The pharmaceuticals side of the cargo sector continues to dominate the media. The latest news has seen UPS commit to the purchase of Marken, the UK-based supply chain company that specialises in life sciences and pharma products.
According to UPS, the deal will be finalised before the end of the year and once completed, it will allow UPS to almost double the number of its healthcare dedicated facilities to over 100.
Marken’s footprint is a useful one: the company has more than 44 locations worldwide and its business is that of collecting and transporting clinical trial material and investigational medicinal products to 49,000 clinical trial sites. It also handles the shipment of biological samples from remote sites to central laboratories. It is felt that this movement by UPS into the highly specialised industry sector could help it expand its express delivery business at a time when many of its traditional customers are seeking slower (and cheaper) shipping options.
This acquisition comes in the wake of several others within the healthcare logistics sector in recent years and it is clear that UPS is competing with other parcels specialists in growing this particular business segment.
