Bayer and Maersk: A 20-year-old partnership of innovation

July 20, 2022

The customer

Bayer, one of the largest pharmaceutical and life science companies in the world, has been at the forefront of the production of medicines and crop protection products. Company with strong orientation on customer needs and vision: ‘Health for all, hunger for none’.

To ensure this Customer-centric approach, Bayer requires reliable partners to drive operational performance and deliver high-level standards in daily tasks.

The challenge

The pharmaceutical supply chain faces a host of challenges on a daily basis. To be cost-effective, efficient and reliable, both pharma and logistics companies need to be aware of every potential risk and be equipped with management strategies for each.

With new developments in the pharmaceutical industry and logistics, and the related legislation, it is important for Bayer to ensure absolute compliance with regulations across their entire supply chain. It is also important to adapt according to how these changes affect their business.

The solution

Given their two decade long partnership, the Maersk team understood the importance of providing Bayer with solutions that secure adaptability, resilience and flexibility while being fully compliant with the GDP regime. With its brand new warehouse, 100% dedicated-to-pharma services, Maersk was able to ensure customised storage, manufacturing and handling solutions for a range of Bayer’s products.

Providing a sustainable solution

A recent example of how Maersk realised Bayer’s needs and came up with a customised supply chain management solution, is the Carbon Neutral Warehouse in Poland. The new Maersk project, built for Bayer, is equipped with a modern, state-of-the-art temperature-controlled system that ensures the safety of sensitive products. The structure is powered by renewable energy to a large extent, ensuring its sustainability and carbon neutrality. The facility will implement an integrated Quality Management System based on Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and ISO certification.

When it comes to sustainability, this brand-new pharmaceutical warehouse built by Maersk with the latest technologies sets new standards! As Dr Jakub Mach explained, its solar park on the roof produces 20% more energy than it will ever use, which will, in turn, allow us to power other buildings or the fleet. As Bayer, we are proud to be the first tenant in this warehouse. It feels good to know that our goods are stored in a sustainably correct manner.

Markus Baltzer,

CEO, Bayer Central Europe

The results

Through its partnership with Maersk, Bayer received strong support on daily process execution delivered according to GDP rules, as well as optimised storage processes. Maersk’s expertise in pharma logistics helped in creating a flexible and holistic supply chain strategy for Bayer Sp. z o.o. . This has allowed for:

Optimisation of operational warehousing processes

Excellence in communication

Strengthening partner relations

Common development and innovations implementation

The collaboration between Bayer and Maersk was successful in improving efficiency, and it gave both partners a competitive advantage.

In the words of Bayer decision-makers:

It is all about reliability and trust. Maersk is a trusted advisor, expert and more than just a partner. Whenever we face some difficulties, you (Maersk) are open to feedback. You are focused to ensure service on the expected level. Hearing customers and providing expected solutions is your strength. It is a pleasure to speak with a partner who has extensive knowledge regarding Polish pharmaceutical law requirements, understands the customers’ needs in the pharmaceutical sector and follows these customer needs. I know that we can count on your support.

Maria Struzik,

Head of SCM/O2C Central Eastern Europe

Officially celebrating the opening of a new warehousing chapter for #teambayer – a brand new facility by #Maersk that generates 20% more energy from renewable energy than it needs for operations.

Roman Hermsen,

Director, Head of Regional Supply Chain Management EMEA 2

What’s next

When it comes to the pharma industry, even the smallest errors can have huge ramifications. That’s why pharmaceutical companies look for a partner they can trust to store and transport their products all the way. All of Maersk’s pharmaceutical storage and distribution/operational processes have been compliant with the GDP since the beginning of cooperation in 2001.

We offer a wide range of warehousing services specifically for the pharma industry: