TNT Express Opens Hub for Shipping Medical Devices Throughout Europe
The 24/7 facility in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is located near the European distribution centers of 80 major medical manufacturers and will offer next-day delivery to almost all of Europe’s 16,000 hospitals, according to the company.
Financial analysts said FedEx Corp.'s $4.8 billion bid on April 7 for TNT Express is likely to succeed, calling it a victory as FedEx tries to gain market share from rival United Parcel Service Inc., which had bid for the same British-based delivery company two years ago, only to see European regulators block the move.
TNT Express made news March 26 when it announced the opening of a distribution hub that will ship medical devices throughout Europe. The 24/7 facility in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is located near the European distribution centers of 80 major medical manufacturers and will offer next-day delivery to 96 percent of Europe's 16,000 hospitals, according to the company,
Most of the shipped devices are intended for use in surgery, such as pacemakers, stents, artificial knees, and surgical products. According to TNT Express, medical customers in the south of the Netherlands and nearby areas of Belgium and Germany will benefit from late collection times and more flexibility to fulfill orders from hospitals. Same-day delivery will be available for emergencies.
"The new facility will help meet growing demand from medical device and equipment manufacturers, large and small, that need a reliable transport solution to serve hospitals in Europe," said Erik Uljee, managing director of TNT Benelux.