What is Cold Chain Packaging
Cold Chain Packaging and other Temperature Packaging Systems (TPS) is used to maintain a constant temperature around pharmaceuticals during transportation.
The flexibility of the TPS allows pharmaceuticals to be sent across Australia and internationally through all modes of transport.
These include delivery vans, trains, trucks, and planes.
Our Cold Chain Packaging Process
Cold Chain Packaging that is suited for different scenarios.
Make the switch to CoolPac and speak to an expert who can assist you in selecting the right TPS
- Smaller courier shippers
- Larger bulk shippers
- Single-use Shippers
- Long-term industrial containers
- Long-lasting systems
- Sorter longevity systems
Reusable Cold Chain Packaging
Single-Use Cold Chain Packaging
Long Lasting Cold Chain Packaging
Elements of Cold Chain Packaging System
Cold Chain Packaging Systems are composed of two elements:
- Insulated Container
- Refrigerant
The insulated box is used as a barrier to the ingress of heat into the packaging system from the surrounding environment.
The refrigerant is conditioned at a specific temperature before packing out the system. Its purpose is to maintain the temperature of the product. Both elements provide the thermal longevity needed to keep the medicines “cool” for sufficient time for the transportation to be completed.
Qualification of Cold Chain Packaging Systems
Proper balancing of the insulation and refrigerant needs to be matched to the expected ambient temperature that the system will be exposed to during a “Qualification Study”.
Like all pharmaceutical systems, Cold Chain Packaging systems must be qualified to regulatory health standards. Every country has its own regulation and in Australia, these are governed by the TGA and State Health Departments. Industry guides assist in the harmonizing of regulatory approaches.
CoolPac’s Cold Chain Packaging system are pre-qualified to Australian and international temperature profiles (International Association of Safe Transit, ISTA) and pharmaceutical qualification approaches (International Association of Pharmaceutical Engineers, ISPE).
Active and Passive Cold Chain Systems
Distributing pharmaceuticals and vaccines across Australia, or beyond, will require a multi-faceted approach that may include active refrigerated systems and passive Cold Chain Packaging systems.
Active systems require motors, mechanical parts, batteries, and/or fans for the system to work. If one or more of these active components malfunction or run out of power, then a temperature excursion will inevitably happen.
Passive systems require a refrigerant pack and an insulated container. They will exhibit typical behavior for a certain time period in certain ambient conditions. After that, a temperature excursion will inevitably happen.
Not all shipments are suited to an “active” refrigerated truck and not all shipments are suited to a “passive” Cold Chain Packaging systems. Each solution has strengths and weaknesses which are better suited to some scenarios rather than others.
Contact CoolPac today to learn how we can ensure your products are safely managed and stored
Refrigerants used in Cold Chain Packaging Systems
There are many types of refrigerants that are used in Cold Chain Packaging systems.
Dry-ice
water based gel bricks
Phase Change Materials
Which one is best suited is dependent upon:
- The target temperature that the pharmaceuticals and vaccines must be maintained at
- The likely duration of the transport (plus a contingency)
- The likely thermal challenge exhibited by the ambient environment
- The cost/importance of the medicines
We supply Cold Chain Packaging Systems to
