Entafarma is a Lithuanian wholesale and logistics company for pharmaceuticals and medical products. The company is located about 30 km from the capital Vilnius next to the busy A2 motorway. Entafarma’s business premises cannot been missed since there are two large logistics buildings on the site, the one nearest the motorway is also Entafarma’s headquarters.

“We have always expanded our premises in line with how operations have expanded. Extensions have been built to both buildings, so the whole has been built in four stages. We still have room for one additional building on this plot,” says Tauras Endriukaitis, CEO of Entafarma.

The most recent extension was completed in April 2020. Ruukki supplied the sandwich panels used in the wall of the building, as was the case in previous construction phases.

Because Entafarma wanted to keep the area visually balanced, both buildings and their extensions have been constructed using panels in the same colors.

“Sandwich panels allow premises that comply with the regulations to be constructed to a tight schedule. They also deliver savings in energy bills, in heating and cooling costs,” says architect Romualdas Grabauskas from architects RV Grupė.

Meet regulations with panels

Handling and storage of medicines is strictly regulated and for instance room temperature must be carefully controlled. Temperature should always be kept at between +15C and +25C in temperature-controlled storage. It is also easy to implement fire safety requirements when using sandwich panels in interior walls and ceilings.

Entafarma, as investor, the construction company and architect worked closely together already at the design phase and co-operation continued throughout the project.

Architect Romualdas Grabauskas says that  the decision to use sandwich panels in the building was taken at the design phaseThe panel supplier was not up to the architect but was a joint decision between the construction company and Entafarma.

"Ruukki is a reliable company and we are pleased with the end result," says Tauras Endriukaitis, President and CEO of Entafarma.

Functions come first

Architect Romualdas Grabauskas says that the design of industrial buildings requires good knowledge and understanding of technology and the customer’s operations. Information about the requirements customer operations impose on the building is important. For example, the kind of loads the structures need to withstand due to crane operations and the kind of special spaces, such as fire-protected areas, needed.

“Functionality comes first. Distinctive nice details, such as the glass walls of the office part, can naturally be included but that is not the main point. I am happy with Entafarma’s new building. The customer is pleased with the outcome and so am I, "he adds.

"When you build for yourself and do not rent existing premises, you can have a building that meets all the requirements without having to modify anything," says Tauras Endriukaitis, CEO.