthcare logistics systems, allowing them to provide global health solutions to patients with speed, visibility and unmatched quality.
Today, its broad range of solutions cover pharma, biopharma, lab diagnostics, medical devices, home health and core logistics, ensuring healthcare leaders can focus on their core business: improving lives.
In Ireland, where the pharma and medical device industries are booming, UPS Healthcare has recognised and is acting on an increased need for integrated, globally connected healthcare logistics services.
UPS lends support to Irish market
Ireland’s world-leading pharma market is increasingly reliant on advanced temperature-controlled logistics to help meet its needs.
According to the nation’s Central Statistics Office, the industry already accounts for almost half of the country’s exports, while Statista projects the market will achieve an annual growth rate of 6.17% from 2024 to 2028.
Against this backdrop, UPS Healthcare has opened a first-of-its-kind healthcare logistics facility in Dublin, covering nearly 6,000 square metres and creating an initial 30 jobs.
The €12m (US$13m) investment serves as a demonstration of UPS’ support of the Irish market and export growth.
“This investment marks our commitment to supporting Ireland’s world-leading pharmaceutical and medical device industries,”comments Cathy O’Brien, Vice President for International Sales at UPS Healthcare.
“We’re the only provider who can take our customers’ treatments from clinical trial right to the patient, turning logistics into a competitive advantage – one that will only help grow Ireland’s position as a central hub for the pharma industry. Most importantly, we can give patients the peace of mind knowing that their critical healthcare treatments and devices are in safe hands.”
A healthcare logistics leader
UPS Healthcare is uniquely positioned to provide a vast range of integrated complex healthcare logistics services.
Its Dublin facility houses small package, freight forwarding and logistics and distribution capabilities, connecting customers from all industries to a truly integrated global network that is adaptable and resilient to their needs.
Four out of every five pharma products in Europe already require temperature-controlled transportation and the latest biologics and specialty pharmaceuticals require precision, temperature-controlled logistics to get patient-critical products where they need to be – on time and at the right temperature.
Fitted with specialised technology, UPS’ Ireland site provides in-demand storage and inbound and outbound transportation for a range of pharmaceutical and health tech products, offering an end-to-end solution to healthcare companies as they look to simplify their supply chains for complex treatments.
Last year, UPS introduced a new flight path between the US, Ireland and UK to strengthen the trans-Altantic trade lane and Ireland’s links with its largest pharma export markets.
Congratulating UPS Healthcare on its Dublin facility, Michael Lohan, CEO at IDA Ireland, adds: “UPS Healthcare is showing its commitment to innovation, but also reinforcing Ireland’s reputation as a leading hub for excellence across the life sciences sector.”
An integrated global network
Between 2020 and 2023, UPS Healthcare more than doubled the footprint of its dedicated healthcare facilities.
Last year, another first-of-its-kind site in Giessen, Germany, was opened, creating around 150 jobs. It houses more than 30,000 pallet positions capable of supporting the storage of a range of healthcare products at 2C to 8C, 15C to 25C and up to -20C degrees.
The roof of the facility features a solar system that produces more than 850,000 kWh of electricity annually – more than the facility consumes – meaning it meets the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council.
Overall, the new Dublin facility connects to a global network of 1.6 million square metres of cGMP and GDP-compliant healthcare space, with 930,000 square metres dedicated to the cold chain.
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