Agreement allows educational institutions to access cold chain packaging solutions without the typical request for proposal process, supporting research, lab operations, and healthcare training.
Key Takeaways
Expanded Educational Access: Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) partners with E&I Cooperative Services to provide over 6,000 educational institutions expedited access to advanced cold chain packaging solutions.
Streamlined Procurement Process: The partnership enables members to bypass lengthy RFP procedures, accelerating acquisition of temperature-controlled packaging for medical, scientific, and health science applications.
Enhanced Product Portfolio: E&I members gain access to CCT’s Rx Series, Rx Naturals line, Advanced SU Conditioned systems, and Tower KTEvolution solutions, supporting sustainable and efficient cold chain shipping domestically and internationally.
Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) has formed a partnership with E&I Cooperative Services, a sourcing cooperative serving the education sector, to provide colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and research laboratories with expedited access to CCT’s cold chain packaging solutions. This agreement enables over 6,000 member institutions to bypass the traditional, time-intensive request-for-proposal (RFP) process, which can often delay procurement by several months. By streamlining access, educational and research institutions can more rapidly obtain temperature-controlled packaging necessary for activities such as medical and nursing training, scientific laboratory work, and health sciences initiatives.1
How Will This Partnership Impact Cold Chain Solutions for the Education Sector?
“CCT’s extensive portfolio of high-performance cold chain containers is already widely trusted across life sciences and pharmaceutical industries,” said Jim Goebel Sr., business development manager, Cold Chain Technologies, in a press release. “Through our partnership with E&I, we’re looking forward to bringing that same level of performance to the education sector. This collaboration not only gives E&I’s members efficient access to industry-leading cold chain solutions but also allows us to expand into a growing sector where temperature control is increasingly critical.”
Product Offerings Available to E&I Members
Under the terms of the agreement, CCT will make its key cold chain product lines—including the Rx Series, Rx Naturals line, and Advanced SU Conditioned systems—available through E&I’s cooperative contract portfolio. The Rx Series is engineered for durable, versatile temperature control during last-mile delivery, while the Rx Naturals line meets Old Corrugated Containers – Environmental standards, ensuring the packaging is recyclable and repulpable. The Advanced SU Conditioned systems use vacuum insulated panels and phase change materials to maintain stable temperatures during both air and ground transportation, covering domestic and international shipments.1
Expanded Shipping Capabilities Following Acquisition
The partnership also grants access to the Tower KTEvolution product family, which supports efficient and reliable small-parcel shipments. This offering was expanded following CCT’s acquisition of Tower Cold Chain in October 2024, further strengthening CCT’s capacity to serve the specific needs of academic and research organizations on a global scale.1,2
Broader Growth Strategy and Recent Acquisitions
This collaboration forms part of CCT’s broader strategy to expand its global presence and product offerings. In March 2025, the company acquired Global Cold Chain Solutions (GCCS), a provider of passive cold chain solutions primarily operating in Australia and India. This marked CCT’s fifth acquisition since its partnership with Aurora Capital Partners began in 2019, reflecting ongoing efforts to grow and diversify within the temperature-sensitive packaging market.3
Strategic Benefits for Both Parties
“This partnership represents a win-win,” continued Goebel, in the press release. “E&I members will benefit from fast, affordable access to our solutions, whilst we gain a valuable channel into a new sector that aligns with our mission of protecting critical, temperature-sensitive materials.”
