Purchasing and logistics at SARSTEDT

The ongoing enhancement of precision, convenience, and efficiency in the workflow is integral to the SARSTEDT brand promise, alongside innovative solutions driven by technological advancements. We are dedicated not only to upholding these core values for our esteemed customers but also ensure that our internal processes, including purchasing and logistics, adhere to these principles at every level and across all departments.

Find out how we manage our purchasing process, what criteria we place on our suppliers and how we are positioning ourselves for a responsible future through consistent sustainability practices. Gain insight into our distribution centre in Elsenroth and familiarise yourself with the quality standards and administrative processes of the SARSTEDT brand.

Our purchasing organisation

Welcome to the central purchasing department at the SARSTEDT headquarters in Rommelsdorf, which is organised into the following groups:

• Direct purchasing - includes all materials that reference a specific product. This may include various items such as granulate for plastic injection moulding, flexible sealing elements or labelling materials and packaging materials for shipping our products worldwide.

• Indirect purchasing - In addition to consumables and supplies for the manufacture of our products, indirect purchasing also includes other necessary non-product-related consumables and other investments to manufacture our products.

• Trade Items - The purchase of trade items and OEM products supplements our extensive brand portfolio with useful products from other renowned manufacturers. We keep the products in our logistics center before distributing them to our customers.

• Service - We arrange a range of company-related areas through the procurement of services, such as such as sterilisation, legally compliant disposal and the insurance of goods, people, buildings, vehicle fleets and much more.

• Logistics services - As part of our logistics services, we handle all national and international transport - both for supplying companies and for B2C goods shipments.

Supporting activities for smooth processes in purchasing and logistics

First-class quality without compromise - that's what the SARSTEDT brand stands for. To consistently deliver on this promise, we depend on meticulous quality assurance practices every day. We pass this belief on to our suppliers through our Supplier Conformity department, which serves as a testing and regulatory interface between purchasing, suppliers and other company departments.

Global trade is constantly evolving and undergoing rapid changes. Through the implementation of agile process management that adapts to ongoing changes we achieve continuous improvement in internal purchasing processes. Increased automation and digitisation rates and the use of AI-supported tools guarantee optimum efficiency and stability despite changing external conditions.

Are you interested in becoming part of our international team?

Key figures and performance

Our Purchasing in facts and figures:

General requirements for suppliers

Suppliers in the medical sector are subject to high quality and regulatory requirements. We expect both existing and future commercial alliances to fulfil these criteria. We rely on certifications according to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 as a common understanding of quality management and quality assurance.

In order to ensure that economic interests are aligned, we reserve the right to outline our requirements in writing within a quality assurance agreement and to review these via supplier audits.

Sustainability is a central component of our management. This is why SARSTEDT is certified in accordance with both ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. To ensure responsible and forward-looking cooperation, we also want to reach a consensus with our suppliers (see the following sections).

Would you like more information about the applicable supplier requirements at SARSTEDT or would you like to introduce yourself to us as a supplier?

We will be happy to help you:

Contact: einkauf@sarstedt.com

Supply Chain Compliance Act (LkSG) in purchasing

Companies based in Germany are subject to the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG). This defines corporate due diligence obligations to prevent human rights violations in supply chains.

Over 90 per cent of our trading partners are based in Germany, with only 2 per cent located outside Europe. We attach particular importance to trusting, long-term business relationships and shared ethical standards.

In order to fulfil our obligations under the Supply Chain Duty of Care Act, we have subjected our supplier portfolio to a risk analysis, irrespective of the aforementioned geographical distribution. Using a cloud-based ESG platform, cooperating companies document and inform us about their activities with regard to relevant topics such as the environment, social issues, corporate governance and ethics. Our Declaration of Principles and our Supplier Code of Conduct form the basis for a shared understanding of social responsibility in the supply chain.

If you are aware of any violations of environmental or human rights laws in our supply chain, you can contact us anonymously

Further information:

To our brochures

Sustainability and ESG in procurement

By focussing on regional procurement, we are not only considering our carbon footprint , but we are also supporting the local economy. Of the 90% of suppliers based in Germany, around 50% are located within a radius of less than 250 kilometres from our company headquarters: advantageous conditions for consistent CO2 reduction.

At the same time, we are continuing to drive sustainability within the company by introducing SAP, which enables us to handle our purchasing processes in a paperless manner. Our efforts are also evident in the integration of recycled materials in the production of our medical technology products.

Certifications in accordance with ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001 or other endeavours in terms of social and sustainable factors are incorporated into our selection of suppliers. We also favour resource-saving options when it comes to suitable packaging materials for sustainable distribution.

Elsenroth distribution centre

Our highly automated Distribution Centre (DC) in Nümbrecht - Elsenroth is the heart of SARSTEDT Logistics. Built on a 4.5-hectare site, the logistics control centre is used to store goods ready for sale and acts as a central distribution warehouse for the entire SARSTEDT Group.

In addition to a high-bay warehouse (HBW), the DC has an automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS) and five automated storage and retrieval machines, each with two load handling devices. Whether fully automated shuttle vehicles with electric drives, palletising and depalletising robots or telescopic conveyors for the direct loading of containers: technical innovation is the driving force behind our day-to-day work processes.

Numerous loading ramps, parking spaces for 33 lorries and 53 cars as well as modern sanitary facilities complete the attractive building profile. By installing a photovoltaic system and electric charging stations for cars and lorries, we are also investing in future-oriented sustainability. Would you rather let the logistics performance metrics speak for themselves? The SARSTEDT DC in Elsenroth is characterised by:

• Over 25,000 pallet spaces

• Over 50,000 carton and container storage spaces

• Extensive carton conveyor technology with a peak output of approx. 4,000 cartons per hour

The opening hours of the DC are Monday - Friday 06:00 - 18:00.

To ensure the most efficient handling of lorries on site and to avoid waiting times, please adhere to the agreed loading times. Please follow the gatekeeper's instructions.