Glossary

Cold chain

Definition

Cold Chain refers to the transportation of temperature-sensitive products along a supply chain through thermal and refrigerated packaging methods and logistical planning to protect the integrity of these shipments. It involves a series of precisely coordinated events to keep a product within an acceptable temperature range from the time it is manufactured until the time it is used.

Cold Chain is vital in numerous industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and chemicals, to maintain the quality, safety, and efficacy of products. Cold chain logistics require specific equipment, such as refrigerated trucks, containers, and storage facilities.

— sennder Team

FAQ

The key components of a Cold Chain include temperature-controlled storage facilities, refrigerated transport (trucks, ships, planes), specific packaging, and reliable monitoring and management systems to ensure the temperature is controlled throughout the entire process.
Cold Chain is crucial for preserving the quality, safety, and effectiveness of temperature-sensitive products. It ensures that products like fresh produce, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and certain chemicals are kept at the right temperature to prevent spoilage or degradation.
Managing a Cold Chain can be challenging due to factors such as maintaining the correct temperature throughout the process, meeting regulatory requirements, managing costs, dealing with different climates and geographies, and ensuring the reliability of equipment.
If a product goes out of the Cold Chain, it may become unsafe or ineffective. For instance, vaccines that are not properly maintained within the Cold Chain can lose their efficacy and cannot be used.

Example or usage in road freight logistics:

In road freight logistics, a Cold Chain might involve transporting a shipment of vaccines from a manufacturer to a healthcare facility. The vaccines would be stored in refrigerated containers and transported in refrigerated trucks, with temperature monitoring devices used to ensure the vaccines remain within the required temperature range throughout the journey.

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