The pharmaceutical industry is a key sector that we’ve established a long track record of serving throughout more than 25 years in business here at CoolVan. It’s a sector that’s notable for its particularly strict storage and transportation standards. Medicines, vaccines, biologics, and other critical health products often have very specific conditions under which they remain viable, effective, and crucially, safe.
That’s exactly where our fridge vans play an indispensable role here at CoolVan, ensuring that pharmaceutical goods reach their destination in perfect condition. So, let’s take a look in a bit more detail about why our refrigerated vans are so vital!
They keep temperature-sensitive medicines within safe limits
You don’t necessarily need to be an expert to know that pharmaceutical products are often highly sensitive to temperature. Even a slight deviation from the recommended range can render a medicine ineffective – or worse, dangerous. For instance, many vaccines must be kept between 2°C and 8°C from the moment they’re manufactured until they’re administered. Fridge vans provide a controlled environment where this range can be reliably maintained, even during long journeys or in unpredictable weather conditions.
This level of control helps preserve product quality and also protects patient safety. A compromised shipment might not always show visible signs of degradation, which means relying on ambient conditions alone is not an option.
Fridge vans like ours are fitted with calibrated cooling systems and digital monitoring tools that enable operators to track and log temperature data in real time, providing a clear audit trail for regulatory compliance. In more advanced models, remote access features even let transport teams adjust settings in response to live data, so they can intervene before any problem escalates.
They reduce the risk of damaged or wasted stock
Pharmaceutical goods are sensitive to temperature and also represent a significant financial investment. Without appropriate cold-chain transport, the risk of spoilage increases dramatically – and since a single shipment of biological therapies or specialty drugs can be worth tens of thousands of pounds, the potential impact can be immense.
Happily, the well-insulated interiors and reliable refrigeration units of fridge vans can reliably help maintain consistent temperatures throughout the journey. Many are also equipped with backup power supplies and alarms that alert drivers to any irregularities, so that corrective action can be quickly taken wherever necessary. The integration of temperature mapping, GPS tracking, and tamper-proof seals can all provide additional protection, so that you can have even greater confidence in the integrity of the supply chain.
Refrigerated vans support flexible delivery to remote or urgent locations
One of the most useful qualities of fridge vans compared to cold storage is that they’re able to provide a level of logistical flexibility that static cold storage cannot. In short, mobile refrigeration enables operators to respond quickly and efficiently, whether that’s for a last-minute delivery to a rural GP surgery, a critical batch of vaccines needed at a pop-up clinic, or clinical trial samples being transported between sites.
(This agility became particularly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when cold chain logistics were pushed to their limits. Fridge vans played a central role in vaccine distribution, ensuring safe transport to both urban hubs and isolated communities.)
They’re also essential in time-sensitive scenarios such as organ transport or the delivery of blood products, where every minute counts. The ability to maintain cold chain integrity during transit is a defining strength of fridge vans in healthcare logistics, especially since they provide the ability to adapt routes on demand.
They meet strict regulatory and safety standards
Pharmaceutical logistics is governed by stringent rules, including Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines and requirements from national bodies like the MHRA. These standards demand meticulous documentation, continuous temperature control, and strict hygiene throughout the transport process.
Fridge vans like ours are built with these standards in mind. Their interiors are easy to sanitise, their systems can be calibrated to precise tolerances, and many come equipped with temperature mapping capabilities. They also support the level of traceability required by regulators, so that if you need to, you can demonstrate full compliance in case of audits or product recalls.
That’s all the essentials covered! And of course, if you’ve ever got any questions about our pharmaceutical fridge vans, don’t hesitate to ask our team here at CoolVan. We have an extensive track record of helping customers across a wide variety of industries get their perfect van – and all at the very best prices. Amongst our range you’ll find Volkswagen Crafters, Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinters, just to name a few! And of course, if you ever have any questions, or need any advice, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0161 751 7140, or email us on sales@coolvan.co.uk, and we’ll be happy to help however we can!
