Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is investing €10 million in a new pharma centre to expand its range of services for airline and freight forwarder customers at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport.
This investment also includes equipment and supplies for the next 10 years. Opening in September 2019, it will be the only facility owned by a ground handler dedicated to pharmaceuticals at Paris CDG.
This latest investment follows the opening of WFS pharma facilities in Copenhagen, Johannesburg and Miami.
The centre offers both landside and airside acceptance capabilities and will be fully GDP compliant when it opens. It will also become IATA CEIV Pharma certified, as part of an initiative launched by Group ADP within the cargo community at Paris CDG.
The 2,400 square metre dedicated space, located in the heart of CDG airport’s cargo area, has its own docks and manoeuvring area for the loading and unloading of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments.
The facility provides a dedicated room for loose cargo storage at +15-+25°C with a capacity for 108 euro-pallets; a cold room for loose cargo storage at +2-+8°C with the capacity to store 47 euro-pallets; a freezing room for loose cargo storage at -20°C capable of handling nine euro-pallets at a time; and two temperature-controlled areas for +2 to +25°C for cargo unit load devices with a combined capacity to store 106 AKE pallets.
WFS is also investing in new digital technology systems to improve operational efficiency and shipment visibility. A new warehouse management system supports the use of barcode scanning for real-time storage capacity monitoring and management.
Designed with flexibility to adjust capacity on demand, the WFS Pharma Centre is served by temperature-controlled three-pallet trailers and cool dollies as part of WFS’ end-to-end airport handling solution and works in accordance with the strict temperature requirements for specific pharmaceutical product groups.
As part of WFS’ global safety and security programme, the controlled-access pharmacCentre is also equipped with modern screening, CCTV control and alarm systems, monitored 24/7 by its Security Operational Centre. The facility also reflects the company’s environmental commitment with its investment in an all-electric fleet of forklifts and pallet trucks as well as a robust plastic and wood waste recycling programme.
WFS vice president cargo France, Hugo Rodrigues (pictured left) said: “Pharmaceuticals continue to be one of the fastest-growing air cargo products and our airline customers have responded to this opportunity with dedicated products and services to meet this demand.
“WFS also has a vital role to play in helping our customers deliver the quality of service they have promised and in ensuring we consistently perform to the high standards required for sensitive, temperature-controlled cargoes to protect their integrity throughout the cool chain.
“At a major air cargo gateway like Paris CDG, we believe it is incumbent on ground handlers to invest in the right equipment to handle pharma products. Once again, this demonstrates WFS’ willingness to invest in new, state-of-the-art facilities when we see opportunities to benefit our customers and our own business.”
