By CASEY NEILL
SYMBION has officially opened its new $40 million pharmaceutical distribution centre.
The 12,000 square metre Atlantic Drive site will service more than 750 pharmacies and 160 hospitals throughout Victoria each day.
It can move more than 10,000 units of medicine every hour.
The latest technology has streamlined supply processes but growth ensured Symbion could retain the 100 staff employed at its former Noble Park site.
At launch celebrations on Thursday 20 November, Health Minister Peter Dutton said quick access to affordable treatments was one of the cornerstones of Australia’s health system.
“The new state-of-the-art distribution centre will help maintain this standard, supplying medications listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme within 24 hours,” he said.
EBOS Group Limited purchased Symbion in the middle of last year.
Chairman Rick Christie and Symbion had already given the project the green light.
“We didn’t hesitate to give our approval as well,” he said.
EBOS CEO Patrick Davies said the facility contained the “world’s largest Mecano set”.
“The technology we have incorporated into this facility is designed to increase efficiency for us and our customers and to support and respond to the future demands of Australia’s healthcare landscape,” he said.
Warehouse supervisor Veronique Blair has worked with Symbion for 14 years and led tours through the new site, which started receiving stock in July.
A ‘goods-to-person’ carousel system automatically collects items for each order.
An order assembly system and automatic cranes dispense and move products at extremely high speeds.
Ms Blair said everything was done by hand at the Noble Park facility.
Weight checking systems with a 50 gram tolerance have significantly reduced order error rates.
A 70-vehicle fleet distributes the medicines across Victoria, making more than 500 deliveries a day.
Two fulltime engineers are on hand to ensure the system runs smoothly.
Symbion receives funding from the Federal Government under the Community Service Obligation (CSO) Funding Pool for the safe and timely supply and delivery of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines across Australia.
It has been a CSO Distributor since 2006.
