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Ohio-based pharmaceutical distributor Cardinal Health announced plans on Tuesday to build a 230,000-square-foot automated distribution center in Indianapolis that is expected to create more than 100 jobs.
The company said the “forward” distribution center—which are designed to store products close to their final destination—will feature a robotic storage and retrieval system as well as technology to provide real-time inventory visibility, order fulfillment and material flow.
Cardinal Health said the new center is expected to be fully operational by fall 2027. The company did not disclose the specific location for the center.
“We’re continuing to make strategic investments in our core distribution network to drive service, enhance efficiency and meet the evolving needs of our customers with even greater reliability and responsiveness,” Debbie Weitzman, CEO of Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions for Cardinal Health, said in a written statement. “Expanding and modernizing our distribution footprint reinforces our ability to drive growth and support our teams.”
Distribution is a major business for Cardinal Health, which said it makes more than 70,000 daily deliveries to U.S. health care facilities. For its fiscal 2025 year, which ended June 30, Cardinal Health said its global distribution unit reported revenue of $12.6 billion, up 2% from the previous year.
Employees will work alongside the technology and automation enhancements.
“Automation remains a key component of our strategy, and this innovative facility demonstrates Cardinal Health’s commitment to operational excellence, safety, and the efficient distribution of the products and services that improve the lives of people each day,” Jamie Barker, senior vice president of Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical and Specialty Supply Chain Operations, said in a written statement.
Cardinal Health also operates the Center for Theranostics Advancement in Indianapolis, which focused on radiopharmaceutical treatments.
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