Warehouse solutions for the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical products require not only precision in temperature control, but also clear structures in storage. Our modular shelving systems ensure separate storage zones, maximum space utilisation and full traceability – GDP-compliant and proven in practice.
GDP-compliant storage solutions for the pharmaceutical industry
Safety through structure and digital monitoring
Pharmaceutical logistics is subject to strict quality and traceability requirements, with GDP (Good Distribution Practice) compliance at the heart of these. This ensures that medicines are transported and stored under controlled conditions throughout the entire supply chain in order to maintain their efficacy and safety.
A GDP-compliant warehouse meets clear requirements. These include separate zones for restricted, returned or sensitive products, documented cleaning and maintenance plans for racking systems and storage areas, and digital batch documentation (e.g. via electronic batch records) that allows each batch to be traced without interruption.
Digital monitoring with IoT and WMS integration
Modern technologies offer enormous advantages when it comes to implementing GDP requirements. IoT sensors continuously monitor temperature, humidity and access in real time. Direct integration into the warehouse management system (WMS) enables automatic recording of all environmental parameters and ensures tamper-proof audit trails.
Fewer errors thanks to automated processes.
Digital systems minimise manual entries, prevent operating errors and ensure audit-proof data recording at all times.
Alarm in the event of a cooling system failure
In a GDP-compliant distribution warehouse, a night-time cooling failure was immediately detected by the monitoring system. The system automatically triggered an alarm, prevented the loss of temperature-sensitive medicines and generated a complete event report for audit purposes – including time stamps, temperature curves and a record of the measures taken.
Future technology:
Blockchain for GDP batch security
An emerging trend in pharmaceutical logistics is the use of blockchain technologies for batch documentation. These enable product data to be stored in a tamper-proof, decentralised and transparent manner – a decisive advantage in terms of GDP compliance and traceability.
Advantages of blockchain in pharmaceutical logistics
- Unalterable documentation of sensitive data
- Tamper protection through decentralised storage
- Seamless traceability in the event of recalls or inspections
Temperature- and humidity-controlled pharmaceutical warehousing
Defining and monitoring climate zones precisely
An effective storage strategy is based on clearly separated climate zones, for example at 2–8 °C, 15–25 °C or –20 °C. This zoned storage creates stable environmental conditions that can be individually defined and monitored depending on the medication.
Real-time monitoring with alarm function
Modern sensor technology combined with a connected monitoring system detects deviations in temperature or humidity in real time. Remote access, automated alarms and notifications give you an overview at all times – even outside regular working hours.
Validated temperature mapping for GDP compliance
Before a pharmaceutical warehouse goes into operation, validated temperature mapping is mandatory. Closely spaced sensors record temperature profiles for each room in order to identify critical fluctuations. This creates the basis for uniform climate control – a must for GDP-compliant storage and subsequent certification by the authorities.
Emergency power and backup concepts secure the cold chain
Temperature-controlled storage processes depend on a stable power supply. All pharmaceutical storage solutions from BITO feature UPS systems (uninterruptible power supply) and diesel generators as emergency backups to guarantee operation even in the event of power failures.
Protection against cold chain interruptions
In an emergency, backup systems take over the entire climate control system until the main power supply is restored. This means that temperature-sensitive batches can be stored in accordance with GDP guidelines and without any loss of quality, even during power failures.
Modular racking systems for pharmaceutical logistics
Flexible modular shelving systems for pharmaceutical logistics adapt to changing requirements. Advantages:
- Height-adjustable shelves for optimum use of space
- Mobile pallet racks that minimise aisles and increase capacity by up to 50%
Adjustable shelf heights for maximum space utilisation
Standard modules with 25 mm grid spacing allow individual adaptation to container dimensions. This ensures optimum space utilisation and ergonomic picking processes.
Restricted zone for blocked batches
Lockable or colour-coded shelf compartments enable the secure storage of blocked or returned batches – with clear separation in accordance with GDP guidelines and full traceability in the QA process.
Mobile pallet racking systems
Movable shelves eliminate fixed aisles and maximise storage space, while access remains 100% flexible and storage space is utilised up to 80% better than with static shelves.
