Cardinal Health announced plans for a new flagship forward distribution center in Indianapolis, IN, that will further expand and modernize its national pharmaceutical distribution network.

The distribution center will feature automation and the latest technology advancements in support of the segment’s distribution of more than 70,000 pharmaceutical and specialty deliveries daily across the U.S., according to a Sept. 30 news release.

“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,” Pharmaceutical & Specialty Solutions CEO Debbie Weitzman.

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The 230,000-square-foot facility will feature a robotic storage and retrieval system, designed and implemented in partnership with Swisslog, a provider of warehouse automation, robotics, and software. The facility’s advanced automation technology provides real-time inventory visibility, intelligent order fulfillment, and coordinated management of material flow—from receiving to shipping—across state-of-the-art robotics, conveyance, and sorting systems.

The technology and automation enhancements work alongside Cardinal Health employees to deliver operational efficiencies and improve employee and customer experiences, while supporting fluctuations in volume and labor. The Indianapolis forward distribution center is expected to be fully operational by fall 2027 and will create more than 100 new jobs in Indiana, which continues to be a strategic transit hub for the company.

Cardinal Health had revenue of $223 million in its fiscal 2025 and was No. 3 on MDM’s Top Distributors List for Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare products. This is the second pharmaceutical distribution center the company has announced since 2024. It recently opened a distribution center in Fort Worth, TX and announced another in Sacramento, CA.