Enabled by a $1.5B Commitment, Frontier Scientific Solutions Unveils Plans for a Global Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Gateway Dedicated for Life Sciences Supply Chain at Wilmington Intl. Airport (ILM)

WILMINGTON, N.C., Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frontier Scientific Solutions, a temperature-controlled storage and transportation company exclusively serving the life sciences industry, today announced the development of state-of-the-art cGMP facilities at Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in North Carolina and Shannon Airport (SNN) in County Clare, Ireland.

These developments have been supported by a landmark $1.5 billion commitment from GID, a vertically integrated real estate investor, owner, operator, and developer. The two strategic locations will establish the first life sciences-dedicated direct global gateway, central to Frontier Scientific Solutions' vision to create streamlined shipping lanes – this one initially between North America and Europe – for time and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products. The facilities in both locations will also bring further financial and supply chain management benefits to clients through designation as Free Trade Zones (FTZ).

The announcement was made during a press event held at Wilmington International Airport, where Frontier Scientific Solutions unveiled plans for the scale and impact of its global gateway model, which will enable companies in life sciences to transport time and temperature-sensitive materials in significantly shorter timeframes, with fewer touchpoints, less risk, while operating more sustainably.

Steve Uebele, CEO of Frontier Scientific Solutions, said, "We are thrilled to announce this transformative partnership with the airports at Wilmington and Shannon, enabled by GID's investment. Our initiative disrupts the life science supply chain market – promoting zero product losses, increasing sustainability, and directly saving lives – and it marks the first step in Frontier's goal to become the market-leading solutions provider."

The investment will fund the construction of cGMP-compliant, temperature-controlled storage facilities housed at Shannon and within the FTZ at Wilmington. FTZ designation offers streamlined customs and FDA processing, duty deferral, and operational efficiencies critical for the efficient and secure distribution of life sciences products across international borders.

"GID's commitment underscores our dedication to developing cutting-edge infrastructure that meets the specialized needs of the life sciences industry," said Greg Bates, President & CEO of GID. "The new facilities in Wilmington and Shannon will create an unparalleled logistics network between the U.S. and Europe, empowering companies to deliver critical healthcare products with unmatched speed and precision."

Frontier Scientific Solutions' live case studies consistently demonstrated a reduction of days to weeks in the transportation and waiting times for temperature-sensitive shipments. Providing the industry with direct distribution makes this global gateway model faster, reducing exposure to temperature excursions, risk from unnecessary touchpoints, and carbon emissions. It will set a new benchmark for quality, speed, and environmental responsibility.

Wilmington International Airport Director Jeffrey Bourk said, "This investment reinforces Wilmington's position as a key logistics hub for the life sciences industry. We are located in the middle of the East Coast with great highway access, minutes to NC Port, and close proximity to Research Triangle Park (RTP), the largest research park in the U.S. Through this partnership with Frontier Scientific Solutions – combined with direct runway access and Foreign Trade Zone benefits – ILM is now poised to play a crucial role in advancing the global biopharmaceutical supply chain."

Commenting on its role in the project, Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said, "Shannon Airport has a long history of pioneering innovative solutions in aviation and logistics. At The Shannon Airport Group, we pride ourselves on providing property solutions for foreign direct investment companies and are delighted that Frontier Scientific Solutions and its state-of-the-art cGMP facilities will be joining our family of over 300 companies on our Shannon Airport Business Park. This major investment represents a significant leap forward for Ireland's reputation as a hub for the global life sciences industry. We are proud to be part of this exciting project, which will create a groundbreaking gateway for life sciences products between North America and Europe."

The state-of-the-art facilities at ILM and SNN will be linked by a direct lane dedicated exclusively to life sciences materials, with flight operations set to begin early next year. Additionally, Frontier Scientific Solutions offers the fastest direct ocean lane from North Carolina to Cork, achieving delivery in just 12 days. With this new infrastructure, Frontier is disrupting the market by enabling faster deliveries with reduced risk – directly contributing to saving lives.

For more details about the development or to schedule interviews, please contact:
Connor Halverson
That's Nice LLC, on behalf of Frontier Scientific Solutions
Tel: +1 212-366-4455
Email: [email protected]

About Frontier Scientific Solutions
Frontier Scientific Solutions is a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics, exclusively serving the life sciences industry. With strategically located facilities in Wilmington, NC, and Shannon, Ireland, and offices in NC, NY, MA, and IN, Frontier offers unmatched supply chain solutions, helping companies transport sensitive biopharmaceutical products with greater speed, security, and sustainability. For more information, please visit fs2.com.

About GID
GID is a privately held, vertically integrated real estate company that owns, operates, and/or manages a portfolio of multifamily and industrial assets and develops mixed-use projects across the United States. The firm also operates a credit platform that aims to provide commercial real estate debt solutions for institutional borrowers. With corporate offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Dubai, New York and San Francisco, GID is supported by an integrated operating platform and has more than 60 years of experience investing across multiple asset classes. As of September 30, 2024, GID owns and/or manages over $30.0 billion of assets under management across 57,000 apartment units and 28.0 million square feet of industrial and commercial space¹. GID.com

About Wilmington International Airport
Wilmington International Airport serves southeastern North Carolina with commercial air service providers American, Avelo, Breeze, Delta, Sun Country, and United. These airlines provide nonstop service to a growing number of markets, connecting travelers to hundreds of destinations. In addition to commercial air service, ILM supports a growing general aviation community and has two FBOs, Modern Aviation and Aero Center Wilmington. The ILM Business Park encompasses 175 acres and is strategically located in an intermodal environment. The NCDOT Division of Aviation's 2022 report estimated ILM's economic impact at $2.5 billion. For more information on ILM, please visit flyILM.com.

About Shannon Airport Group
The Shannon Airport Group has been a driving force in the economic development of the Shannon region for over 80 years. Established in 1945, Shannon Airport was Ireland's first transatlantic airport and is home to the world's first duty-free airport and Free Trade Zone (FTZ). Today, the Shannon Airport Group manages a thriving business ecosystem that includes Shannon Airport, commercial property developments, and heritage tourism. The Group continues to support over 180 companies and 3,000 employees while playing a vital role in connecting Ireland to global markets. For more information, please visit snnairportgroup.ie.

¹AUM is as of 9/30/2024 and is calculated in compliance with the definition for Assets Under Management ("AUM") prescribed in INREV's Global Definitions Database and includes the market value of real estate as well as non-real estate assets (including any cash in the vehicle or mandate) and committed but uncalled capital for which GID provides oversight and investment management services (for internal client capital and third-party capital) in the funds as well as "Other GID Accounts," (as defined below) and accounts for which GID provides asset management services without an equity investment. Other GID Accounts include proprietary accounts and co-investment joint ventures with unaffiliated investors where the latter maintain significant approval rights over the management of these investments. Such investment vehicles are not considered "securities portfolios" or "private funds" for purposes of the Advisers Act and are not included in the regulatory assets under management reported in Form ADV Part 1A or Part 2A. As of September 30, 2024, the firm's regulatory assets under management totaled $4.3B.

SOURCE Frontier Scientific Solutions