LIMERICK-based medical device company Cook Medical, has led the expansion of its European operations with the opening of a new €15m distribution centre in Baesweiler, Germany. The largest family owned medical device company in the world, which employs over 750 staff in Limerick and more than 11,000 worldwide, announced today that the new distribution centre will be the company’s delivery hub for all European countries providing easy access to Europe’s largest freight airport Cologne/Bonn as well as to major road and rail networks.
Bill Doherty, executive vice-president EMEA Cook Medical, explains, “Baesweiler is an ideal location for our European distribution centre as we continue to increase our commitment to supporting patients worldwide. Our Limerick facility and plant in Denmark have grown rapidly over the past number of years and it was therefore logical to reduce warehouse space in these locations and move to a centralised purpose-built distribution centre at the heart of Europe. This is an important step in achieving our aim to enhance patient care, both with our medical solutions and our streamlined distribution network.”
The distribution centre, which has a total storage surface of 5850m&, will stock up to 800,000 products previously stored at Cook Ireland, in Limerick and William Cook Europe in Denmark. At any one time there will be over 5,000 different products in stock with 1,500 shipments daily and up to 20 larger bulk shipments to various distribution partners. In a full year, Cook Medical expects to distribute over half a million packages from the centre and will ship regularly to over 100 countries worldwide.
Pat Burke, director of operations at Cook Ireland and European Distribution Centre project leader says, “Cook Ireland worked closely with local officials and investment agencies in North-Rhine Westphalia in the establishment of this modern new facility in less than a year. This development further strengthens and streamlines Cook Medical’s European supply chain.”
