Merck’s Life Science divisions has inaugurated a new, EUR 20 million distribution center in Cajamar, São Paulo, Brazil to better serve its customers in the region. Fully operational since late February, the new space has an area of 13,000 square meters – twice as large as the former location in Cotia.

According to Vinícius Andremarchi, Head of Distribution for Life Science at Merck, in Brazil, the move to a larger facility supports the country’s growing demand for life science products. The outskirts of São Paulo, including the capital, account for 60% of the Life Science customer demand in Brazil. The new space allows for faster deliveries in the region, in some cases, taking less than 24 hours.

"In 2023, the pharmaceutical industry and academic markets in Brazil grew by 10.5%. With that comes the demand for products and solutions offered by our Life Science business sector. The new distribution center allows us to store a more robust portfolio in an appropriate and accessible way,” said Andremarchi.

The layout of the new space makes it possible to optimize workflows and has more technological equipment and automated, ergonomic workstations for employees. Other features include a 1,000m² mezzanine, laboratories, administrative rooms, employee amenities and customer reception.

The new site is closely alignment with Merck’s global sustainability objectives. The space has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold level certification from the Green Building Council (GBC), the world’s largest non-profit organization that steers the construction market towards more sustainable practices.