Technology

Marken, UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics, is actively monitoring the evolving situation across Spain, Portugal and parts of France following a widespread power outage on Monday, April 28. Millions have been impacted by the blackout, which has affected critical infrastructure, including airports, hospitals, telecommunications, and public transportation systems. Early reports attribute the disruption to a possible fault within the European electric grid, with investigations still ongoing.

As of the latest updates, gradual power restoration efforts are underway across both countries, with some regions in northern Spain already reconnected to the grid. The situation remains fluid, and national authorities across Spain and Portugal are coordinating emergency responses alongside European energy networks.

Supply Chain Impact & Our Response

Our highest priority remains service reliability. While every effort is being made to maintain uninterrupted service, due to the severity of the situation, shipment delays or displacements may occur. In anticipation of these widespread disruptions, Marken has activated contingency protocols, implemented risk mitigation strategies, and business continuity measures. Our team is proactively working with our business partners and clients to provide alternative arrangements and our Customer Service team is communicating necessary updates directly to our clients, on a case-by-case basis, and supporting them with printing all required shipment documentation and labels.

Alternative Shipping Options

Marken operations throughout Europe remain largely unaffected outside the impacted regions, with normal collections and deliveries continuing. We are also working closely with clients to arrange alternative routing, import and export solutions and priority shipment handling as needed - leveraging the extensive UPS network to sustain service continuity wherever possible. Clients shipping to or from Spain and Portugal are encouraged to contact their local Marken representatives for real-time routing advisories and contingency planning.

Your Partner in Crisis Management

Marken is fully committed to protecting your healthcare and high-value, critical shipments through proactive mitigation strategies that ensure supply chain resilience and minimize the impact of disruption.

As your single-source solutions partner, we’re here for you. If you are experiencing any issues due to this fluid situation, please reach out to your local Marken branch or business professional. For additional information on our capabilities, please email us at info@marken.com.

We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and remain available for any assistance our clients require at this challenging time.

*This situation is fluid and we are updating as we can.

Marken, UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics, is actively monitoring the ongoing situation at London Heathrow Airport following its closure on Friday, March 21, due to a power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. More than 1300 flights and approx. 200,000 passengers have been impacted, with major airlines predicting continued global disruptions over the coming days. 

As of the latest update, power has been restored, and Heathrow Airport plans to resume limited flight operations today, prioritizing repatriation and aircraft repositioning flights. Full operational capability, including cargo flights, is anticipated by Saturday, March 22, following comprehensive safety tests. 

Supply Chain Impact & Our Response 

Currently, only limited positioning flights are approved for departure today. Full-service recovery is projected to take 3-4 days, extending until approximately Tuesday-Wednesday, March 26-27. In anticipation of these widespread disruptions, Marken has activated robust contingency plans, advanced risk management strategies, and business continuity measures. 

Our highest priority remains service reliability. While every effort is being made to maintain uninterrupted service, due to the severity of the situation, shipment delays or displacements may occur. Our teams are in constant communication with local authorities and business partners to monitor conditions in real-time. We are also actively engaging with clients to provide alternative shipping arrangements, import and export solutions as needed, leveraging the extensive UPS network to sustain service continuity. 

Alternative Shipping Options 

UPS operations into and out of the UK remain unaffected, with regular collections and deliveries proceeding as normal. Clients who have previously utilized UPS for UK imports or exports may consider this alternative, taking into account temperature control and shipping timelines. If you have not previously confirmed a UPS brokerage Power of Attorney for the UK, please coordinate directly with Marken’s UK import/export team for alternative flight routing. 

Your Partner in Crisis Management 

Marken is fully committed to protecting your healthcare and high-value, critical shipments through proactive mitigation strategies that ensure supply chain resilience and minimize the impact of disruption. 

For immediate support or inquiries about specific shipments, please contact your local Marken branch or business professional. If you’d like more information about our capabilities, email us at info@marken.com. 

We will continue to provide timely updates as new information become available. 

Marken, UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics, is closely monitoring developments surrounding the planned strike at major German Airports on Monday, March 10, 2025. This full-day industrial action is expected to affect over half a million passengers, resulting in thousands of delayed or cancelled flights.  

This latest wave of strikes, initiated by the United Services Trade Union (Ver.di), will significantly disrupt operations at eleven of Germany’s largest airports, including Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg and Leipzig-Halle.

Supply Chain Disruptions Anticipated

In anticipation of these widespread disruptions, Marken has activated robust contingency plans, advanced risk management protocols, and comprehensive business continuity measures.

The reliability of our services remain our highest priority. While every effort is being made to maintain uninterrupted service, the severity of the situation may result in delays that could impact upcoming shipments.

Our teams are in constant communication with local authorities and business partners to monitor conditions in real-time. We are also actively engaging with clients to provide alternative shipping arrangements as needed, leveraging the extensive UPS network to sustain service continuity.

Your Partner in Crisis Management

Marken is fully committed to protecting your healthcare and high-value, mission-critical shipments through proactive mitigation strategies that ensure supply chain resilience and minimize the impact of disruption.

For immediate support or inquiries about specific shipments, please contact your local Marken branch or business professional. If you’d like more information about our capabilities, email us at info@marken.com.

We will continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolves.

Expanding Marken’s Global Healthcare & Time-Critical Capabilities with Precision

Today, Marken, MNX, and Polar Speed have united under one global brand to form Marken, UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics - an integrated powerhouse across healthcare and complex secure logistics. Driven by a shared commitment to expanding patient access to life-impacting advancements, this transformation brings together expertise and exceptional performance to deliver time-sensitive, mission-critical supply chain solutions with precision.

Operating in 220+ countries and territories, our team of 4,000 experts orchestrate over 6.6M shipments annually at all temperature ranges across our harmonized air, sea and ground network. With ready-now packaging solutions and a global depot matrix, Marken overcomes the most complex and evolving industry challenges to drive the success of our clients. 

President of Marken, UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics, Ariette van Strien, comments, “This is more than just a name change — it’s a bold leap forward. This new milestone marks the beginning of a stronger future, enhancing our ability to deliver seamless supply chain solutions by combining our legacies across healthcare and complex secure logistics to provide our clients with greater accessibility and speed. We share the same DNA— dedication, precision, and an unstoppable passion to always make it happen for our clients and patients who rely on us. With quality and innovation at our core, we continue to set the standard, offering the most robust suite of solutions under one network.”

This strategic alignment offers an expanded range of services including drug supply, storage and distribution, advanced therapy, radio pharma logistics, patient-driven services, laboratory logistics, kitting solutions, and connected medical device management. Moving everything from life-saving medicines and high-value time-critical shipments to goods that keep the world’s economies humming, Marken makes it happen.

We are ready. Now.
Experience. Our Precision.

For more information, please reach out to your local Marken representative.