Air, Freight News, Logistics

GEODIS Opens O’Hare Pharma Cold Chain Hub

[ April 24, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

GEODIS said it has opened its first dedicated healthcare cold chain cross-dock facility in the Americas, expanding temperature-controlled handling for pharmaceutical shipments moving through the U.S. Midwest.

The 78,000-square-foot container freight station and bonded facility in Chicago includes a 5,200-square-foot temperature-controlled addition designed for short-term storage and handling of sensitive healthcare cargo moving by air and ocean.

Located near O’Hare International Airport, the site will operate as a high-velocity transshipment hub within the company’s freight forwarding network, providing end-to-end control over temperature-sensitive shipments.

“The opening of our first dedicated healthcare cold chain cross-dock in the U.S. demonstrates our commitment to the integrity and efficacy of the life-saving products we handle,” said Josh Jungwirth, executive vice president of freight forwarding, Americas, at GEODIS.

The Chicago branch is a certified cargo screening facility for exports and holds the International Air Transport Association Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics certification, which sets standards for handling pharmaceutical products. Chicago becomes the company’s first U.S. site with both CEIV Pharma certification and on-site cold storage capacity, joining accredited facilities in Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles.

The temperature-controlled area is divided into two zones: a 4,600-square-foot section maintained at 15 to 25 degrees Celsius and a 600-square-foot refrigerated space operating at 2 to 8 C. The design supports handling of a range of pharmaceutical products requiring strict environmental controls.

GEODIS said it operates similar facilities in key gateway markets in Europe, including France, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.

The Chicago launch reflects continued growth in healthcare logistics demand, as shippers seek tighter control, compliance and visibility across increasingly complex pharmaceutical supply chains.

Tags: Geodis, International Air Transport Association, O'Hare International Airport