Fraport AG
Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide
60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
FRA CargoTeam
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Global Health at Frankfurt Airport: The Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Hub
July 11, 2025
Whether it's vaccines, temperature-sensitive medication, or biotech products: at the Frankfurt CargoHub, a carefully coordinated network ensures sensitive pharmaceutical products reach their destinations in a safe and timely manner. In this series, we follow participants throughout the process – from the road, to the handling facility, right through to the aircraft:
Stable Temperatures and Secure Processes
On June 14, at 8 a.m., the sun is already beating down on the tarmac in the northern part of Frankfurt Airport, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 33 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat outside, the climate within the Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Hub remains consistently pleasant. The 8,300-square-meter facility maintains a steady temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Large white ventilation fans mounted on the ceiling circulate evenly tempered air throughout the space. The system is precisely controlled to ensure that every corner of the warehouse maintains a stable, cool temperature.
“Pharmaceutical cargo is both temperature-sensitive and time-critical,” explains Philipp Lutterbeck, who heads the Pharma Hub at Lufthansa Cargo. “We must transfer these items from the truck to the aircraft as quickly as possible, maintaining a consistent temperature throughout to ensure there are no interruptions.” To make this possible, processes are carefully coordinated. Five temperature-controlled handling ramps, set to either 5 or 20 degrees Celsius, guarantee controlled unloading.
Two Methods for Ensuring Reliable Cooling
A Pharma Hub employee carefully transports freight into the large warehouse using a tow truck. On his trailer are three units, each meticulously wrapped in a special white shield and secured with a close-mesh net. The thermo cover protects the sensitive cargo from temperature fluctuations during loading and unloading. Philipp Lutterbeck pauses in front of a newly delivered pallet, encased in a thick, shiny, white shell. Its robust quality conveys a sense of stability and security. “For temperature-sensitive freight, there are two options,” he explains. “Passive Temp Support operates without relying on technology. Instead, this method offers optimal protection against temperature fluctuations through tailored protective measures like this thermo cover, maintaining a constant internal temperature and shielding the cargo from external conditions.”
“Alternatively, we have Active Temp Control,” Lutterbeck continues. “This system utilizes cutting-edge container technology, equipped with integrated cooling systems, sensors, and digital monitoring.” A glance into the transshipment warehouse reveals a row of Active Temp Control containers, neatly arranged on blue shelves. These large white boxes are individually labeled and display various logos. Their temperature is actively regulated, remaining unaffected by external conditions—either through power connections during storage or with robust batteries that operate the containers independently during transport.
Teamwork for Global Health
A dull beeping echoes through the warehouse as a forklift backs away from the loading ramp. The air is filled with the dry, clear scent of concrete floors and cooled machinery. One employee unloads cargo while another inspects it with a checklist in hand—their movements routine and almost rhythmic, like a well-oiled machine.
“What we do here can only be accomplished as a team,” emphasizes Philipp Lutterbeck. “Fraport, the airlines, the freight forwarders—everyone plays a role in ensuring that all products arrive safely.” Since 2012, Fraport and Lufthansa Cargo have worked together as a reliable team at the Pharma Hub Frankfurt, leveraging short distances and the expertise of qualified personnel to achieve a clear goal: the controlled, safe transport of sensitive medicines. With connections to around 300 destinations worldwide each day, including direct access to Lufthansa Cargo’s global route network, the Pharma Hub Frankfurt is a central hub for global pharmaceutical transport. The close integration of all partners enables the uninterrupted, controlled movement of about one million pharmaceutical products through the FRA hub every week.
Driving Transparency and Control Through Innovation
Now the ramp is empty; the last container has been unloaded. After a quick check and a tap on the outer shell, the inspection is complete, and all data is correct. The cargo is carefully secured and ready to be transported to the storage area, where it will remain under constant monitoring. Shortly before departure, it will be handed over to Fraport's ground handling services.
Customers are usually unaware of the processes that occur behind the scenes. To address this, Lufthansa Cargo is setting new standards for transparency and security with innovative solutions. Smart ULD tracking enables customers with sensitive cargo to monitor the temperature, location, and battery status of containers in real time. “The trend is clearly moving toward greater transparency and constant updates,” says Lutterbeck. “Government agencies around the world are also demanding proof of transport quality, and that’s exactly what we offer with this technology: a fully documented, temperature-controlled supply chain.”
Future-Proof Pharmaceutical Logistics
Fraport, Lufthansa Cargo, and the Air Cargo Community are committed to further developing the Pharma Hub in the coming years, with the goal of making it even more digital, efficient, and transparent. “We want to work together with Fraport to ensure that Frankfurt remains an attractive location,” says Lutterbeck. By embracing new technologies, investing in smart infrastructure, and fostering ongoing communication with customers and partners, they are laying the groundwork for a resilient and future-ready global healthcare system.
For more information, background details, and quotes from members of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt and the Frankfurt PharmaHub, please visit our website at: 
