UPS to manage Merck's US distribution

By on Jan 7, 2009

UPS has been selected to manage a significant portion of Merck's US distribution of pharmaceuticals and vaccines

UPS Supply Chain Solutions has assumed control of two key Merck distribution centres, which provide Merck with temperature-sensitive storage, packaging and transportation services critical to its pharmaceutical and vaccine products

The majority of Merck's US vaccines and pharmaceutical volumes flow through these two centres, which are located in suburban Atlanta (Georgia) and Reno (Nevada)

The two US facilities are cGMP-compliant and add more than 200,000 sqft of secure, automated healthcare logistics space to UPS's network

The facilities join UPS's 23 existing compliant healthcare facilities in North America, and two soon-to-open healthcare facilities in Puerto Rico and the Netherlands In total, UPS will have more than 35 million sqft of dedicated healthcare space worldwide

This Merck deal allows UPS to leverage the new facilities for other healthcare customers, and enables Merck to take advantage of UPS's existing healthcare distribution network which will provide Merck with the additional supply chain flexibility needed for initiatives such as new product launches