CEVA opens new Healthcare distribution center in Leipzig, Germany

• Logistics center is designed specifically for medical technology warehousing and serves as Medtronic’s exclusive shipping hub for Germany and Eastern Europe
• CEVA to create 65 jobs in Leipzig.

Frankfurt, Germany, 31 March 2011 – CEVA Logistics, a global leader in supply chain management, has today opened the doors to its new logistics center in Leipzig, Germany. The distribution center is exclusively for the US company Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), an international leading manufacturer of medical equipment.

CEVA designed the new center to cater to the specific needs of the medical technology sector and has created 65 jobs for the local area.  With the new logistics center, Medtronic is reacting to the growing demand in Germany for medical equipment like cardiac pacemakers and devices for the therapy of Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and back pain.  Additionally, the center offers capacity reserves for Medtronic’s growing Eastern European market, as the warehouse’s current area of 8,000 sq m is expandable to up to 24,000 sq m. CEVA also has the option to build another facility of equal size on the same property.

Coen van der Maarel, CEVA’s Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe, is excited about the opening of the logistics center as it signifies an important partnership with one of the leading companies in the healthcare industry: “This cooperation with Medtronic will certainly benefit from the international expertise we have developed in this sector. Innovative logistics solutions and a sound knowledge of regulatory and legislative standards in this market mean our employees in Leipzig are able to deliver an efficient solution to Medtronic, ensuring the highest standards in security and information processes throughout the supply chain.”

The new distribution center in Leipzig offers an excellent opportunity to further establish the Company’s presence in the healthcare sector.  Within this industry, CEVA already works with leading companies in the areas of medical technology, optics, pharmaceuticals and biotech across Europe.

“Orders by German clinics are usually delivered to the doctor and then to the patient within 24 hours. In the medical technology sector that can often mean the difference between life and death,” explains Christian Weinrank, Head of Medtronic Germany. “We chose CEVA as our logistics partner because the Company possesses great experience in the healthcare sector. Additionally, CEVA represents values which are very important to us: professionalism, reliability and speed,” Weinrank added about the collaboration with CEVA.

Sven Morlok, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport of the German State of Saxony identified the opening of CEVA’s new logistics center at Leipzig’s Schkeuditz Airport as an important step: “For CEVA, the excellent road infrastructure and the proximity to the Leipzig-Halle Airport were important factors in their decision for this location. This is another step in making Leipzig a central logistics hub in Germany and Europe. We are very pleased that CEVA and Medtronic decided to establish this logistics center in Leipzig, creating 65 jobs in the process.”

For more information please contact:
CEVA Logistics GmbH
Boris Mayer
Marketing & Communications
Tel.: +49 69 489 83 46 20
E-Mail: [email protected]   
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.