Industries and applications

Insulated shipping packaging by industry and application

Medications, reagents, laboratory samples and food need different forms of temperature protection in transit. Select your industry or shipping application to compare suitable insulated packaging and the key selection criteria.

Open THERMOCON EPS insulated shipper with its lid
EPS insulated shipper and lid as the insulating component, shown without coolant packs.

Industries

Insulated packaging for pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, food and industry

01 · Pharma & biotech

Medications and vaccines

For pharmaceutical shipping, the US range includes Medi Line reusable systems, Dry Ice Line for suitable frozen shipments, and EPS shippers with individually selected coolants. Selection depends on the temperature range, transit time and payload.

02 · Diagnostics & laboratories

Reagents, test kits and laboratory samples

Reagent shipments must follow the manufacturer’s approved transport conditions. Laboratory samples also require consideration of the analysis, the deadline for receipt and any dangerous goods requirements.

03 · Food & pet food

Fresh and frozen products

Insulated boxes and coolants are matched to the product range, varying order quantities and time to delivery. Preparation at the packing station is also part of the selection process.

04 · Industry & specialist materials

Adhesives, cultures and material samples

We develop custom insulated packaging for temperature-sensitive materials. The design is based on product and transport specifications, container size and, where relevant, the safety data sheet.

Cooling and temperature protection

Typical shipping temperature ranges

The permitted transport temperature is determined by the product specification or the receiving laboratory’s requirements. The ranges below illustrate common requirements. PCM are coolants with a defined melting point. The temperature of the goods also depends on the insulation, coolant quantity and transit time.

Temperature rangeTypical shipmentsInsulated packaging requirements
+2 to +8 °CMedications requiring refrigeration; certain vaccines, reagents or samplesPrevent accidental freezing as well as exposure to heat. Laboratory samples must follow the requirements for the specific analysis.
+15 to +25 °C · CRTProducts explicitly requiring controlled room temperatureProtection from summer heat and winter cold. In a parcel network, ‘room temperature’ does not mean a controlled temperature range.
−25 to −15 °C · FrozenCertain frozen life science productsFrozen reagents, active substances and other life science products must follow their respective manufacturer’s specifications. Upper and lower limits may differ from those for frozen food.
≤ −18 °C · Frozen foodMany quick-frozen foods in commercial distributionDefine the permitted product temperature and quality requirements; test the complete packout with representative payloads.
Other temperature requirementsDeep-frozen samples, specialist reagents or industrial materialsSelect insulation and coolants for the specific application. Dry ice and PCM must be suitable for the required temperature range and the product.

More on the requirements for each application: Pharmaceuticals · Samples · Frozen food.

Products and development

Pre-qualified systems and custom insulated packaging

THERMOCON Medi Line reusable insulated shipping system

Pre-qualified shipping systems

A pre-qualified system consists of a specified box, coolants and a packing instruction. Temperature tests show how long this packout maintains the intended temperature range under the ambient conditions tested.

THERMOCON EPS insulated shipping box

Insulated boxes and coolants

EPS insulated shippers can be combined with coolant packs for different payloads and temperature requirements. The achievable transit time is tested using the complete packout.

Staff member with a THERMOCON insulated box in front of an environmental chamber

Development and thermal testing

THERMOCON develops custom packouts and tests them in an environmental chamber. The box, coolants and payload are tested together. The temperature profiles show whether the goods remain within the specified range for the intended transit time.

Industrial and specialist applications

Temperature protection for reactive materials and biological products

Reactive adhesives, cultures or enzymes may require chilled, frozen or controlled temperature conditions during transport. The specification of the individual product determines the requirements. We match the insulation and coolant to these requirements, the container and the transit time.

THERMOCON USA advice

Advice on choosing insulated packaging

We help you select a shipping system or develop custom insulated packaging. Tell us which products you ship and which temperature and transport requirements apply.

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What would you like to find?

Choose the right product category.

Pre-qualified systems

Matched insulation, cooling elements, and packout configurations.

Insulated shippers

Insulated packaging without accessories, suited to your shipping format.

Cooling elements

Gel packs, foam bricks, rigid refrigerant packs, and PCM elements.

Not sure what fits your shipping process?

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