Swisslog and Cardinal Health announce strategic alliance in pharmacy automation

Denver, Colo., February 14, 2005 Swisslog, through its Healthcare Solutions division, and Cardinal Health, Inc., through its Clinical Technologies and Services segment, announce a strategic alliance to provide pharmacy automation for the packaging, bar coding, storage and dispensing of medications in the North American market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cardinal Health will offer the Swisslog PillPick® system to North American hospitals seeking centralized pharmacy automation. The PillPick® system is a modular configuration of fully integrated components designed for the automatic packaging, labeling, storage and dispensing of medications. Unique and complimentary to Cardinal Health’s Pyxis® products, the PillPick® system can dispense individual patient orders from the storage unit with medications chronologically bound on a sealed nylon ring, substantially reducing the time nurses spend sorting and selecting the right medications. A software application manages the system operation, performs inventory management and tracks each unit-dose from packaging to dispensing while interfacing with hospital information systems.

In addition to the marketing agreement, Swisslog will also assume responsibility for technical support and preventative maintenance agreements with Cardinal Health’s Pyxis Homerus® customers. "Our alliance will strengthen the core competencies of both organizations," said Charlie Kegley, president of Swisslog Healthcare Solutions. "Customers of both organizations will benefit from a comprehensive array of automated pharmacy solutions."

Swisslog offers a state-of the-art centralized pharmacy packaging system,” said Dwight Winstead, president and chief operating officer of the Clinical Technologies and Services segment of Cardinal Health. "We are pleased to co-market the Swisslog PillPick® system as a solution for our customers that require a centralized pharmacy packaging solution."

Contacts:
Swisslog Management AG
Nicole Schöwel
Head Corporate Communications
Tel.:  +41 (0) 62 837 95 36
Fax: +41 (0) 62 837 95 55
E-mail: nicole.schowel@swisslog.com
Web: www.swisslog.com

About Swisslog
Swisslog is a global provider of integrated logistics solutions for optimizing production and distribution processes. Swisslog's solutions increase their customers' flexibility, responsiveness, and quality of service, while minimizing logistics costs.  
The comprehensive portfolio ranges from building of complex warehouses and distribution centers including Swisslog's software, in-house logistics solutions for hospitals as well as consulting services in the field of supply chain management. With years of experience in the development and implementation of integrated logistics solutions, Swisslog provides the expertise that customers in more than 50 countries around the world rely on. Headquartered in Buchs/Aarau, Switzerland, Swisslog currently employs around 1,920 staff in 23 countries worldwide. The group's parent company, Swisslog Holding AG, is listed on SWX Swiss Exchange (security number: 1232462, Telekurs: SLOG, Reuters: SLOG.S). For more information, visit: www.swisslog.com.

Swisslog Healthcare Solutions Division is headquartered in Denver, Colo. Swisslog is a world leader for healthcare logistics automation having installed material transport and pharmacy automation systems in more than 2,000 hospital and pharmacies around the world. To learn more about Swisslog’s healthcare solutions, visit our website at www.swisslog.com and click on Healthcare Solutions for North America.