With the start of vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine developed by the major pharmaceutical company Pfizer in the United States and other countries, the demand for dry ice, which is indispensable for transportation and storage at low temperatures, is increasing, and manufacturing machine manufacturers are strengthening their production systems. I am.
The new coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and the German company Biontech needs to be controlled at a low temperature of around minus 70 degrees Celsius, and is kept at a low temperature in a special container containing dry ice.
For this reason, the demand for dry ice is increasing in the United States, and the shipment of machines that produce dry ice is increasing.
According to "Cold Jet," the world's largest manufacturer of manufacturing machinery and headquartered in Ohio, USA, shipments in the United States from January to last month increased by 90% compared to the previous year. It's almost doubled.
Due to the increase in the use of online shopping triggered by the spread of infection, the demand for dry ice used for the delivery of frozen foods has been increasing since around March, and the demand for vaccines is overlapping with this. about it.
For this reason, the company plans to double the production system in the United States and to quadruple the production system of the entire world, including Europe, depending on demand.
Wim Ecklers, managing director of "Cold Jet," said, "Logistics companies and pharmacies are buying easy-to-operate manufacturing machines to make their own dry ice, and it is in a situation that can be said to be a battle for competition. I want to respond to this. "
UPS, a major logistics company, announced last month that it had set up a system to produce about 540 kg of dry ice in-house in one hour, and it is important to secure dry ice in the United States for full-scale vaccine supply. I am.