CSafe Continues Global Growth Initiative with New Company in Puerto Rico

Dayton, OH Apr 13, 2016 – Home to one of the world’s most advanced pharmaceutical production and development centers and with a large and growing biotech presence, the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico is a globally significant player in the life sciences sector. With its established infrastructure, highly skilled labor force, ready access to the US market and a favorable fiscal climate, the island is a manufacturing or outsourcing base for the majority of the world’s biggest pharma companies. Around 60% of Puerto Rico’s export value is pharma-related and over 25% of the country’s GDP comes from the pharma industry.*
All this pharma activity translates into a sizeable and growing demand for high quality cold chain logistics. Already active in Puerto Rico since 2011, CSafe Global is extending its commitment to this key market with the decision to open a dedicated service and support center adjacent to San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU). The company is the only global provider of a full line of cold chain solutions and the world’s largest producer of actively controlled mobile refrigeration units for life sciences, healthcare, military and international disaster relief agencies. The new service center will provide shippers and logistics providers on the island with a one-stop-shop for a full range of supply, lease, drop-off, maintenance, calibration and technical support services.
According to Brian Kohr, CSafe Global’s CEO, “There are large volumes of high-value pharma-related air cargo coming out of Puerto Rico. Many of these products are sensitive bio-products that must be kept in highly controlled conditions during transit. As the leading US manufacturer of active containers for drug shipments, it will be a big benefit for Puerto Rican shippers to have direct access to a dedicated CSafe Service Centre on the island and allow for access to our full range of cold chain solutions”.
CSafe has established a locally-registered company, CSafe Puerto Rico LLC, and appointed Javier A. Roman as Director of Sales. Javier is a pharma-logistics specialist previously with freight forwarder Kuehne + Nagel. “Javier is a native of Puerto Rico and brings life sciences, logistics and cold chain experience as well as local customer knowledge”, says Brian Kohr. “He is professional, dynamic, and customer focused and will be a strong addition to the CSafe team.”
Mr. Roman explains the importance of having a local presence in Puerto Rico for CSafe. “According to PRIDCO* approximately 25% of the global biologics manufacturing capacity is based in Puerto Rico. This makes it a vital market for CSafe. Puerto Rico has been a thriving and highly competitive base for the production of pharma products for nearly five decades and during this time, a highly efficient network of logistics suppliers has evolved to service local requirements. A direct presence on the island is both expected and necessary in order to provide the exacting levels of service, support and compliance demanded by the pharma majors.”
The new base in Puerto Rico is part of a strategic design by CSafe to expand its presence in key markets. During 2016, the company will open eight new service centers in high growth locations around the world.
*Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company. PRIDCO is a government-owned corporation dedicated to promoting Puerto Rico as an investment destination for companies and industries worldwide.
About Pharma in Puerto Rico

  • The pharmaceutical industry represents 26% of the island’s total employment in manufacturing.
  • In terms of employment, the sector’s activity generates over 68,000 indirect and induced jobs in the rest of the economy.
  • The pharmaceutical industry represents 26.5% of the Island’s Gross Domestic Product.
  • Puerto Rico exports in the pharmaceutical industry represents about 57% of all exported commodities.

Source: PIA Pharmaceutical Industry Association of Puerto Rico