SSI Schäfer is realizing a highly dynamic warehouse for the French pharmaceutical distributor CERP as a greenfield project with a high degree of automation, featuring a shuttle system and over 90,000 storage locations at its core, two piece picking robots, three pick stations and over 2900 product channels.
The «Centre d'Études de la Répartition Pharmaceutique» is a major logistics service provider for pharmacies, known for its independent, cooperative structure owned by the pharmaceutical trade, as well as for the safe and fast supply of medicines, medical devices and health products.
Highly dynamic solution
The greenfield project in the town of 7000 inhabitants in the Essone department, 14 km south of Paris, is intended to seamlessly take over the processes of the existing site in Le Plessis-Robinson, France, using fast and ergonomic order picking based on the goods-to-person principle on 15,000 m² to process around 30,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs)
As part of the Astera Group, CERP operates a large network of distribution centers in France and Belgium, offering logistics solutions that integrate technological innovations such as automation and digitalization (e.g., in invoice processing) to increase efficiency for pharmacies. Many of the pharmacies supplied are also members or shareholders. This close relationship strengthens customer loyalty and makes the pharmaceutical wholesaler a long-term partner for many.
Long-term partner
CERP and SSI Schäfer have been successfully implementing joint projects for several years. CERP has proven to be a particularly innovative partner, breaking new ground together with the intralogistics expert – from pilot projects to the development of customized solutions at the highest technological level. This is also the case in Wissous.
Photo: Mairie de Wissous
The innovative solution comprises storage and picking systems, storage containers, conveyor technology, a pusher sorter for seamless shipping processing, and intelligent software. The entire system is controlled by the WAMAS Warehouse Control System (WCS), which coordinates all processes in real time, significantly increasing efficiency, throughput, and process reliability. Maximum transparency is ensured by the integrated WAMAS Control Center, which acts as a central monitoring and information hub for all operations.
Smooth transaction
The concept is complemented by comprehensive services, technical support, targeted training, structured spare parts management, and the WAMAS Maintenance Center, a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) for the efficient management of maintenance measures. "With the new facility, we are consistently pursuing our strategic goal of expanding our position as an essential partner for supplying pharmacists with pharmaceuticals," reports Jérôme Ibar, Technical Director at CERP. "The logistics center is perfectly tailored to our requirements and enables us to implement further automation and support future growth."
The new plant in Wissous is scheduled to open in October 2026. The challenges are demanding: a tight schedule, the parallel coordination of various trades, and commissioning planned for late 2027/early 2028. Both partners are confident that this project will also be a complete success.
www.ssi-schaefer.com
