Cargo Handling

Swissport develops state-of-the-art Pharma Centre at its Brussels air cargo facility

Swissport is investing in a state-of-the-art air cargo facility at Brussels Airport and as part of the development it will build a new Pharma Centre.

Brussels Airport Company is constructing the building, but the Swiss cargo handler has signed a long-term lease and is to plough several million euros in equipment and fittings into the new facility.

The building will consist of a 25,000 square metre warehouse, a material handling system (MHS), office space and 3,620 square metre of end-to-end facilities in the new Swissport Pharma Centre.

An advanced warehouse, a brand-new, four-story office building for Swissport and its customers and state-of-the-art pharmaceutical facilities, Swissportsaid it will provide it with the necessary infrastructure to take its cargo service delivery at Brussels Airport “to the next level”.

The new Swissport Pharma Centre will feature an increased surface area for pharmaceutical products. Ambient pharma space (+15° to +25°C) will more than triple from 800 square metres to 2,620 square metres. Additionally, a 1,000 square metre cooling facility (+2° to +8°C) will be available. With its new end-to-end cool chain, Swissport said it intends to further grow its share in the pharma air transport business in Brussels and worldwide.

“Our new warehouse and the state-of-the-art Swissport Pharma Center will be the benchmark for modern and efficient air cargo and pharma logistics,” said Luzius Wirth, executive vice president Europe, Middle-East & Africa (EMEA) for Swissport.

“The investment underlines our commitment to the Belgian market. In parallel we are working to improve the profitability of our Belgian business activities in order to create long-term job security for our staff.”

Construction of the new Swissport facility started in January 2019 and will take about two years to complete, following a phased approach. Both demolition and construction works are in full swing.

The 25,000 square metre warehouse will be equipped with an automated MHS and is set to meet the highest industry standards. Landside it will feature 50 truck loading bays in a closed perimeter and a highly efficient acceptance zone. Airside there will be ‘speed gates’, enabling time efficient logistics processes from the warehouse into the aircraft cargo hold.

Swissport Belgium has a workforce of some 2,000 employees, handles more than 550,000 tonnes of air cargo. Its ground services division serves approximately 7.5 million passengers per year.

(Swissport’s pharma facility in Basel is pictured)

Share
.