The current global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is of the utmost concern to all of us here at CSafe as we are sure it is for you. Our priority continues to be the safety of our people and the patients who ultimately receive the therapies transported in our solutions. We understand the crucial role that our industry plays in such situations and are taking every precautionary measure to safeguard our staff as well as the quality and sanitation of our containers. Additionally, we continue to take steps to ensure container availability, performance and service for current and future COVID-19 related shipments as well as all other pharmaceutical shipments you may have. Below are answers to some of the most common questions.
Learn more about CSafe’s COVID-19 Vaccine Solutions
Because maintaining the proper temperature for any vaccine is critical to ensuring its effectiveness.
Active Air Cargo
CSafe’s air cargo container fleet is the largest, newest and best-performing in the world.
Equipped with artificial intelligence-assisted logistics management for lease forecasting, and with shipment visibility technology (launching in Dec 2020) for 24/7 real-time shipment monitoring and visibility.
Deep Frozen Transport
CSafe thermal shipping solutions can protect pharmaceuticals of any sort at -80ºC for 10+ days during transport by using our -80ºC single-wall VIP Parcel boxes inside a CSafe Air Cargo active container.
Deep Frozen Storage
For storage in locations without deep freezer units on site, CSafe offers double-wall VIP Parcel boxes qualified to maintain -70ºC for 240+ hours. If a vaccine must be stored longer prior to use, medical staff can simply add more dry ice.
Container Availability & Performance
Does CSafe have enough air cargo containers to accommodate continued distribution in addition to COVID-19 vaccine distribution?
CSafe has invested heavily and has the largest, newest and best performing air cargo container fleet in the world. We have thousands of active air cargo units and continue to manufacture more each day.
How can CSafe ensure that every container will perform as expected?
The CSafe Preventive Maintenance Rebuild (PMR) program ensures our containers are expertly maintained so that they perform like new every time they go out on lease and meet the exacting standards required for GDP compliance, adherence to airline industry regulations and to ensure the safe delivery of each customer’s payload.
What steps is CSafe taking to ensure each shipment goes smoothly?
CSafe has made substantial investments in innovative technologies to ensure container availability and full shipment visibility. Our artificial intelligence-assisted logistics management tool allows our team to forecast when and where containers will be needed to ensure on time delivery. We have not missed a single lease since this tool was implemented in the fall of 2019.
Our shipment visibility technology & platform will launch in Q4 of this year and provide real-time data and alerts to allow for intervention, if needed, to preserve a payload.
We have expanded globally in operational facilities, sales and service professionals and partners in the last year to offer even more options to meet demand. The CSafe Customer Support team is available 24 / 7 / 365.
Additional COVID-19 Safety Measures
How are CSafe leasable containers cleaned and are you taking any additional precautions during the outbreak?
After each use, our containers are cleaned and thoroughly inspected at one of our service centers. Our cleaning procedure uses disinfecting, antistatic and deodorizing cleaners for wiping down of all internal and external surfaces. In addition to these steps and as a precautionary action, we have added the use of latex gloves and masks for all technicians performing cleaning activities on our containers. Our current cleaning procedure coupled with the added steps will ensure customers receive a container that has been thoroughly sanitized and is ready for use.
How is CSafe ensuring business continuity throughout this crisis?
Business continuity planning efforts are well under-way as we make sure our RKN and RAP containers, as well as our Parcel and Cell & Gene solutions are available when and where needed. With our vast array of service centers throughout the world, and our artificial intelligence platform, RKN and RAP container inventory can be adjusted swiftly by relocating and positioning containers as needed through air, truck and ocean methods. We have the inventory to flex and meet critical volume surges, and we are monitoring our physical stations and hubs to ensure functionality and redundancy measures are in place.
CSafe is committed to working with our customers and partners on a case by case basis to determine relief for extraordinary circumstances.
Do you have sub-suppliers in China or any of the countries currently or recently on lockdown that will affect your supply in the next three months due to COVID-19?
CSafe has one supplier in China located in a remote location in the western part of the country far from any major population center. They are open and fully operational, and we’ve seen no interruption in our supply to date. Additional suppliers are located outside Asia and again, our supply has been uninterrupted.
As a further precautionary measure, all materials coming from China since the outbreak began have been quarantined to ensure complete safety for our staff, customers and cargo.
What steps do you take to mitigate supply chain risks for your raw materials?
CSafe always has 2-3 months of raw material staged at a VMI location in the United States. In addition, we have dispersed insulating panel production capability in the U.S. and Europe. Our manufacturing operations remain at full capacity and we continue to deliver products on time.
We purchase CSafe reusable parcels. What extra measures are you taking to ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing for reuse?
We compared our existing cleaning and sanitizing process to the COVID-19 requirements for ensuring safety and it was already fully compliant. We have taken extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of our staff as used parcels come into the facility for cleaning.
What internal precautions has CSafe taken to ensure the virus does not spread?
We restricted international travel for all employees as of Feb. 27, 2020 and implemented a halt to all travel on Mar. 12, 2020. We also implemented screening measures and hand sanitizer usage requirements for all external visitors to CSafe facilities on Mar. 2, 2020. Effective Mar. 16, 2020 shifts for service center and production employees have been staggered to allow even more social distancing and to accommodate school closures. These employees are also taking additional health and safety measures and have been provided the resources to do so. All other employees are required to work from home until further notice.
What procedures are in place if one of your employees or a close contact becomes sick?
All employees have received explicit instructions and requirements for returning to work should they or a close contact show any symptoms of the virus. This includes testing for the virus by a medical professional and a quarantine period.
With the current and likely ongoing supply chain disruptions, what containers does CSafe offer that can ensure shipments arrive safely?
Below are our packaging recommendations in the current environment.
CSafe RKN
- Air cargo shipments up to 1.98m3 (1,980L) requiring tight temperature control (+2°C to +8°C)
- Consider this for parcel shipments going in or out of countries in lockdown that may be subject to travel delays or mandatory quarantine prior to delivery.
CSafe RAP
- Air cargo shipments up to 6.68m3 (6,680L) requiring tight temperature control (+2°C to +8°C)
- Consider this for parcel shipments going in or out of countries in lockdown that may be subject to travel delays or mandatory quarantine prior to delivery.
CSafe AX56L
- Smaller shipments (up to 60L) that need an active mobile refrigerator/freezer system listed with the FDA and qualified to Mil-Std 180.
CSafe Parcel
- Road transport shipments from 5L – 35L requiring temperature control in 3 ranges:
- Room Temp CRT (+15°C to +25°C)
- Refrigerated (+2°C to +8°C)
- Frozen (-60°C, -40°C, -20°C)
- Standard duration is up to 120 hours. If you have concerns that your shipment may be delayed past this time frame, these can be easily packed into an RKN or RAP and loaded onto a truck to extend the hold time of your cargo indefinitely.
CSafe Pallet Shipper
- Road transport shipments from 200L to 1500L requiring temperature control in 3 ranges:
- +15°C to +25°C
- +2°C to +25°C
- +2°C to +8°C
- Standard duration is up to 120 hours. If you have concerns that your shipment may be delayed past this time frame, consider using an RKN active container to extend the hold time of your cargo indefinitely.