“The University Hospital Zurich is considered one of the most important clinical centers in Europe,” says Christian Beer, CEO of the intralogistics provider with the evocative name “Servus.” The company itself is not abandoning medical supplies, but will instead link all material processes across all floors.
It is the largest order in the company's history, according to the head of the Vorarlberg-based company. In order to continue meeting the demands of modern, cutting-edge medicine, the management of the university hospital, located in the heart of the city, recognized that having a modern and innovative infrastructure was becoming increasingly essential.
The comprehensive structural renovation of the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) is of great importance. At its heart are two buildings – designed by the architects Christ & Gantenbein – which will house the medical focus areas of cardiovascular medicine and emergency care and are scheduled to open in 2028. The new buildings feature state-of-the-art infrastructure and house the latest generation of medical technology.
The internal transport systems, which have already had to perform admirably under sometimes cramped conditions, cannot be neglected in this context. In the future, a largely automated intralogistics system, from goods receipt to the operating room, will be consistently integrated, forming the link between all service units and medical processes. This adheres to the principle that for treatments..
To provide the necessary material in the right form, at the right time, and in the right place.
In the future, all medications will be delivered from a central medication distribution platform to all nursing and intensive care units, while materials needed in the operating room will be assembled modularly in the warehouse and delivered directly to the operating platforms.
From the central kitchen in the basement, meals and food supplies are delivered directly to the wards and "hotel" support points. A fully automated warehouse delivers spare parts – precisely as needed – when medical devices are reported as defective.
In addition to logistical support, the international tender required adherence to strict criteria: cross-system compatibility, networking and transparency, scalability, space efficiency , and reasonable operating costs. To optimally meet such challenges, Servus typically begins such projects with a workshop. Together with the customer, the objectives are defined first. With a modular logistics system designed to cover virtually all eventualities, Servus can address individual needs and address all aspects of logistics.
Specifically for the unique requirements of hospitals, MedARC developed an intelligent transport robot that fully automates the process – using a pull principle – to deliver materials in the required container formats to all stations just-in-time. According to the manufacturer, the system can be used both horizontally and vertically. This means that lifting stations up to 46 meters high will be used at the USZ (University Hospital Zurich).
Medical Logistics with enormous potential
Few industries place such high demands on quality assurance as hospital and medical technology. After all, even minor deviations can, in some cases, be a matter of life and death.
Servus' intralogistics expertise stems primarily from decades of experience with customized industrial solutions. However, the sector is not new territory for Servus, as they have servednumerous customers in the medical technology industry for many years. Internationally leading companies such as Hamilton and Röchling rely on their expertise. The hospital logistics sector offers a segment with enormous growth potential. Servus' top talent is already working on developing innovative components and solutions. Currently, the company's headquarters in Dornbirn is undergoing a significant expansion, and they are continuously seeking qualified professionals to prepare for further growth.
Ease of use, quick access to all goods, and full transparency of all processes and inventory are essential. If these conditions are met, medical professionals can concentrate on their core tasks – direct contact with patients, surgeries, intensive care, and general nursing.
Servus handles the storage, provision, and transport of the required items. The goods arrive at the right place just-in-time. The result: no waiting times and a rapid response. "Developing an innovative, cleanroom-compatible logistics system involved not only significant investment for us, but also a great deal of commitment and passion. We are all the more pleased that our pioneering work in medical logistics and hospital management has paid off, and that we were able to win the contract for the complete intralogistics from one of Europe's leading hospitals," summarized Servus Managing Director Christian Beer.
Visualization: Atelier Brunecky and ash
MedARC transport robot
