TNT has opened an international transport hub in Heerlen, the Netherlands, dedicated to the shipping of medical devices to European hospitals and clinics.
The 2,000 square metre facility is located near the European distribution centres of 80 major medical device manufacturers. In service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it will consolidate medtech shipments from multinationals and SMEs.
From Heerlen, TNT will make next-day deliveries of medical devices to 96% of Europe's 16,000 hospitals. The majority of the shipped devices are used in surgery. Examples include pacemakers, stents, artificial knees and surgical products.
Medtech customers in the south of the Netherlands and nearby areas of Belgium and Germany will benefit from late collection times and more flexibility to fulfil orders from hospitals. Other estimated benefits include: 3.5% average decrease in consignment stock; lower likelihood of stock-out in hospitals; reduced cost of emergency shipping; stronger warehouse and transport contingency plan.
The Heerlen site is connected to TNT's European road and air networks via the company's hubs in Duiven, the Netherlands, and Liege, Belgium. TNT will also operate direct road connections between Heerlen and several European countries, such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. These direct connections increase reliability through reduced trans-loading. Same day service is available for emergencies.
"The new facility will help meet growing demand from medical device and equipment manufacturers, large and small, that need a reliable transport solution to serve hospitals in Europe," said Stuart Stobie, Managing Director, TNT International UK & Ireland.
Healthcare is one of the most important industry sectors for TNT, as highlighted in its Outlook strategy. The company also offers various dedicated services for the global and local transport of pharmaceutical products, test medication and biological samples.
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