Movianto triples capacity for storage of narcotics

Movianto triples capacity for storage of narcotics and lets the sun produce the electricity.

• Logistics company for pharmaceuticals and healthcare expects high increase in demand for narcotics, especially from medical cannabis
• The warehouse resembles a 13-meter-high bank vault:
  Wall thicknesses of up to half a meter, vibration sensors, motion detectors, alarm circuits
• Temperature control at 2 to 8 and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius
• Solar-powered operation: 2,878 solar panels on the roof are expected to provide 1.2 million kilowatts of electricity annually

(Neunkirchen) With an investment of several million euros, Movianto, a logistics service provider specializing in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, has tripled its capacity for the storage and handling of narcotics in Neunkirchen, Saarland, and at the same time built a solar power production facility. In the future, 2,878 installed solar modules on the roof of the logistics centre will produce as much electricity as 400 2-person households consume on average per year. “For us, both projects are needs-based investments in the future that will increase our competitiveness,” says Dennis Spamer, Managing Director of Movianto Germany. The electricity demand of logistics centres will continue to grow, he said, because more and more goods have to be stored at controlled temperatures and the warehouses have to be cooled or heated accordingly. “By investing in one of the largest rooftop photovoltaic systems in Saarland, we can cover about a quarter of our electricity needs at the site ourselves in an environmentally friendly way and have a stable calculation figure for this part of our production costs for years to come.” Because Movianto’s logistics centres store all goods in temperature-controlled conditions, they have the greatest demand for electricity on hot summer days, when the goods must remain continuously cool despite the heat outside. “That’s why photovoltaics is ideal for us: it provides the most electricity when we have the highest demand.”

Commenting on the expansion of the narcotics warehouse, Spamer said: “The absolute volumes of this market don’t look huge at first glance, but its importance and volume is growing strongly, mainly because of medical cannabis products.” In addition, he said, it is a market with high demands. “BTMs require a high level of expertise, accuracy and security, not to mention extreme structural requirements. Our expansion is more reminiscent of a bank vault than a warehouse.”

Thus, during the current expansion of the narcotics warehouse, reinforced concrete walls up to 26.5 centimeters thick were installed in addition to the existing walls. In some cases, wall thicknesses of around half a meter were created. Vibration sensors were installed in the walls. The sensors trigger an alarm, for example, if someone tried to drill through the walls outside operating hours. Because it is a silent alarm – just like the motion detectors in the warehouse itself – burglars do not notice that the alarm has been triggered and automatically forwarded to the police long ago.