DHL Global Forwarding, the air and sea freight specialist within the Deutsche Post DHL Group, and Lufthansa Cargo have changed the ownership of their 50/50 joint venture LifeConEx. The end-to-end life sciences cold chain logistics provider is now a 100 per cent DHL subsidiary. “After running the innovative specialized logistics service together for six years, DHL Global Forwarding and Lufthansa Cargo agreed that a change in ownership would best prepare LifeConEx to further grow its market position” states Roger Crook, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding and Freight, and Deutsche Post DHL Board Member sponsor for the Life Sciences & Healthcare Sector.

Unique in the logistics industry at its start in 2005, the joint venture has since become the global leader in its niche market by integrating all parties in the cold supply chain utilizing advanced industry knowledge and systems. DHL will utilize its global presence to leverage LifeConEx’s capabilities and expand its cold chain services. While furthering its cooperation with Lufthansa, DHL will also maintain LifeConEx’s neutrality in carriers, forwarders and packaging providers, so that it brings maximum value to its customers. This investment also supports Deutsche Post DHL’s 2015 group and Life Sciences sector strategy.

“In cooperation with DHL Global Forwarding we have succeeded in making LifeConEx a leading provider of end-to-end cold chain solutions. With the sale of our stake in the company, we will now continue to focus on the airport-to-airport business. Lufthansa Cargo aims to further expand the segment for temperature-controlled shipments, amongst other things by developing our international pharma hubs. In doing so, we also want to continue to build on our partnership with LifeConEx”, emphasizes Dr. Andreas Otto, Member of the Executive Board Lufthansa Cargo.

LifeConEx’s un-biased, data driven approach to cold chain technologies embracing carriers, ground handlers, packages, and data loggers has earned its position as the cold chain expert among prominent pharmaceutical and biotech companies. During the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, for instance, 3 out 4 H1N1 FDA-approved vaccine producers globally, chose LifeConEx for seamless and secure distribution of their vaccines.

David Bang, CEO of LifeConEx will continue to lead the company and is committed to overseeing the ownership transition for continued development and success.