Case Study: Roche achieves uninterrupted automated cold-chain logistics for temperature-sensitive drugs with Swisslog Holding

Roche - Customer Case Study

Roche, the Basel-based pharmaceutical company, faced a logistics challenge at its Kaiseraugst site: temperature-sensitive biotech drugs required an uninterrupted cold chain and previously had to be stored offsite between sterile production steps, creating inefficiencies and complex material handling. Swisslog Holding was engaged to deliver an integrated cold-storage logistics solution, including an automated high-bay cold storage, Vectura cranes, conveyor and picking technology, and a WM 6 material flow and warehouse management system tailored to Roche’s SAP environment.

Swisslog Holding implemented an 8,100-pallet high-bay cold store (2–8 °C), a –10 °C deep-freeze area (196 pallets), 500 m of conveyors, 19 AGVs, and validated WM 6 control software, fully integrated into existing operations. The result was on-site end-to-end processing from production to shipping, a validated GMP-compliant track & trace system, and significantly faster material flow — for example reducing order-to-shipping throughput from 120 to 48 hours — with maximum automation and improved reliability.

Roche

Hans Reimann

Project Lead