Panalpina’s new Frankfurt pharma centre gains GDP approval

Panalpina’s newly opened Healthcare Logistics Center in Weiterstadt near Frankfurt/Main Airport has obtained Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification.

On August 6, the facility has successfully passed an audit by inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS and is now certified according to EU GDP.

This brings the logistics provider’s global network of GDP-certified locations to 38.

The new facility is close to Frankfurt/Main international airport, major highways and Germany’s federal road infrastructure.

“Since the new center is so close to Frankfurt airport, as well as [other] major European ports, it is a gateway to the world for healthcare products,” said Stephen Kay, regional manager for Panalpina’s Healthcare industry vertical.

“In combination with Panalpina’s other European centers of excellence, we have a highly flexible set-up where we can move products to every continent by air or ocean freight and using either active or passive cooling. Based on the customers’ requirements, we can also choose between commercial carriers or the Panalpina Charter Network with its main hub in nearby Luxembourg.”

Some 4,500 sq m of temperature-controlled warehouse space of the Frankfurt/Main facility are dedicated to healthcare customers; another 4,600 sq m are for multipurpose use, while an additional 620 sq m is office space.

Of the healthcare-dedicated part, 3,500 sq m cover temperatures from 15°C to 25°C, with three dedicated truck docks, and 1,000 sq m cover temperatures from 2°C to 8°C, with two dedicated truck docks.

The warehouse has more than 6,000 pallet locations, an X-ray machine in the temperature-controlled area, and is able to handle dangerous goods.

Frankfurt is Panalpina’s third logistics facility in Germany’s Rhein-Main region, alongside Moerfelden and Neu-Isenburg.