Shipping giant UPS is to launch a first-of-its-kind global healthcare facility in Dublin next year. Spearheaded by its UPS Healthcare division, the high-tech facility will connect Ireland’s renowned pharmaceutical industry with the UPS global logistics network.
UPS to open new healthcare facility in Dublin
UPS said it will launch the new healthcare and logistics facility in late 2023. The 6,000 m² “fully integrated end-to-end, compliant logistics center” will offer healthcare-dedicated space to cater to Ireland’s world-class pharmaceutical and medical technology companies.
Cathy O’Brien, UPS Healthcare’s Vice President for International Sales, said,
“This is a significant investment by UPS in Ireland and a demonstration of our commitment to enabling truly global healthcare supply chains. Our new facility supports the quality and regulatory needs of manufacturers, many of whom are providing critical upstream activity, and we provide them with resiliency and scale. UPS Healthcare is now offering the first truly dedicated freight, small parcel and logistics offering in Ireland, including cold chain management services.”
Photo: UPS
The initial opening will see around 30 jobs created. According to UPS Healthcare, by the time its Dublin site launches in late-2023 it will have doubled its facility space from 2020, demonstrating remarkable growth in just three years. The company has also developed facilities in Germany and Australia and expanded existing campuses in Hungary and the Netherlands.
Less 10 minutes from Dublin Airport
The new facility will be ideally situated less than 10 minutes away from Dublin Airport (DUB) for quick and seamless access to air cargo services. It will also be within touching distance of Dublin Port and its shipping network.
Following unprecedented supply chain and logistical challenges during the COVID pandemic, the new center will help proof Ireland’s pharma industry from disruption while many companies in the industry are struggling to find enough cold storage.
O’Brien added,
“From a distribution point of view, this means we are not only looking at a shortened supply chain but potentially a greater number of production sites. We’ve been investing to meet these needs for a long time, building out a resilient ‘network within a network’ to ensure we provide the best quality, end-to end service on the market.”
Aided by favorable corporate tax rates, Ireland boasts a world-renowned pharmaceutical industry. Nine out of ten of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies – including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline – maintain a presence in the EU nation.
Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said,
“This is a welcome development from UPS which will support the thriving, export led life science sector here which supplies lifesaving medicines to patients all over the world. I wish the company well with this new initiative.”
Temperature-controlled cargo
Many shipments in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry must be temperature-controlled or risk spoiling. In fact, according to UPS, “around 80% of pharmaceutical drugs in the European Union require cold-chain logistical support and temperature-controlled transportation.” The cargo carrier adds that approximately 50% of all new drugs in the pharmaceutical pipeline worldwide are likely to require some form of temperature control.
Photo: UPS
The logistics firm recently completed its acquisition of the Bomi Group, which specializes in logistics and management of advanced technology healthcare products. The Bomi Group has temperature-controlled facilities across 14 countries in Europe and Latin America, while UPS will integrate around 3,000 Bomi Group employees into its team.
Do you think this is a smart move by UPS? Let us know your opinions in the comments.
Source: simpleflying.com
