Sonoco ThermoSafe acquires AAR cold chain solutions assets

Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco and a leading global provider of temperature-assurance packaging, has acquired the PharmaPort 360 assets, licenses, trademarks and manufacturing rights from AAR, to enter the active temperature-controlled cargo containers market.

Sonoco ThermoSafe will own and lease the PharmaPort 360 containers globally while signing a multi-year agreement with AAR to manufacture, repair and perform maintenance services. The PharmaPort 360 is an active container that uses regenerative heat exchangers to maintain stringent temperature control for high-value cargo. These containers, which are approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), can be used to safely ship temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, blood plasma and other biological cargo via air or ground transportation.

Vicki Arthur, vice president of Sonoco Protective Solutions, said, “This acquisition is in line with our strategy to provide the best temperature-controlled shipping solution irrespective of technology platform (passive or active) to meet our customers’ critical needs for shipping high-value pharmaceuticals and biologics globally. Sonoco is committed to investing in passive and active technologies, like that of PharmaPort 360, and expanding its presence globally in the temperature-controlled packaging industry.”

“This transaction leverages AAR’s specialty container manufacturing capabilities and its focus on aftermarket support, while partnering with an industry leader in the sales and fulfillment requirements associated with transportation of products for the pharmaceutical industry,” said AAR senior vice president of technology products Lee Krantz.

PharmaPort containers provide 5°C door-to-door transport of pharmaceuticals and other high-value cargo. Its regenerative phase change technology uses active cooling and heating to maintain assured product temperature stability through an ambient temperature range of -40°C to +60°C. The containers transition easily through standard international air and ground transport systems, allowing common carriers and third-party logistics providers to offer temperature-controlled service using a self-contained modular unit.