According to its website, Polar Speed has a fleet
of over 120 multi-temperature vehicles at 16 depots across the UK. It
also has a 40,000 sq. ft. chilled and temperature-controlled warehouse
facility.
The company notes it delivers across Europe via its own vehicles as well as through a partnership it has with Pharmafreight that arranges deliveries into Europe. In fact, Pharmafreight has capabilities to arrange deliveries throughout much of the world.
Among the many benefits this latest acquisition brings to UPS are Polar Speed's apparent strong book of business and its technology offerings.
The acquisition comes with an impressive list of clients including:
- Abbott
- Baxter
- Henry Schein
- Hospira
- Roche
- Sanofi
It also comes with nice technology that can be beneficial to UPS. Included in its technology is its PolarTrack web portal which allows customers to track bar-coded consignments geographically, monitor POD information as well as check on-board temperature readings all in real-time anywhere across Europe.
"The acquisition will help UPS meet the needs of healthcare customers who want to reach the important U.K. market offering increased value in managing more flexible and efficient healthcare supply chains," said Cindy Miller, President UPS Europe. "Our combined services will ensure healthcare companies have access to the best temperature-sensitive transportation solutions and allow us to effectively handle the rising demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and biologic products."
Indeed, according to its press release, UPS's healthcare reach and expertise in Europe now includes
dedicated healthcare distribution centers in the Benelux area, Central and Eastern
Europe, Southern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and the United Kingdom.
The European healthcare logistics market is a highly competitive with the likes of DHL, TNT, FedEx and numerous niche players already in the space. In order to be successful, knowledge and adherence to the intricate regulatory requirements for each European country and the EU is necessary. This latest acquisition should benefit UPS by not only bringing a strong client list but also for its logistics skill and knowledge of the regulatory environment in the UK.