LogiPharma 2026: CSafe on Right-Sizing Bulk Air Cargo Protection

Choosing thermal protection for bulk air cargo is less about picking a category than matching a solution to the lane, according to Aaron Mantia, technical solutions manager at CSafe, who spoke with Pharmaceutical Commerce at LogiPharma USA 2026. Mantia took part in the roundtable "What Type of Thermal Protection Does Your Bulk Air Cargo Shipment Actually Need?"

At one end, active containers are continuously temperature controlled, functioning much like a refrigerator. Passive systems rely on coolants or phase change materials, and thermal covers work like a blanket over the cargo. Although "hybrid" is sometimes used for solutions in between, Mantia notes the term isn't common in the industry. "We try to say there's a spectrum from active to passive," he says, adding that the lane determines where a shipment should fall.

Several factors shape that decision. Temperature range matters, whether a product requires 2°C to 8°C or can tolerate 2°C to 25°C. So does lane duration, which may run from 48 hours to five days, and product cost; shippers may be willing to spend more to ensure a high-value product arrives safely. Infrastructure along the route and whether a shipper wants reusable or refurbished packaging also factor in.

Getting the match wrong carries costs in both directions. Underprotection exposes shipments to temperature excursions, which can trigger investigations, quality concerns and potential regulatory issues, and can result in lost product. Mantia notes that a lost shipment can mean disposing of product, sourcing replacement inventory and reshipping, all of which can strain relationships with suppliers or contract manufacturing organizations. Overprotection brings its own penalty in unused space and spending on capacity a shipment doesn't need.