UPS to Upgrade Health Care-Dedicated Warehouse Network
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UPS Inc. will add major upgrades to its health care-dedicated warehouse and distribution network, according to an Oct. 28 news release.
The Atlanta-based parcel delivery carrier will add 1.3 million square feet of total distribution space in key U.S. markets. UPS also received the European Union’s Good Distribution Practice (GDP) compliance certification for its health care operations in France and Germany.
UPS Inc.
UPS said its U.S. health care warehouse and distribution space will total 4 million square feet by 2020.
Among the largest upgrades are a new 450,000-square-foot facility near the health care campus by the UPS Worldport air hub in Louisville, Ky. There also is a new center in Harrisburg, Pa., which will measure 315,000 square feet, located near the UPS local transportation hub that has the capability of reaching key Northeast markets in one day, according to UPS.
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The center also is near the UPS Swedesboro, N.J., health care operational center.
The Swedesboro facility, opened in 2015, is the first in the UPS network to offer medical-device services such as autoclave capabilities, decontamination and replenishment of surgical kits, and instrument inspection, among other services, UPS said.
Other cities with expanded health care warehouse space include Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; Reno, Nev.; and Tracy, Calif.
.@UPS Undergoes Major #Healthcare Facility Enhancements To Meet Growing Service Demands - https://t.co/dK7yA2bMSF #upsnews pic.twitter.com/cYzlvWhPOL — UPS News (@UPS_News) October 28, 2019
Darren Cockrel, UPS president of global logistics, said not only do the spaces help UPS get shipments to the right places globally, but also in full regulatory compliance.
Key features in the new facilities include climate controls and validated coolers and freezers for customer products requiring strict temperature environments, UPS said. The company also has secured, special-access cages and vaults to help protect high-value specialty pharmaceuticals. The upgrades meet international guidelines and maintain applicable government accreditations and licenses, UPS said.
The European GDP certification validates the France and Germany networks as following proper standards for shipping pharmaceuticals, diagnostic products (including reagents), and stable blood products.
UPS Healthcare and Life Sciences has approximately 8 million square feet of compliant health care distribution space globally.
UPS ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
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