Inside a Quiet Revolution in Radiopharmaceutical Transport
For most patients, a PET scan, a targeted therapy or a diagnostic nuclear exam starts with a simple appointment on the hospital schedule. Few ever see the upstream chain of responsibility that brings highly sensitive, short-lived radiopharmaceuticals from production sites to nuclear medicine departments, safely and on time. Yet behind the scenes, this chain relies on a level of engineering precision and radiological safety that leaves no margin for error.
At the heart of this ecosystem, a French company has become a benchmark: founded in 1970 near Nantes, Lemer Pax has gradually built a global reputation in radiation protection. Historically rooted in the demanding craft of lead working, the company has since transformed itself into an innovation powerhouse, now leading the way in the design of advanced solutions that protect operators, patients and the wider public from ionising radiation.
Radiopharmaceutical transport is one of the most demanding areas where this expertise is expressed. From compact “transport castles” to integrated, eco-designed systems, Lemer Pax is rewriting the standards of what secure, efficient and user-friendly transport of radioactive substances should look like in the 21st century.
From Lead Workshops to High-Tech Radioprotection
The story of Lemer Pax mirrors the evolution of the entire radioprotection sector. In the 1970s and 1980s, the primary challenge was to shield humans from radiation exposure, often through simple, heavy lead structures. Over time, the expansion of nuclear medicine, interventional cardiology and industrial uses of radioisotopes raised new questions: How can we protect staff while preserving ergonomics, precision and speed? How can we transport radiopharmaceuticals through hospitals and cities without risk? How can we reduce environmental impact?
These questions gradually pushed the company beyond traditional metallurgy. Step by step, Lemer Pax built an integrated expertise that now spans:
- Material science, including proprietary lead-free high-performance alloys
- Mechanical and systems engineering for complex shielding solutions
- Drug handling ergonomics, particularly for fragile radiopharmaceuticals
- Compliance with stringent international radioprotection and transport regulations
With more than 80 international patents and a workforce of over 140 employees, the company has become a specialist in “tailor-made safety”: solutions that are tuned to the real conditions of use in hospitals, research centres and industrial sites.
Why Radiopharmaceutical Transport Is a Critical Weak Link
In nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals are typically produced in specialised sites, then transported to hospitals, and finally circulated inside the facility to hot labs and imaging rooms. Each step involves specific risks:
- External exposure of carriers, hospital staff and even the public if shielding is inadequate
- Contamination risks during loading, unloading or in case of damage to containers
- Degradation of the radiopharmaceutical due to temperature, shocks or delays
- Operational constraints for teams who must work fast under strict safety protocols
International regulations impose strict standards for category, labelling and performance of transport containers, but these rules provide only a baseline. The real differentiator lies in how transport systems integrate into clinical workflows: Can a nurse move them easily? Can a technologist load a vial quickly without unnecessary exposure? Can logistics staff handle them safely over hundreds of kilometres?
It is in this demanding environment that Lemer Pax has carved out a position, building solutions not just to meet specifications, but to anticipate the next generation of needs in nuclear medicine and advanced therapies.
Inside the “Transport Castle”: A Shielded World in Motion
Among Lemer Pax’s flagship products are the so-called “transport castles” – heavily engineered, shielded containers designed to carry radiopharmaceuticals between production sites and end users. Far from being simple metal boxes, these systems condense several decades of engineering refinement.
At the core is material innovation. While traditional containers rely heavily on lead, Lemer Pax has invested in lead-free high-performance alloys that combine:
- High shielding power against gamma and beta emissions
- Reduced weight to facilitate handling and limit musculoskeletal strain
- Improved recyclability and lower environmental impact
- Mechanical robustness suited to repeated transport, shocks and vibrations
The objective is dual: to guarantee radiological safety while enabling fluid logistics. Lid locking systems, internal vial supports, ergonomically placed handles and optimised centre of gravity are all meticulously calculated. In industrial and research environments, the same logic is applied to larger “castles” used for transporting sources or components with higher activity.
The result is a family of transport solutions that operate like mobile fortresses: radiation stays inside, while operations outside proceed with minimal disruption.
From the Road to the Hot Lab: Seamless Integration with Clinical Practice
Innovating in radiopharmaceutical transport does not stop at the vehicle door. Once containers arrive at the hospital, they enter a space where every minute counts and every unnecessary movement potentially increases exposure. This is where Lemer Pax’s broader ecosystem of products comes into play.
The company designs and manufactures:
- Shielded injectors that enable precise, repeatable administration of radiopharmaceuticals with minimal operator exposure
- Preparation and dispensing isolators, where radiotracers are drawn up, diluted or combined under controlled and shielded conditions
- Mobile shields and protective screens used in nuclear medicine departments and interventional cardiology rooms
By aligning the design of transport containers and in-department equipment, the company helps to reduce “interface risks”: moments where a vial must be transferred from one device to another. Well-designed coupling points, standardized holders and compatible heights and configurations simplify workflows and reduce the time operators spend in proximity to unshielded sources.
This systems approach is what increasingly distinguishes the current generation of radioprotection solutions. Instead of considering transport as a separate phase, engineers are working across the entire chain, from factory hot cell to patient bed.
Innovation Engine: R&D, Patents and Academic Partnerships
Behind these products lies a sustained, structured investment in research and development. With more than 80 patents filed internationally, Lemer Pax has made innovation a central pillar rather than an accessory activity. This is reflected in its collaborations with academic teams and clinicians, who regularly feed back real-world constraints into the design process.
Nuclear medicine physicians, medical physicists, technologists, cardiologists and industrial safety managers all play a role in evaluating prototypes and suggesting improvements. This co-design methodology allows the company to:
- Adapt to new radiopharmaceuticals with different half-lives and energy spectra
- Integrate digital monitoring elements where needed
- Respond quickly to changes in regulatory frameworks or clinical practices
- Anticipate emerging needs in theranostics and personalised medicine
In parallel, material scientists within the company continue to explore alternatives to traditional shielding materials, with a particular emphasis on ecological impact. Lead-free alloys and eco-designed components are now a core part of the portfolio, not merely niche options.
This combination of scientific rigour and on-the-ground feedback explains why Lemer Pax has been able to position itself as a partner of choice for large-scale scientific and medical projects, from hospital expansions to research on elusive phenomena like dark matter.
Le Monarch: An Industrial Ecosystem Dedicated to Safety
In 2024, the company took a symbolic and operational step forward by relocating to “Le Monarch”, its new headquarters and integrated production site in Carquefou, near Nantes. This facility brings together design offices, manufacturing workshops, testing zones and administrative services under one roof, creating a short loop between ideation, prototyping and industrialisation.
For customers, this proximity translates into shorter development cycles and more responsive customisation. For teams, it creates an environment where engineers can regularly interact with production operators, quality experts and regulatory specialists. A new concept or improvement identified by a clinician can be transformed into a validated product iteration in markedly less time.
Le Monarch is also a showcase of the company’s own commitments:
- Streamlined logistics to minimise unnecessary transport between subcontractors
- Eco-responsible design choices in the building layout and utilities
- Dedicated spaces for testing radioprotection performance under real conditions
For an industrial player in such a sensitive sector, this type of integrated, modern infrastructure is not just a matter of brand image. It is an operational asset that supports long-term innovation in areas like radiopharmaceutical transport, where each new therapy or imaging technology can generate new requirements.
Global Reach and Regulatory Vigilance
Radiopharmaceutical circulation does not stop at national borders, and neither does Lemer Pax. A significant share of its revenue now comes from exports across five continents, from major university hospitals to privately run diagnostic chains and industrial facilities.
This international footprint poses a constant challenge: complying simultaneously with multiple regulatory frameworks for radiation protection and transport of dangerous goods. Each region has specific standards relating to:
- Maximum permissible doses for workers and the public
- Testing protocols for containers and shielding devices
- Labelling, traceability and documentation of radioactive shipments
- Interaction with local emergency services in case of incident
By securing certification according to some of the most stringent quality and safety standards, the company offers reassurance to institutions that must themselves undergo regular inspections and audits. This regulatory vigilance, integrated into the design process, means that transport innovations are not developed in a vacuum but with the real constraints of customs, carriers and hospital safety officers in mind.
Eco-Design: Bringing Sustainability into the Nuclear Arena
Radioprotection and environmental protection might seem like separate fields, but they increasingly intersect. Heavy metals used in shielding, repeated shipments of radiopharmaceuticals, energy-intensive processes for producing isotopes: all these elements invite questions about long-term sustainability.
Lemer Pax has made eco-design a core part of its strategy, experimenting with:
- Lead-free alloys that reduce toxicity while maintaining shielding performance
- Modular transport systems that can be repaired and upgraded rather than discarded
- Short supply chains to limit transport-related carbon footprints
- Optimised lifecycles, from raw materials to end-of-life treatment
In concrete terms, this may involve choices as specific as designing a transport container that can be completely disassembled at the end of its service life, so that each component can be recycled appropriately. It also translates into lighter designs where possible, reducing the energy needed to move equipment between sites.
For an industry often perceived as heavy and rigid, these incremental innovations are significant. They demonstrate that radiological safety and environmental responsibility can move forward together, rather than in opposition.
Protecting Life: Beyond a Slogan
The company’s motto, “Protecting Life”, might sound like a communications formula, but for those who work daily with ionising radiation, it captures a tangible reality. Every technical choice in radiopharmaceutical transport has a human translation:
- Reduced exposure for a nuclear medicine technologist who loads doses for PET scans all day long
- Safer conditions for a logistics worker handling containers during early morning deliveries
- Improved reliability of the dose received by a patient, with less risk of loss or contamination
- Greater peace of mind for hospital managers and radiation protection officers
In nuclear medicine and related fields, progress is often measured in terms of resolution, sensitivity or therapeutic efficacy. Yet none of these would be acceptable without an equally rigorous framework of protection. By quietly rethinking the containers, screens, isolators and systems that surround radiopharmaceuticals, Lemer Pax and similar players help ensure that medical progress does not come at the expense of those who make it possible.
As new generations of tracers, theranostic agents and targeted therapies enter routine clinical practice, the demands placed on transport and shielding technologies will only increase. Faster logistics, higher activities, more diverse compounds: all of these will require agile, technically robust and environmentally conscious solutions.
Standing at the intersection of material science, clinical practice and regulatory oversight, Lemer Pax has chosen to make this challenge its core business. For patients and professionals who will never see the inside of a transport castle or a hot cell, the impact of that choice is nonetheless very real – measured in millisieverts avoided, procedures safely completed and lives quietly protected every single day.
