DHL enters into JV with Lufthansa

DHL Danzas Air & Ocean has entered into a joint venture with German airline, Lufthansa, for shipping pharmaceutical and healthcare products under required and necessary temperature.

"We have invested in developing technology for transporting pharmacutical products to and from international destinations. Now, DHL and Lufthansa will undertake the shipment of temperature-sensitive healthcare and life science products of Indian pharmaceutical majors," said DHL Danzas Air & Ocean vice-president (Head of Ocean Freight - Asia Pacific) Claudio Scandella.

"Life science and pharmaceutical industry is registering excellent growth in the country and DHL is targeting top pharmaceutical companies for transporting their temperature sensitive products," Scandella said.

"DHL has successfully carried out the test shipments of pharmaceutical products with a major Indian life science company. The prospective clients are upbeat about our new joint venture," he said.

Scandella pointed out that the company was in talks with major Indian and international airlines for similar shipping arrangement for healthcare products.

Asked about the investment on pharma shipment project, DHL Danzas Lemuir Pvt Ltd chief executive officer Christoph Remund declined to comment and added, "the pharma shipment project is named as 'Life Connect' and we are planning to design industry and company-specific transportation modes."

Lufthansa has developed expertise and a special cold chain arrangement to handle these products during transportation and storage at airports.

DHL and Lufthansa would guarantee the required temperature for these products from importers' location to the door-steps of exporters.

Scandella said DHL is also now developing the customised products for retail and automotive industry where customers can track and trace the status of their products.

Referring to investment in India, Remund said the company had already invested over $250 million in the last three years and it would invest substantial amount to strengthen the network of the company.

"We are planning to set up four more DHL centres for air and ocean freight at Jaipur, Nasik, Mundra and Tuticorin, which will take the total DHL centres to 21. The DHL centres are likely to be completed by the end of 2006," Remund added.