Sigma Pharmaceuticals have contracted Blue Circle couriers to manage their Melbourne Pharmacy distribution.  This entailed delivering to 450 Pharmacies twice a day.  Some of the products such as vaccines need monitoring and are required being kept at +2 – 8oC.

Traditionally, the +2 – 8oC temperature sensitive products were being packed into the great Australian six pack esky with an ice brick (frozen) and then placed with other room temperature products and delivered in a one tonne van.

Blue Circle found this to be costly, inefficient in cold chain maintenance and environmentally unfriendly.  Blue Circle decided to have a look at what other methods were available for cold chain distribution.

They also explored the plug in (camper) fridge and found this not suitable for their use.  Blue Circle then took a look at the CoolPac/Olivo range of Polyurethane/Polyethylene passive refrigeration containers. These containers use Eutectic Plates to maintain container temperature whether the product is chilled or frozen. Eutectic Plates use phase change technology to keep product at a stable temperature.

Extensive field trials were conducted by Sigma/Blue Circle before purchase. These field trials consisted of the Bac55 container being loaded with orders, which were then placed into their one tonne delivery vans.

Two delivery runs were made between 7am and 4pm, with a total of 13 openings. The field trials also demonstrated the advantage of the Bac55 container over the esky in handling Cold Chain product returns. The Bac55 container can easily accommodate these returns until the next day as it maintained the temperature at + 2-8°C overnight. Hence, the delivery driver does not have to return to the warehouse that night to return this stock.
He can simply return it in the morning when he collects his next consignments.

Tom Szabo, General Manager of Blue Circle Transport says "These containers are the best system for quality cold chain distribution I have seen…. They will give Blue Circle, who delivers to over 450 pharmacies twice a day, a validated system ensuring a quality cold chain at all times".