AAH Pharmaceuticals, the UK’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare wholesaler and distributor, has unveiled a new fleet of specially designed temperature controlled vans as part of a major contract with CoolKit Ltd.
The Burnley-based manufacturer will provide 900 temperature controlled Ford Transit conversions for AAH, with the first 340 set to be delivered in the next six months and the full roll out set to be completed by the end of 2017.
With 3,800 employees and 20 locations across the UK over a suite of subsidiaries and brands, AAH is the nation’s leading distributor of pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors.
Officially launched at a special event on 23rd November at AAH Pharmaceutical’s Support Centre, Sapphire Court, Coventry, PharmaVan II represents the company’s recent rebrand and enhanced positioning and will soon be seen on roads across the UK on a Network Roadshow where the vehicles will be demonstrated to AAH drivers nationally before being put into use.
Steve Anderson, Operations Director at Celesio UK, AAH Pharmaceuticals’ parent company, said: “The new temperature controlled vans are born out of AAH’s commitment and determination to excel in delivering an exceptional first class, reliable service, providing customers with the best in pharmaceutical distribution so that they can meet the needs of their own communities.
“The fleet will be the most technologically advanced pharmaceutical vans on the road, having been built exclusively for AAH by CoolKit to ensure product is delivered within GDP 2013 guidelines.”
Each van is fitted with a Seven Telematics Transcan unit linked to the Seven Eye portal, allowing drivers to constantly monitor the temperature of the fridge, which is maintained between 2 and 8 degrees, and the cargo area, between 8 and 25 degrees. The fridge and cargo area, which are independent of each other, continue to operate while the driver makes deliveries ensuring no deviation of temperature.
Each vehicle comes with a full reporting suite and key AAH personnel are able to track the vehicle’s every movement as the driver is on the road. Temperatures can automatically be logged with real time temperature recording, which is visible to the AAH Branch and Distribution network, and an audible alarm will be triggered, and group email alert generated, if there is any deviation of temperature. An alert notification has also been added which will signal when the doors to the cargo area are open.
The vehicle has additional security features comprising of six CCTV cameras which provide a safe and secure environment for the products, the drivers and the public.
Steve Anderson said: “Our AAH vans are where AAH is most visible on a daily basis and so it is important to have the very best fleet on the road. However, a successful brand is based on more than an updated look, at AAH we strive to innovate and provide the best service we can to our customers. Our new state of the art AAH fleet of PharmaVans does just that, enabling us to deliver an enhanced pharmaceutical distribution service without compromise.”
CoolKit managing director Rupert Gatty said: “We are immensely pleased to unveil this new product for our valued customer AAH, the fantastic outcome of our avant-garde thinking. AAH understands the importance of always putting customers first and listening to pharmacies on what’s truly important to them. Providing an exceptional pharmaceutical distribution service is therefore pivotal to AAH and we are very proud to have partnered with them to deliver this with the PharmaVan II.”
PharmaVan II has undergone independent vigorous climatic testing with temperature ranging from -20 and +40 degrees ensuring products can be delivered safely whatever the weather.
CoolKit’s refrigerated vehicle conversions are renowned for their light weight, durability, versatility and strength, which provides customers with the highest payload and most reliable performance throughout the vehicle lifetime.
CoolKit conversions have also been validated by an unrivalled combination of ISO Standard Certifications and vehicle manufacturer Approvals and Accreditations.
