va-Q-tec announces the successful conclusion of a comprehensive agreement with one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers for the international distribution of a coronavirus vaccine. This probably makes the company the first in the thermal container sector to agree a confirmed partnership for large-scale global thermal transports in connection with the Covid- 19 vaccine. va-Q-tec is aware of its great responsibility: in addition to the development and validation of the vaccine, which is currently taking place under intense pressure, secure worldwide distribution is considered a mammoth logistical and technical task. As part of the agreement, the customer is securing capacities for international, temperature-controlled vaccine distribution. Such capacities could become increasingly scarce, according to sector information.

As part of the related heads of terms agreement, it has been arranged with the partner that, subject to approval, the worldwide, large-volume distribution of its vaccines deploying va-Q-tec’s innovative transport solutions is to start in the first quarter of 2021. The order volume comprises several thousand high-performance transport containers. The parties intend to conclude a final agreement soon concerning the total volume of the partnership based on the heads of terms agreement. The approval of the active substance is a prerequisite for this agreement. At this stage, it is assumed that such approval will be granted.

The investments made so far realized in the expansion of va-Q-tec’s fleet create the necessary capacities for this order, as well as for possible follow-up orders. The fleet will be expanded significantly further over the coming months. As a consequence, the German company operates the world’s largest fleet of thermal containers, whose interiors maintain even low temperature ranges at a constant level of -20 °C and below over a period of several days. For this reason, va-Q-tec is in an ideal position to provide secure and reliable logistics for the valuable vaccine in the context of such a large-scale request, and has already many years of experience with international transports below -60 °C.