United Cargo has signed a global lease agreement with temperature-assurance packaging provider Sonoco ThermoSafe.

Under the agreement, customers of United Cargo’s TempControl product can lease PharmaPort 360 temperature-controlled bulk shipping containers directly from the carrier.

“We are proud to be the first North American carrier to sign a direct leasing agreement with Sonoco ThermoSafe,” said Jan Krems, president of United Cargo. “Along with our relentless focus on speed, reliability and quality, TempControl customers appreciate our drive to ensure our service remains relevant and valuable to the evolving pharmaceutical marketplace. We are excited to offer customers the ability to lease the PharmaPort 360, a smart active packaging option, for the safe transport of healthcare material throughout our TempControl network of 68 certified locations.”

The PharmaPort 360 is the industry’s only active temperature-controlled container with a fully integrated, FAA-approved telemetry system. It provides real-time, cloud-based data, synchronized with GPS location, on payload, ambient temperature and key mechanical components. The PharmaPort 360 uses proprietary thermal technology to provide extremely precise, long-duration +5 °C temperature control for the transport of biopharmaceutical shipments.

“We are delighted to partner with United Cargo to provide their customers one-way rentals of the best-in-class PharmaPort 360 temperature-control containers,” said Christopher Day, director of global business development at Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Leasing Services division. “With the reach of United Cargo’s TempControl network, this partnership enables the pharmaceutical supply chain to cost-effectively ship across the Americas, EMEIA and Asia-Pacific regions. Additionally, Sonoco’s 300+ global locations allow the ThermoSafe division to quickly and efficiently expand the depot network for leasing PharmaPort units across the globe.”