Baxter, UCB, TRI-VIZOR and H.Essers Create World’s First Community for Orchestrated Horizontal Collaboration in Transport and Logistics or "Carpooling for Cargo".

Brussels (May 16th, 2011) – UCB and Baxter, two global healthcare companies, will bundle their pharmaceutical supply chains in Eastern Europe together with TRI-VIZOR, a spin-off company from the University of Antwerp. This accomplishes the world’s first example of orchestrated bundling or "carpooling for cargo". Logistics service provider H.Essers will provide the operational know-how and intermodal capacity for the horizontal collaboration. The innovative partnership is powered by an advanced control tower which uses Microsoft cloud computing technology.

Baxter is a global healthcare company with expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and has its European distribution center in Lessines, ca. 40 km from Brussels. UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company which ships products to international customers from its European distribution center in Braine-L’Alleud, ca. 35 km south of Brussels.

University of Antwerp spin-off company TRI-VIZOR previously detected significant bundling and synergy potential between the European transport networks for temperature sensitive products of both healthcare multinationals. Subsequently, the neutral cross supply chain orchestrator invited UCB and Baxter around the table to forge a unique horizontal partnership for collaborative logistics.

As a result, UCB and BAXTER signed an agreement with TRI-VIZOR to bundle and orchestrate their temperature controlled pharmaceutical flows to Eastern Europe.

As a neutral orchestrator and community manager, TRI-VIZOR will capture and synchronize the transport orders of both pharmaceutical companies in real-time. This enables full truck movements and even intermodal (rail) transport, resulting in a more sustainable and smooth supply chain with significant benefits for the environment.

Because of its experience in temperature controlled shipments, H.Essers was selected as transport partner to operationalize the bundled flows, using rail connections where possible. After a successful pilot test in Romania last month, UCB and Baxter will now implement other Eastern European destinations and plan to expand the horizontal collaboration with other pharmaceutical companies and tradelanes.

At the heart of this horizontal partnership lies TRI-VIZOR’s Cross Supply Chain Cockpit®, a collaborative transport control tower developed with state-of-the art Microsoft Azure® cloud computing technology. This software cockpit will be used to orchestrate the physical, information and financial flows of the community.

Further details of this groundbreaking project will be revealed at the eyefortransport Horizontal Collaboration Summit in the Brussels Renaissance Hotel on Friday May 20th. The partners will personally present their project between 09:45 – 10:30 AM, followed by a Q&A session for press and media (www.eft.com/hc). 

About TRI-VIZOR (www.trivizor.com)

TRI-VIZOR was established in 2008 as a spin-off company from the University of Antwerp. By creating "The World’s First Cross Supply Chain Orchestrator®" the company founders wanted to make the transport and logistics sector more profitable and sustainable with innovative solutions for orchestration and horizontal collaboration. Today, this blue ocean vision of "carpooling for cargo" has turned into reality and is attracting growing interest from large international companies, governments and infrastructure operators.

About Baxter (www.baxter.com)

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide. In 2010, Baxter reported a turnover of USD 12.8 billion and employed 49 700 people worldwide. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: BAX) and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

About UCB (www.ucb.com)

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium and focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8 500 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.2 billion in 2010. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).

About H.Essers (www.essers.com)

H.Essers offers customers personalized and integrated transport and logistics solutions through Europe. The great strength of the company is to be found in its flexibility, the use of own means and the development of advanced systems and multimodal concepts. Established in 1928, H.Essers has grown into the largest family owned transport and logistics company in Belgium, with 2 250 employees, spread over 26 branches in 13 European countries. In 2007, H.Essers received the prestigious Flemish "Company of the year" award.

About Microsoft (www.microsoft.com)

As a global technology pioneer, Microsoft is committed long term to help its customers realize their full potential by offering solutions that help them find creative solutions to business problems, develop breakthrough ideas and stay connected to what’s important to them. Microsoft is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: MSFT).

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