The DHL Group has transformed its Health Logistics campus in Florstadt, Germany into a European pharmaceutical hub as part of its multi-billion investment strategy.
The new climate-neutral Florstadt 4 warehouse, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, spans over 30,000 square metres and has been specifically designed for the storage and distribution of high-value pharmaceutical and medical products.
The Florstadt 4 warehouse features multiple temperature zones, with the capability to reach as low as -70°C.
Emphasis at Florstadt 4 will be on the critical temperature ranges of 2-8°C and -20°C, ensuring compliance with the highest standards for handling temperature-sensitive products.
The Florstadt site’s transformation into a strategic European pharmaceutical hub is part of a multi-billion investment in the global DHL Health Logistics network and will result in the DHL Group’s strategic expansion of its Florstadt Life Sciences & Healthcare (LSH) campus.
With the addition of the fourth new state-of-the-art logistics centre, the campus now comprises a total of 100,000 square meters of warehouse space.
The expansive DHL site, with a footprint of more than 14 football fields, will offer future capacity for more than 140,000 pallets for pharmaceutical and medical products.
The space will serve international customers from the biopharma, specialty pharma, medical technology and clinical research sectors with more than 600 highly qualified employees on site.
With four warehouses centrally located in a Central Europe locale, the site offers logistics connections and infrastructure needs for the storage and distribution of specialised pharmaceutical and medical products.
Specialised services, such as sample collection, support for clinical studies and the handling of biopharmaceuticals and cell and gene therapies, are also provided on site.
The site will feature an integrated clean room that enables GMP-compliant processes for highly sensitive substances and raw pharmaceutical materials, such as the handling of solid and liquid hazardous substances up to 1,000 litres.
“With this fourth expansion, we are creating capacity for the future in Florstadt,” said DHL Supply Chain for Europe, Middle East and Africa, CEO, Hendrik Venter.
“From here, we can supply customers not only in Germany, but throughout Europe – and beyond.
“Our central location in the Frankfurt economic region, right in the heart of Europe, the close proximity to Frankfurt Airport and the strong local infrastructure all make Florstadt a key location for our activities and our ambitious growth agenda in the Life Science & Healthcare sector.”
Global CEO DHL Supply Chain, Oscar de Bok, said the expansion of the Florstadt site was consistent with DHL Group’s overall strategic focus.
“Florstadt 4 is a prime and concrete example of how we are implementing our Strategy 2030 – with investments totalling €2 billion by 2030, we are strengthening our global DHL Health Logistics network,” he said.
“Hubs, like this one here in Florstadt near Frankfurt, form the backbone of our end-to-end Supply Chain solutions, which we are increasingly offering customers from a single source.
“We are creating state-of-the-art, resilient supply chains for the next generation of therapies – from biopharma to cell and gene therapy.
“Our mission is to provide patients with the vital medicines they need, when they need them, all around the world.”
At the Florstadt site, DHL Supply Chain is focusing on end-to-end visibility, compliance, and digitalisation – with daily operational processes supported by a warehouse management system that is closely integrated with the customer’s IT systems.
DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps CEO, Rainer Haag, said: “The Frankfurt Rhine-Main area is one of the most important economic regions in Europe.
“The fact that we are consistently expanding our largest LSH campus in Germany right here in Florstadt shows just how important the site is at the heart of our DHL Health Logistics strategy.
“As we expand, we are keeping an eye to sustainability and climate protection – the site is also a flagship project in terms of environmentally friendly operations.”
Read more about DHL’s business expansions.
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