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Tested insulation methods keep cases cool.
By Maximillian Del Rey
Assistant Editor
Pallet-sized insulated container
manufacturer Hermani AG
(Palm Beach, FL) is working
with the University of Florida to test
its containers’ readability distances and
use with e-pedigree to ensure temperature and theft-prevention ability
during transport.
Although these tests are still in
progress, Hermani’s containers have
already seen a growth in sales to pharmaceutical and medical cold-chain transport customers, says Emilio Lopez,
managing director of Hermani.
“The Red Cross of Australia maintained frozen blood for 10 days in the
Roll 1000 using 10 [eutectic] plates.”
The Australian Red Cross (ARC) formerly shipped frozen blood by air—at
very high costs—Lopez says. Hermani’s pallet-sized containers allowed
the organization to ship it by ground
while ensuring the blood kept its temperature. ARC did not want to use
dry ice, Lopez says, because too much
would have been needed to maintain
temperature.
Hermani’s line of Bac and Roll containers, available in volumes ranging
from 50 to 1400 L, employ passive-cold
energy to keep products at temperature.
The company’s eutectic plates determine
the length of time that the container will
maintain temperature. The plates can
maintain both extreme positive and negative temperatures.
“Hermani’s eutectic plates come in six
standard temperatures, but we can make
eutectic plates that reach –114°C to
114°C without dry ice or electricity,”
Lopez says.
The 1079-L Roll 1000, with its standard plate load, can maintain 2° to 8°C
temperatures for 96 hours. With more
plates, ranges can be pushed further,
although capacity will diminish. Subfreezing temperatures can be sustained
longer, with use of Hermani’s – 21°C and
–26°C eutectic plates.
Pharmaceutical and medical packaging comprises about 20-25% of Hermani’s business for 2008, Lopez says, and
the industry promises to take a larger
role in the future.
“Biotechnology, red cell–based
drugs, and the storage of dry ice have
promoted the growth of our insulated
containers,” Lopez explains. “When
they see and use the container, the
feedback is phenomenal.”
Hermani’s customers, Lopez says, are
waiting for an e-pedigree mandate
before implementing RFID. Hermani
has not yet equipped its cold containers
with RFID for customers, but Lopez
does not foresee a problem equipping
them when the need arises.
The University of Florida’s final e-pedigree testing will be confirmed on
February 11; its report will be ready
to be released for commercialization
by the end of February.
A major pharmaceutical manufacturer,
however, validated one Hermani container for a product that needed to maintain –40°C without external power. The
company transported the Roll 220 a
short distance between buildings without
eutectic plates. The results were positive,
and the manufacturer is now evaluating
its purchase options.
Hermani’s 221-L Roll 220 unit has
received considerable attention at recent
trade shows, Lopez says.
“The response has been excellent and
customers are interested in shipping
pharmaceutical and biotechnology products in a more controlled environment,”
he says. “At the same time, they want
flexibility in obtaining the insulated container system without getting into a contract. We are seeing a lot of interest from
Asia, especially for the transport of pharmaceutical ingredients.”
Lopez says customers were attracted
to the idea of cold containers that did
not need to be opened during transport. Companies were also impressed
by Hermani’s extensive testing and
eutectic plates.
“There are many insulated containers
in the market,” Lopez says, “but most
manufacture just the bin and don’t
offer options for the cold energy. Some
do come with gel packs or other materials, but the selection is just one or
two sizes.”
Hermani’s new concept in cold-chain logistics pushes customers’ flexibility to new heights. Its eutectic plates
allow containers to sustain temperatures for longer periods without external energy. Its designs might become
the (cold) wave of the future. ■
