In the presence of numerous customers and innovation partners, Rhenus has inaugurated a new 18,000 square meters warehouse at Saint-Quentin Fallavier in the Nord-Isère region. The building is a result of a partnership with AXA and PRD. It is certified BREEAM Excellent and designed with respect for local biodiversity and overall energy management. It will house the logistics of manufacturers in the healthcare sector, including the international Gattefossé group, founded in Lyon in 1880.
The warehouse, called SQF6, features three storage units at three different temperatures (ambient, from 15°C to 25°C and a cold room from 5°C to 15°C). Designed to offer logistics services that are as carbon-efficient as possible, it is equipped with a low-energy heating system that combines geothermal energy, photovoltaic panels and building management systems using artificial intelligence. These technological innovations will deliver substantial energy savings and significant reductions in CO2 emissions. The construction works were carried out with the aim of reducing environmental impact and controlling waste management as well as water and energy resources. To preserve the site’s biodiversity, specific developments and compensatory measures were implemented.
“The opening of this new warehouse, which embodies efficiency and sustainability, marks a major step in the Rhenus development in France. SQF6 offers a high-performance, sustainable solution that looks to the future by providing innovative solutions for managing energy and protecting biodiversity. Not only does this meet the requirements of our customers in the healthcare sector, it also takes into account the quality of life at work for our employees. In the coming months, our first customer will be joined by other manufacturers in the pharmaceutical sector”, said Laurent Brèche, Managing Director France at Rhenus.
The warehouse’s first customer is the Gattefossé group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of speciality ingredients and formulation solutions for the health and beauty industries. All products from its Saint-Priest plant near Lyon, as well as trading products, are now stored in the Rhenus SQF6 warehouse, at controlled temperatures and in cold storage. After order preparation managed by the Rhenus teams, the pallets are distributed to over 65 countries worldwide.
“When we put out a call for tenders to find a new logistics provider, the expertise provided by Rhenus in pharmaceutical products and the nearby location of this new warehouse quickly convinced us. The fact that this warehouse was designed, built and managed with respect for the environment and with a view to controlling energy consumption reinforced our choice”, explains Eric Cochet, Group Supply Chain Manager at Gattefossé.
