01 · Pharma & biotech
Medicines and vaccines
Pre-qualified parcel and pallet systems, along with reusable solutions, are available for shipping medicines. Selection depends on the temperature range, transit time and payload.
Industries and applications
Insulated shipping packaging by industry and application
Medicines, reagents, laboratory samples and food need different forms of temperature protection in transit. Select your industry or shipping application to compare suitable insulated packaging and the key selection criteria.
Industries
Insulated packaging for pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, food and industry
02 · Diagnostics & laboratories
Reagents, test kits and laboratory samples
Reagent shipments must follow the manufacturer’s approved transport conditions. Laboratory samples also require consideration of the analysis, the deadline for receipt and any dangerous goods requirements.
03 · Food & pet food
Fresh and frozen products
Insulated boxes and coolants are matched to the product range, varying order quantities and time to delivery. Preparation at the packing station is also part of the selection process.
04 · Industry & specialist materials
Adhesives, cultures and material samples
We develop bespoke insulated packaging for temperature-sensitive materials. The design is based on product and transport specifications, container size and, where relevant, the safety data sheet.
Applications in detail
Temperature requirements and packaging selection
Cooling and temperature protection
Typical shipping temperature ranges
The permitted transport temperature is determined by the product specification or the receiving laboratory’s requirements. The ranges below illustrate common requirements. PCM are coolants with a defined melting point. The temperature of the goods also depends on the insulation, coolant quantity and transit time.
| Temperature range | Typical shipments | Insulated packaging requirements |
|---|---|---|
| +2 to +8 °C | Medicines requiring refrigeration; certain vaccines, reagents or samples | Prevent accidental freezing as well as exposure to heat. Laboratory samples must follow the requirements for the specific analysis. |
| +15 to +25 °C · CRT | Products explicitly requiring controlled room temperature | Protection from summer heat and winter cold. In a parcel network, ‘room temperature’ does not mean a controlled temperature range. |
| −25 to −15 °C · Frozen | Certain frozen life science products | Frozen reagents, active substances and other life science products must follow their respective manufacturer’s specifications. Upper and lower limits may differ from those for frozen food. |
| ≤ −18 °C · Frozen food | Many quick-frozen foods in commercial distribution | Define the permitted product temperature and quality requirements; test the complete packout with representative payloads. |
| Other temperature requirements | Deep-frozen samples, specialist reagents or industrial materials | Select insulation and coolants for the specific application. Dry ice and PCM must be suitable for the required temperature range and the product. |
More on the requirements for each application: Pharmaceuticals · Samples · Frozen food.
Products and development
Pre-qualified systems and bespoke insulated packaging
Pre-qualified shipping systems
A pre-qualified system consists of a specified box, coolants and a packing instruction. Temperature tests show how long this packout maintains the intended temperature range under the ambient conditions tested.
Insulated boxes and coolants
EPS and paper insulated boxes can be combined with coolants for different payloads and temperature requirements. The achievable transit time is tested using the complete packout.
Development and thermal testing
THERMOCON develops bespoke packouts and tests them in an environmental chamber. The box, coolants and payload are tested together. The temperature profiles show whether the goods remain within the specified range for the intended transit time.
Industrial and specialist applications
Temperature protection for reactive materials and biological products
Reactive adhesives, cultures or enzymes may require chilled, frozen or controlled temperature conditions during transport. The specification of the individual product determines the requirements. We match the insulation and coolant to these requirements, the container and the transit time.
Electronics & manufacturing
Reactive adhesives and resins
For materials requiring chilled or frozen shipping, thawing times, container formats and any dangerous goods properties must also be considered.
Ingredients & biotechnology
Cultures, enzymes and probiotics
Liquid, frozen and dried formulations can have different stability limits. These specifications determine the cooling required.
Quality assurance
Food and environmental samples
Samples from production, water testing or soil analysis need a transport method suited to the analysis.
THERMOCON advice
Advice on choosing insulated packaging
We help you select a shipping system or develop bespoke insulated packaging. Tell us which products you ship and which temperature and transport requirements apply.