Armstrong Dematic: Driving a New Era of Logistics Excellence

Today, pharmaceutical organizations require seamless integration of compliance, traceability, temperature control & security in their supply chains. In this endeavor, they must modernize the intra-logistics at both the manufacturing unit and the distribution center, which are areas long neglected in favor of ramping up production. For decades, the industry focused on aligning manufacturing capabilities with global good manufacturing practices, however, the disruptions triggered by COVID-19 exposed deep vulnerabilities in distribution networks. The backlog in supply chain innovation has accelerated investments in digital tracking, cold chain infrastructure, and e-pharmacy integrations while complying with evolving regulatory mandates. End-to-end traceability has also emerged as a significant challenge, particularly for high-value drugs requiring stringent temperature controls. Simultaneously, the rapid ascent of quick commerce is reshaping expectations, as consumers and healthcare providers demand near-instant access to critical medications.

Balancing speed, security, and compliance remains a delicate act, with logistics providers increasingly expected to offer solutions that integrate automation with rigorous oversight. Addressing these complexities requires specialized automation solutions that ensure regulatory adherence while optimizing speed and efficiency, and Armstrong Dematic offers just that. An intralogistics and warehouse automation solutions provider, the company specializes in the design and implementation of advanced solutions that optimize storage, sorting, and order fulfillment processes across various industries. From pharmaceutical behemoths handling high volume, variety, and value of SKUs to mid-sized organizations forming consortiums of 10 to 15 companies to establish shared distribution channels, its solutions offer three core benefits.

Visibility, Velocity, & Space Optimization

The company’s advanced automation systems ensure real-time product tracking at every stage of the supply chain. Beyond traditional QR codes and barcodes, Armstrong Dematic integrates AI-driven monitoring, capturing images or short video clips when products are transferred between locations. This provides verifiable proof of movement, particularly critical in sensitive environments such as pharmaceutical supply chains. The company's solutions adhere to stringent industry standards, including 21 CFR Part 11 and GMP compliance, ensuring regulatory alignment. Pharmaceutical organizations can confidently monitor their supply chains, reducing the risks associated with counterfeit drugs and ensuring product authenticity from production to delivery.

Furthermore, Armstrong Dematic is one of the leaders in intralogistics automation where ‘velocity’ plays a vital role. “We have successfully increased operational speeds by four to five times within the same space while reducing manpower requirements to just one-fourth of previous levels”, says Vinit Majgaonkar, Chairman, Armstrong Dematic.

While manual loading remains prevalent in India, the company also offers automated truck loading systems to further optimize efficiency.

When it comes to storage capacity, traditional warehouses, with their 10 to 12-meter storage height, limit the scalability of pharmaceutical distribution centers. Armstrong Dematic’s automated storage systems extend up to 40 meters, reducing the overall footprint required for storage by 75 percent. In addition, its high-density storage solutions maximize efficiency in temperature-controlled warehouses, doubling storage density compared to standard automated systems and achieving up to four to eight times the capacity of manual storage. This conserves warehouse space and reduces energy costs associated with climate-controlled storage.

Beyond Storage & Retrieval

The company offers a comprehensive end-to-end order fulfillment solution, far beyond the conventional automation of storage and retrieval. While many pharmaceutical organizations have adopted automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) in isolated pockets, Armstrong Dematic integrates every stage of the fulfillment process, from the end of the production line to final dispatch, much like e-Commerce logistics. The process begins at the packaging stage, where primary packs such as capsule strips or bottles are placed into secondary cartons, labeled, and recorded for traceability. These cartons are then transported to its proprietary robotic palletizing system, which meticulously arranges and maps their position on a pallet for complete SKU traceability. The company’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) transport these pallets either directly to dispatch for cross-docking or to ASRS for optimized storage. Its systems ensure strict adherence to FIFO (First-In-First-Out) protocols, preventing expired inventory from being overlooked. As pioneers in ASRS technology, the company, through its partnership with Dematic, the global inventor of ASRS, offers unmatched storage density and visibility.

Beyond ASRS, Armstrong Dematic’s patented software solutions drive intelligent order fulfillment, enabling precise sequencing for optimized dispatch. Instead of merely moving full pallets, the system dynamically picks and compiles mixed orders based on route efficiency, ensuring that trucks are loaded in a logical LIFO sequence for streamlined last-mile delivery. The company’s orchestration software seamlessly integrates AMRs, robotic palletizers, high-speed sorters, and other automated systems, ensuring synchronized operations. At the core of this orchestration is Dematic IQ, globally recognized as the industry’s most advanced order fulfillment software.

Compliant & Sustainable Solutions

Armstrong Dematic’s approach to automation encompasses both hardware and software, ensuring a seamless, compliant, and data-driven solution for its clients. As an end-to-end consultant, the company begins by analyzing customer data and forecasts with its in-house data science team to develop solutions that incorporate compliance standards from the conceptualization stage itself. The Systems Engineering Department ensures adherence to global regulatory frameworks, including cGMP, FDA, EU GDP guidelines, 21 CFR Part 11, and ISO certifications, while also maintaining international safety standards in automation and robotics. On the software front, the company provides a robust regulatory trail with stringent data security, high visibility, and advanced traceability features.

It also understands that automation in pharmaceutical logistics is not just about efficiency, it is also about sustainability. With the growing emphasis on reducing carbon footprints and optimizing energy consumption, Armstrong Dematic is introducing green logistics solutions. Its automated warehouses incorporate energy-efficient technologies such as smart lighting, solar-powered operations, and AI-driven climate control to minimize waste and emissions. By integrating sustainability with automation, the company helps pharmaceutical firms align with global environmental goals while enhancing their bottom line.

The future of pharmaceutical logistics will likely see even greater integration of robotics. The differentiation between leading brands is no longer solely based on product quality but on the efficiency and reliability of their supply chains, an area where Armstrong Dematic plays a pivotal role. The shift toward automation has been further fueled by the consolidation of warehouses following the introduction of GST, with companies moving from fragmented, state-level facilities to centralized hubs serving multiple regions. This shift has created economies of scale, making automation investments more viable and necessary. “While five years ago, typical investments in warehouse automation ranged around ?10 crore, the market has now escalated to ?25-50 crore, with projections indicating a rise to ?50-100 crore in the next three years”, says Vinit. Armstrong Dematic is one of the few companies in India equipped to handle such large-scale, complex projects, leveraging its global expertise in automation, where project sizes often exceed ?500-1,000 crores. With a quarter century experience in the Indian market and access to world-class technology, it can deliver solutions tailored to the unique needs of Indian businesses, setting a new benchmark in supply chain efficiency.