Air Cargo Management

DHL Global Forwarding to move over 100 tons a week of medical supplies in US

DHL Global Forwarding

DHL Global Forwarding has partnered with specialised customers in the healthcare sector to move more than 100 tons a week of much-needed supplies, equipment parts, pharmaceuticals and protective clothing for hospitals, healthcare workers and patients throughout the US during the coronavirus pandemic.

The freight forwarding company is working with Getinge, West Pharmaceutical Services, Sunset Healthcare Solutions and others on special logistics solutions during these unprecedented times.

CEO of DHL Global Forwarding US, David Goldberg, said: “As a globally operating company, epidemic and pandemic risk scenarios are an integral part of the Group’s continuous risk planning, and our operations are being continuously adapted to mitigate potential impacts to our customers.

“I am personally committed to prioritising any medicine or aid shipments in and out of the US during these challenging times.

“We are working with our customers to move masks, gloves, ventilator parts, life-saving pharmaceuticals to patients, hospitals and our valued healthcare workers in the US to make sure they are protected on the frontlines.”

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, Sweden-based global medical technology company Getinge has seen an increased global demand for ventilators, extra corporeal life support (ECLS) equipment and advanced monitoring for Intensive Care Units.

To meet demand, Getinge has temporarily increased its production of ventilators by 160 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019 at its production facility in Solna, Sweden.

DHL Global Forwarding is providing Getinge with global cargo shipments of ventilators, pumps and cardiovascular machines from Europe to the US, fast-tracking high priority customs clearance for their cargo which in turn allows these products to be on-site in the US with minimal delays.

VP Logistics Americas for Getinge, Frank Kozar, said: “At Getinge, we believe that saving lives is the greatest job in the world. Our products play a critical role in aiding both clinicians and patients in their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“As we continue to increase supply capacity on life-saving equipment, my team and I are personally committed to use every resource available to us to shorten the time it takes to get these products to our healthcare partners.  They are relying on us.”

“At Getinge, we are grateful to DHL Global Forwarding for their help in expediting these necessary products to healthcare practitioners and patients who so desperately need them.”

DHL Global Forwarding is a primary logistics provider for West Pharmaceutical Services, a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration. West Pharmaceutical Services manufactures stoppers and seals for injectable packaging systems, syringe and cartridge components, and containment and delivery systems.

The company is not only transporting this crucial cargo, but is also providing solutions for expediting urgent shipments due to the increased demand for West products during the coronavirus crisis. 

West is also utilising market updates from DHL Resilience360, an end-to-end risk management platform that alerts customers about incidents and risks to their global supply chain – such as inclement weather, geopolitical issues and pandemics – in almost real-time.

Through a global mapping device, customers are able to anticipate and respond quicker to incidents to avert or minimise business interruption. With the near real-time data, West Pharmaceutical Services is able to closely monitor shipments moved via DHL Global Forwarding’s numerous services including airfreight, LCL and FCL.

SVP and chief operations & supply chain officer at West Pharmaceutical Services, David Montecalvo, said: “During these challenging times, DHL has been a highly responsive partner to our business needs to ensure that our critical components and products are delivered to our global healthcare customers, many who are working on coronavirus vaccines, treatments and diagnostics.”

“In addition, the management platform provides us direct visibility to our customer shipments truly placing us by the side of our customers.”

Visit dhl.com for more information.

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