CEVA launches French pharma logistics hub

CEVA Logistics, recognised globally as the world's third-largest contract logistics provider, has officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art facility entirely dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry. Situated strategically within the Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport business park in France, this newly opened logistics hub has been meticulously designed to meet and exceed the healthcare sector's most stringent operational requirements. It provides the highest standards of quality, regulatory compliance, traceability, security, and cold chain management for sensitive medical shipments.

Located in the Bas-Rhin department, the impressive 17,000-square-metre logistics centre is heavily focused on managing complex, high-value pharmaceutical operations. On a daily basis, the facility will assist leading healthcare and life sciences companies in securing and optimising their vital supply chains. Its prime geographic positioning in the heart of the Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport business park offers direct and uninterrupted access to critical airport infrastructure. This includes seamless connectivity with freight operators, airlines, and dedicated customs and inspection services, thereby ensuring that logistics operations remain fast, secure, and highly reliable.

The construction of this cutting-edge facility, which commenced in 2025, was specifically tailored to address the evolving needs of pharmaceutical companies. These organisations frequently handle highly sensitive products, manage vast cargo volumes, and face rigorous international compliance mandates. Boasting a substantial floor area of 17,000 square metres alongside an extraordinary ceiling height exceeding 17 metres, the centre features infrastructure perfectly suited to handling active temperature-controlled air cargo containers. Furthermore, it is equipped with advanced inventory management software and sophisticated traceability systems to monitor shipments in real-time.

Built to the latest technological standards within the logistics sector, the facility possesses the capability to safely accommodate ultra-low temperature healthcare products, reaching temperatures as low as -80°C. The infrastructure incorporates three primary temperature-controlled storage zones to cater to a diverse array of medical payloads. These consist of a controlled ambient zone ranging from +15°C to +25°C, a chilled storage environment operating between +2°C and +8°C, and a strict freezing zone set at -25°C. This meticulous configuration caters precisely to the exacting requirements of various pharmaceutical and healthcare products, whilst concurrently ensuring continuous compliance with global regulatory standards and Good Distribution Practices (GDP). Additionally, the facility is fully equipped to prepare sensitive shipments securely, featuring an onsite dry ice production system and specialised packaging solutions explicitly designed for palletised freight.

In strict alignment with CEVA Logistics’ overarching commitment to sustainability and the continuous improvement of site environmental performance, the new hub targets the prestigious BREEAM “Very Good” and “BiodiverCity” certifications. The roof of the building has been fitted with extensive solar panels, ensuring that all generated renewable energy is consumed directly on-site, dramatically reducing the facility's carbon footprint. Beyond its environmental credentials, the site successfully meets the highest international quality, security, and safety benchmarks. This includes the highly coveted TAPA FSR B certification alongside applicable healthcare standards, giving customers complete oversight and control over their logistics operations whilst mitigating supply chain risks.

This development establishes a stronger footprint at the heart of the Grand Est pharmaceutical ecosystem. With an existing 10,000-square-metre logistics site already operating at the Strasbourg-Entzheim business park, CEVA opened this second facility to rapidly scale its operations within a leading European pharmaceutical hub. The Grand Est region consistently ranks among Europe’s top healthcare clusters, serving as home to major multinational corporations operating along the Rhine Valley. Through this new Entzheim facility, CEVA reinforces its dominant regional footprint, now operating four distinct logistics sites in the Grand Est area, comprising two in Entzheim, one in Sausheim (Haut-Rhin), and one in Vatry (Marne), which represent a combined total of 90,000 square metres of specialised warehouse space. Nationally, CEVA’s dedicated French healthcare logistics network now spans across five facilities, boasting more than 80,000 square metres.

Pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics require deep, specialised expertise and an unwavering adherence to safety, compliance, and quality standards. CEVA Logistics brings decades of extensive experience to the sector, meeting rigorous regulatory demands through targeted certifications, bespoke quality systems, precise temperature management, and continuous team training programmes. Today, CEVA successfully supports more than 500 pharmaceutical and healthcare customers worldwide, operating approximately 50 specialised logistics facilities, further underscoring its pivotal role as a strategic industry partner.

Discussing the recent launch, Amaury Montay, Contract Logistics Director France, CEVA Logistics, says: “The opening of this new logistics facility marks an important milestone in the development of our Healthcare business in France. Designed to meet the needs of pharmaceutical companies, it enables us to manage sensitive, temperature-controlled operations with the level of quality, traceability and security expected by our customers. With this logistics facility now fully operational, CEVA is strengthening its ability to support their growth and secure their supply chains.”