Panattoni Europe in Press: Trans-O-Flex Opens Pharmaceutical Contract Logistics Centre

The trans-o-flex Logistics Group has opened a new logistic centre in Alzenau, in the north of Lower Franconia, which has been especially designed to meet the requirements of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The warehouse, which creates 80 new jobs, is operated by trans-o-flex Logistik-Service GmbH.

Within the trans-o-flex Logistics Group, the Company specialises in offering contract logistic services and develops tailored solutions with a focus on procurement, distribution, storage and a wide range of value-added services from one single source. The new logistic centre in Alzenau will allow the Company to enhance its capacities again and use the facility as an ideal basis for the implementation of international logistic services.

From the logistic centre, with its direct connection to the A 45 motorway, it is only a 30-minute drive to Frankfurt Airport. In addition to this, the new building is situated directly next to the transhipment point of trans-o-flex's Alzenau-based system partner and the warehouse of trans-o-flex's subsidiary ThermoMed with its focus on the transportation of actively temperature-controlled goods.

As a result of this proximity, even shipments that reach the warehouse very late can be delivered throughout Germany on the subsequent day, either via the national and international road network for standard combi-freight (parcels and pallets) or, where temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals are concerned, making use of ThermoMed's network. In addition to this, the cross-docking procedure also makes it possible to integrate international air-freight shipments in the processes.

The construction of the new warehouse is the result of a co-operation with the international real-estate developer Panattoni Europe on a 20,000 m2 large property with additional extension areas. The first stage includes the construction of a 10,000 m2 high-bay warehouse with 12,000 storing positions and 10,600 lower-shelf spaces, which, in order to increase the plant's efficiency and to facilitate the picking and packing, have partly been installed on a mezzanine floor in the 10-m high hall.

In order to meet all of the required GMP standards applicable in the pharmaceutical industry, trans-o-flex has invested approximately €2.0 million in the interior work alone. For example, the logistic centre is fully air-conditioned and has also been equipped with temperature control and monitoring systems to document compliance with the requested temperature range and pest control standards. In addition to fast and reliable shipment processes using a conveying and picking & packing unit, security also played an important part in the design, which includes not only a burglar alarm system with connection to a security service team but also a camera-surveillance system to monitor and control access via a specific turnstile.

trans-o-flex Logistik-Service already operates its own logistic centres in Kerpen and Frechen Frechen near Köln, as well as in Weinheim, Heidelberg and Roth near Nuremberg. The range of services offered includes product-specific storage, inventory management, packaging management, order management, picking, packing, shipment, returns management, IT services, technical services, trade fair services and customs clearance for import and export.