In today’s dynamic pharmaceutical landscape, ensuring the timely and reliable delivery of lifesaving medications requires a proactive and multifaceted approach. Pharmaceutical companies face increasingly complex supply chains, making strategic partnerships with third-party logistics providers like Frontier Scientific Solutions essential. These partnerships ensure precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in managing the storage and transportation of critical drug products.
Frontier is strategically headquartered near Research Triangle Park in Wilmington, North Carolina, and is creating a world-class pharmaceutical campus at Wilmington International Airport (ILM). Spanning over one million square feet, this state-of-the-art, cGMP-compliant facility offers temperature-controlled storage tailored to the unique requirements of global pharmaceutical distribution. With direct runway access and proximity to the Port of Wilmington, Frontier Scientific Solutions is positioned to expedite the delivery of pharmaceutical products across domestic and international markets, reducing lead times and optimizing supply chain performance.
Unlocking Supply Chain Efficiency from Frontier’s Strategic Wilmington Location
The location of logistics, storage, and distribution facilities plays a crucial role in determining transportation costs, delivery times, and the ability to maintain proper temperature control — especially for time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products like biologics and vaccines. By positioning facilities near major markets or key transportation hubs, companies can ensure faster, more reliable distribution while simultaneously reducing logistics costs and mitigating risks related to improper handling or storage during transit.
Frontier Scientific Solutions is strategically located in Wilmington, NC, an area that offers significant geographical advantages. Situated within a Foreign Trade Zone, Frontier’s campus provides direct runway access to Wilmington International Airport (ILM) and is just a 15-minute drive from the Port of Wilmington — ranked the most efficient port in North America in 2022 by the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).
Wilmington’s mid-Atlantic location on the Eastern Seaboard allows for highly efficient distribution across major U.S. markets. With easy access to I-95, Frontier can quickly transport products to densely populated regions like New York, Washington D.C., and the Southern hubs of Atlanta and Florida. Moreover, I-40 provides a direct route to the Midwest, offering comprehensive national coverage from a single, strategic nexus.
This prime location enables faster and more direct distribution than alternatives that rely on trucking products from the West Coast or routing through Canada before reaching the U.S. market. By reducing transportation distances and touchpoints, Frontier’s Wilmington campus significantly lowers carbon emissions while also benefiting from the region's milder weather, which helps avoid logistical challenges posed by extreme winter conditions.
Port of Wilmington: The Most Efficient Gateway for Pharma
For two consecutive years, the Port of Wilmington has been ranked the most efficient port in North America, thanks to its highly organized operations and cutting-edge processes and technologies. This efficiency allows for faster cargo clearance than at other major ports, such as the Port of Newark or various West Coast locations.
The Port of Wilmington also offers faster access for ocean freight, providing a transit time of approximately 11 days for shipments arriving from key European ports like Cork, Ireland and Antwerp, Belgium. This makes Wilmington a highly competitive entry point for international goods compared with other U.S. ports.
Upon arrival, products can be immediately transported to Frontier Scientific Solutions bonded, temperature-controlled facility, bypassing lengthy customs clearance at the port. This minimizes handling and exposure, particularly for sensitive pharmaceutical products. Frontier’s cGMP-certified storage facilities offer 24/7 monitoring through advanced systems, including a building management system (BMS), environmental monitoring system (EMS), warehouse management system (WMS), and security management system (SMS). These integrated technologies ensure that products remain secure, compliant, and precisely maintained throughout their storage.
Fast-Tracking Pharma with Direct, Dedicated Flights
Frontier will soon operate its own dedicated life sciences flights, initially connecting Wilmington, NC, and Shannon Airport (SNN) in Ireland. These exclusive, pharma-specific flights provide critical advantages for pharmaceutical companies by minimizing risks and optimizing the supply chain.
Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies require meticulous handling, and even slight temperature deviations can render entire shipments unusable, leading to costly write-offs. An estimated $48 billion in pharmaceutical product losses occur annually, often due to inefficiencies in traditional transportation models. Typically, freight forwarders must align with airlines' restrictive cargo schedules, resulting in product exposure to the elements during lengthy handling and tarmac time, which can compromise temperature-sensitive shipments.
Frontier’s direct, non-stop air service between Shannon and Wilmington addresses these issues head-on. With exclusive runway access and fully controlled logistics, Frontier can cut several days from typical shipping timelines and reduce the number of touchpoints by 10–15. This streamlined approach drastically lowers the risk of product damage during transit, ensuring that sensitive pharmaceutical cargo arrives intact and on time.
Moreover, Frontier’s facilities in both Wilmington and Shannon are located within Foreign Trade Zones. This designation further enhances the operational efficiency by offering expedited customs processing, leading to faster delivery times and reduced costs for pharmaceutical companies. The environmental benefits are equally significant, as reducing transportation times and touchpoints directly translates into lower carbon emissions and a smaller overall environmental footprint.
Innovative Storage and Distribution for Next-Gen Therapies
As drug development becomes increasingly complex, driven by the rise of specialty treatments, such as biologics, orphan drugs, and cell and gene therapies, pharmaceutical companies are facing new logistical challenges. Frontier Scientific Solutions is addressing these evolving needs by making significant investments to expand its expertise, capacity, and capabilities, enabling greater productivity and scalability
Frontier’s team, with deep experience in life sciences manufacturing and logistics, understands the intricate and unique challenges that pharmaceutical companies encounter in bringing their products to market. From managing temperature-sensitive biologics to ensuring the safe and timely delivery of high-value drugs, Frontier is dedicated to helping life sciences organizations around the world meet these challenges with greater speed and precision. Their commitment to innovation and operational excellence ensures that products are stored and transported safely, while maintaining strict regulatory and quality standards.
Strategic Location as a Key to Efficiency and Sustainability
In the increasingly complex world of pharmaceutical logistics, location matters more than ever. Frontier Scientific Solutions, with its prime placement in Wilmington, North Carolina, offers pharmaceutical companies an unparalleled logistical advantage. The proximity to Wilmington International Airport, the Port of Wilmington, and major highways like I-95 ensures rapid, cost-effective distribution both domestically and internationally. This strategic location not only accelerates the speed to market but also significantly reduces the carbon footprint by minimizing the distances that products must travel.
Furthermore, by leveraging the efficiencies of the Port of Wilmington and direct pharma-dedicated flights to Shannon, Ireland, Frontier minimizes touchpoints and reduces the risks associated with temperature-sensitive products. This combination of speed, precision, and sustainability highlights the importance of geographic positioning in modern supply chains.
Frontier’s approach to logistics exemplifies how smart infrastructure and strategic partnerships can create tangible economic and environmental benefits, helping pharmaceutical companies navigate their supply chains with greater efficiency, security, and reduced environmental impact. With their facilities located in Foreign Trade Zones, Frontier is well-positioned to meet the growing demands of the global pharmaceutical industry, providing solutions that are both economically viable and environmentally responsible.
