Geodis unveils health care cold chain cross-dock facility in Chicago to improve pharmaceutical logistics
Key takeaways
- Geodis opens a 78,000 sq. ft. Chicago cold chain facility for pharmaceutical air and ocean freight handling.
- The site near O’Hare includes 5,200 sq. ft. of temp-controlled storage supporting 59 - 77 degrees F and 36 - 46 degrees pharma ranges.
- Facility expands Geodis’ network for tighter control of temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments.
Geodis recently opened its first dedicated health care cold-chain cross-dock facility in the Americas in Chicago, Illinois. The company, which provides global freight forwarding and logistics services, designed the 78,000-sq.-ft. Container Freight Station (CFS) and bonded facility to support pharmaceutical air and ocean imports and exports with short-term storage and specialized handling.
The facility includes a 5,200-sq.-ft. temperature-controlled expansion divided into two zones: 4,600 sq. ft. for deep cold storage at 59 - 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 600 sq. ft. for refrigerated storage at 36 - 48 degrees F. Located near O’Hare International Airport, the site operates as a high-velocity hub within Geodis’ global network spanning 170 countries.
The Chicago branch is certified as a Cargo Screening Facility and holds International Air Transport Association special cargo (CEIV) certification, ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical logistics standards. It is one of four U.S. Geodis facilities with CEIV accreditation and the first with cold storage capability.
"The opening of our first dedicated health care cold chain cross-dock in the U.S. demonstrates our commitment to the integrity and efficacy of the life-saving products we handle," said Josh Jungwirth, EVP of freight forwarding at Geodis in the Americas. "By providing full visibility and internal control within our growing network of certified sites, we ensure that these sensitive air and ocean shipments are protected every step of the way. In the health care vertical, the stakes are uniquely high—at the end of every supply chain we manage is a patient. This Chicago facility is a milestone in our mission to be a reliable growth partner for clients who require the highest standards of care."
