Even before UPS Healthcare became a standalone healthcare division of UPS in 2019, groundwork had been underway to address critical cold chain packaging needs for healthcare manufacturers. Effective packaging is crucial, especially for those with complex shipping requirements, as it ensures the product's viability throughout its entire journey.
When Ester Van Den Bossche joined UPS more than 10 years ago, her focus was to build the European program. That meant finding and validating material vendors, navigating European regulations, defining product types, and training a dedicated team– all the necessary components to create a strong packaging program.
"We wanted to create the framework of a global program, and it was never done before," says Ester. "We wanted to be the one source for customers, where they would previously have to go to various vendors to accomplish."
Once Ester and her team had key parts of the program ready, it was time to connect what she was building with the ability to customize it to the customer's needs. As a solutions manager, Kerem Akyuez works with customers through the intricacies of their business and matches them with our capabilities that become one solution for that customer.
"Healthcare shipments are so much more than transporting from point A to B," explains Kerem. "If a customer regularly delivered to hospitals but had nuances due to patient need or regulation, we would work together to solidify the process. We could then take this process and consider it for other customers."
Ester and Kerem were building, learning, and growing together to lay the foundations of the Connected Loop Packaging Center in 2015.
Situated in Roermond, Netherlands, this center serves as UPS Healthcare's hub for packaging materials related to European origin shipments. Whether single-use, recycled, or reusable materials, the facility provides a comprehensive array of solutions, simplifying the intricate cold chain packaging process for customers.
For instance, boxes can be prepared for three legs of a journey: the first to send a preconditioned box into the network to receive the product, the second to send it directly to the destination for delivery, and the third to return it to the Connected Loop facility for cleaning and refurbishing. This detailed approach exemplifies the commitment of Ester and Kerem to alleviate the burdens faced by customers.
"Our combined connections, complementary knowledge, and expertise resulted in the Connected Loop facility," says Ester. "One of our proudest achievements was our first customer and developing the unique 3-leg-label service, which has served our other customers ever since then."
And the journey is not over. As UPS Healthcare continues to expand and innovate to meet the demand of healthcare businesses around the world, cold chain packaging remains a key pillar. Ester and Kerem affirm that their collaborative approach ensures UPS covers every aspect of the shipment process. Even if it means a shipment needs to go to the moon, Ester and Kerem will be there working together to make it happen.
Interested in how we can revolutionize your cold chain packaging?
