11th March 2014

World Courier opens new facility in Wales to support life sciences companies

World Courier – a specialist, premium, courier company that distributes pharmaceuticals and biological samples under strict temperature controlled conditions to locations around the world – has opened a new facility in Wales.

The decision was taken after the company attended Biowales last year and were impressed by the growing infrastructure to support life sciences companies in Wales and the growth potential of the sector following the launch of the £100m Life Sciences Investment Fund.

Additionally World Courier has had a long standing relationship with many life science companies in Wales for several years now and wanted to enhance service offerings by committing to a local office offering immediate, on-demand response and a full suite of pre-conditioned shipping solutions.

World Courier is an AmerisourceBergen company which is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical services companies serving the United States, Canada and selected global markets.

The new South Wales facility which benefitted from the Wales Economic Growth Fund, increases the World Courier UK office network count to six. The new Pontypool office opened ahead of Biowales 2014 where World Courier is exhibiting.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:

“We are pleased to welcome another key company working in the life sciences sector to Wales. Establishing an operating base here will provide significant benefits to existing Pharmaceutical Services companies in Wales further strengthen the sector supply chain and provide a strong platform for future growth.”

Welsh companies were previously serviced from World Courier’s London office and the new facility will mean fewer vehicles travelling between Wales and London each day, reducing their carbon footprint and cutting costs.

Customers shipping biological samples, medical devices and spare parts will benefit from the local presence and improved response times, as well as those clients shipping documents and clinical trial supplies to ensure that local companies can maintain their competitiveness.

World Courier UK Country Manager, Simon Beaumont said:

“Support from the Welsh Government and the high growth potential of the sector in Wales were contributing factors to our decision to open a satellite operation in Wales to support new and existing clients.”