As a Strategic Global Freight Partner to AstraZeneca, Yusen handles product throughout the manufacturing process, from active ingredient and bulk materials to prescription drugs.
The contract extension covers existing road business, air and sea volumes handled by Yusen Logistics.
The Yusen solution is based around its European Pharma Superhighway road network, with movements managed by its 'Control Tower'. This allows centralised planning of pan-European transport movements to maximise vehicle utilisation and reduce costs, whilst ensuring product integrity at all times.
The Control Tower also manages air movements via strategic gateways at Frankfurt and Chicago, as well as ocean movements to and from Europe, supported by Yusen’s GDP licensed warehouses in Beligum and the UK, which deliver strategic storage and Customs Clearance capabilities.
The Pharma Superhighway currently carries circa 250,000 pallets for AstraZeneca, all of which are real time tracked with full temperature monitoring, from its manufacturing plants and third party manufacturers to over 100 destinations in Europe and 50 countries worldwide.
The two companies have been working in close partnership since 2007, when Yusen Logistics was appointed to work with AstraZeneca on the creation of a lean supply chain. Since 2007, Yusen has consistently demonstrated year on year cost savings and service enhancements.
Andy Fitt, Deputy MD Yusen Logistics, UK, said: “This renewal underlines the continued evolution of our collaboration with AstraZeneca. As a long-standing partner we are continuing to proactively deliver service and quality enhancements on a local, regional and global basis.”