Growing demand for facilities dedicated to healthcare logistics is prompting Prologis to undertake its largest conversion project in Italy through Prologis Essentials. The project involves Piacenza DC5, a 22,077-square-metre property that will be converted into a pharmaceutical logistics hub for Cencora, a global healthcare solutions company. The building will be upgraded to meet Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards, with new temperature-control equipment and storage systems. Temperature-controlled areas will be maintained between 15°C and 25°C, while a 2,000-square-metre cold room will operate between 2°C and 8°C. High-density racking will provide nearly 44,000 pallet positions, served by turret trucks designed to operate in narrow aisles and support intensive order picking. A secure area of approximately 2,200 square metres, enclosed by a metal structure, is also planned for storing high-value pharmaceutical products.
Cencora will use the facility to expand its pharmaceutical storage, handling and distribution capacity in Italy and extend its European logistics network. The company provides manufacturers with third-party logistics and commercial services, helping them manage their supply chains. Pedro Pereira, Cencora’s vice-president and regional general manager for third-party logistics in Italy, Spain and Portugal, said the Piacenza site would help "meet growing demand for specialised logistics services in the Italian market, while strengthening our pan-European presence".
Prologis Essentials will manage the turnkey project, including permits, electrical installations and regulatory upgrades. According to Matteo Liccioli, head of Essentials solutions at Prologis, the complexity lies not in the individual activities but in coordinating design, installations, storage systems, permits, compliance and operational schedules. "The customer has a single point of contact, while we coordinate the entire chain of expertise needed to bring the property from its initial configuration to full operation." Piacenza DC5 is part of Prologis Park Piacenza, which is already fully let.
