“A quantum leap for the healthcare sector”: Swiss Post opens its largest logistics center

Controlled chaos reigns behind the Plexiglas panel. 65 robots glide over a huge aluminium grid, lift containers, set them down again and then keep on moving. No noise, just a steady whirr. “This is where small items from syringes to bandages are stored,” explains Rebekka Gisin. Swiss Post’s Healthcare Logistics Sector Manager was involved in the creation of the newly opened Villmergen warehousing logistics center, which took three years to construct and required an investment of 137 million francs. “Villmergen is a quantum leap for the healthcare sector,” she says.

The dimensions are impressive. 57,000 square metres – the equivalent of eight football pitches. Two robot-assisted AutoStore systems with 125,000 container spaces covering just 3,600 square metres. 24,000 pallet spaces in the high-bay warehouse. 20,000 shelf spaces for medium-sized products such as surgical drapes and catheters. Plus dangerous goods warehouses, temperature-controlled zones and Swissmedic certification. “We can store practically any medical product here: from modern wound care to infusion solutions and knee prostheses,” says Gisin.

Special requirements, special solutions

Gisin leads the way to a workstation, where an employee is packing up a set of surgical materials. “We received the order this morning,” explains Gisin. “And the equipment was ready at the hospital early in the morning, before the first operation. Delivered right to the operating theatre door.” The process is automated: orders arrive digitally, robots fetch the containers from the warehouse, employees check and pack the items, and the Swiss Post transport network then takes them directly to the hospital. “We can dispatch orders from here within 24 hours,” says Gisin.

Seamless traceability is key. Every product is recorded, and every step is documented. “Fully automated creation of sets and seamless traceability of the supply chain are crucial for patient safety,” explains Gisin. Swissmedic certification and compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guarantee the highest standards. Temperature, hygiene and safety are monitored at all times.

Important for the future, important for the canton

Swiss Post has been operating in health logistics for over a decade. More and more hospitals and clinics are outsourcing their logistics, entrusting Swiss Post with the storage of their medical products. By investing in Villmergen, Swiss Post is now massively expanding this strategic area. “The reaction from our customers in the sector has been extremely positive,” says Gisin. “They particularly appreciate the reliable delivery of time-critical surgical materials.”

The challenging situation in global supply chains and growing uncertainty mean that reliable supply of medical products is more important than ever. At the opening ceremony, Johannes Cramer, Head of Logistics Services and Member of Executive Management at Swiss Post, states: “By developing Villmergen, we are making targeted investments in the future of logistics in Switzerland. The new center offers innovative technology, sustainability and capacity for growth. Security of supply is the key concern, especially in the healthcare sector. Villmergen is making a significant contribution to that.”

The center is also important for the region as a whole. The investment will create 100 new jobs, seven of which will be for apprentices. A photovoltaic system produces over 1,300 megawatt hours of electricity per year, with four fifths of energy requirements covered by in-house production. At the opening, President of the Aargau Cantonal Council Dieter Egli stated: “This makes Aargau an attractive location for business.”

“From the outset, we have incorporated the healthcare sector’s specific requirements: from temperature-controlled zones to Swissmedic certification,” says Rebekka Gisin at the end of the tour. Behind the Plexiglas panel, the robots keep on moving. An order has just been placed somewhere in Switzerland, and the robots are springing into action in Villmergen.