Gollmann Consis

The Gollmann Consis is a fully automated pharmacy storage system that replaces or supplements the manual stocking and dispensing process for medicines in pharmacies. Gollmann, headquartered in Bovenden near Göttingen, has been active in the pharmacy automation market since 1980 and is regarded in Germany as a close competitor to BD Rowa (market leader) and Willach. The Consis system is Gollmann's best-selling product line and has been refined across multiple generations – the current Consis 3.x generation has been on the market since approximately 2018/2019.

The base Consis unit features the typical robot-column form factor: a central robotic-arm assembly (vertical lift axis + gripper arm), surrounded by shelf modules where medicines are stored upright. Dimensions vary by configuration: a standard Consis for 300–500 units requires approximately 900 × 500 mm of floor space and stands 1,850 mm tall. For larger pharmacies, Consis units can be configured into modular arrays that accommodate up to 3,000+ units.

The front features a glass panel that gives pharmacy staff visibility into storage operation – not visible to customers, as the unit stands behind the dispensing counter. The steel enclosure with white powder-coat finish is designed for clean environments (pharmacy setting, not production-critical). Temperature monitoring (optionally with alarm if 25 °C is exceeded) is relevant for storage of temperature-sensitive medicines.

The heart of the Gollmann Consis is the combination of robot arm and software. The robot arm comprises a vertical lift axis, a horizontal traverse unit, and an adaptive gripper capable of handling standard pharmaceutical packaging (folding cartons, PET bottles, blisters in boxes) across a range of sizes and weights. Gripper cycle time is approximately 2–4 seconds per unit; total throughput at normal load is ~400–600 units/hour.

Gollmann Consis software (Windows client, optional browser interface) is the central management tool. It communicates in real time with the pharmacy management system (PMS) via standard interfaces (ADG-Connect, S5 protocol, REST for newer PMS). When a PTA scans a prescription or orders a product in the PMS, the PMS automatically sends a retrieval command to the Consis; the robot removes the correct unit and places it on the conveyor to the dispensing counter. The PTA retrieves the medicine without operating the system.

Batch and expiry date management (FEFO) is a legal requirement for pharmacies and one of the Consis's critical strengths: during intake, the system scans barcode/DataMatrix (PZN, GTIN, EXP, batch number) and records this data per unit. During dispensing, the robot automatically selects the unit with the nearest expiry date. This fully automates compliance with §17 of the Pharmacy Operations Ordinance (medicine dispensing by expiry date) and EU Anti-Counterfeiting Directive 2011/62/EU.

Gollmann Consis capacity depends on the chosen configuration scope and average package sizes in the pharmacy market. A base Consis (one robot unit, 6 shelf modules) typically holds 300–600 units; a large configuration (two robot units, 14+ modules) holds up to 2,000–3,000+ units. For a typical urban pharmacy with approximately 400–800 fast movers (frequently dispensed items), a mid-size configuration (800–1,200 units) is sufficient.

A typical pharmacy range comprises 5,000–10,000 different items (PZN numbers), but in daily practice 80% of sales are driven by <800 fast movers. Rare or prescription-only specialty medicines dispensed infrequently are not suitable for automated storage and remain in manual stock. Gollmann recommends stocking the Consis exclusively with top fast movers and leaving slow-moving inventory in manual stock.

Special storage requirements: medicines that must be stored at <15 °C (e.g. certain biotech products) cannot be stored in the standard Consis (ambient temperature). The Consis offers optional temperature monitoring with alarm, but no active refrigeration. For refrigerated stock (2–8 °C), separate refrigeration units are available; the Consis in this case handles only non-refrigerated items.

The workflow in daily pharmacy operations with Gollmann Consis significantly changes work allocation: intake is handled by the PTA (place units in the intake hopper, system scans and stores automatically – approximately 3–5 minutes for a full delivery of 100 units); dispensing is fully automated following prescription scan in the PMS (zero manual effort); and inventory runs automatically in the background daily.

The pharmacy team must learn three essential tasks: first, the intake process (correctly positioning units in the hopper), second, the software interface for special queries (fill level, batch management, manual dispensing in system failure), and third, error handling (most common cases: gripper jam with unusual package formats, barcode read errors with damaged codes). Training time for experienced PTAs is approximately 2–3 hours; thereafter the system is intuitive.

From the patient perspective, the Consis is invisible – medicine dispensing occurs within 5–10 seconds of prescription scan, noticeably reducing wait time at the dispensing counter. Pharmacies report that customer satisfaction measurably increases when wait times decrease – particularly relevant during peak hours (Monday mornings, post-appointment rush).

The Gollmann Consis consumes 200–400 W in operation depending on configuration (robot arm + controls + LED illumination). In standby mode (night, closed hours), consumption drops to ~50 W. Annual consumption for a mid-size pharmacy configuration: approximately 1,200–1,800 kWh – comparable to a standard commercial refrigerator.

The ecoGrade B rating stems from an important systemic sustainability advantage: pharmacy automation systems measurably reduce medicine waste. Through precise FEFO control (earliest expiry dates are withdrawn first), expiry-related medicine disposal in stocked pharmacies decreases by an estimated 25–40% (Source: Gollmann Whitepaper, field evaluation 30 pharmacies, 2022). Since expired medicines in Germany must be disposed of as hazardous waste, this is a direct environmental benefit.

The Consis steel construction is designed for 15–20 years of operational life; Gollmann guarantees spare-parts supply for at least 10 years after product end-of-life. Refurbished Consis units are offered by Gollmann and dealers – extending product lifecycle in a way that amortizes the primary energy input of new manufacturing.

The Gollmann Consis is available from approximately €58,000 net (base configuration, 400–600 units, 1 robot unit). Complete configurations for large pharmacies (1,500–3,000 units, 2 robot units) range from €95,000–130,000. Additional costs include: installation and commissioning (~€5,000–10,000), PMS integration (~€2,000–5,000), and optional maintenance contracts (from ~€3,000/year). Leasing is the most common financing model: 5 years, ~€1,200–2,500/month depending on configuration.

ROI calculation for a typical urban pharmacy with 300 prescriptions/day: a pharmacy PTA costs approximately €36,000–48,000/year gross (full-time). The Consis can reduce labour for stock management and order picking by approximately 1.5–2 PTA-hours/day – equivalent to 40–55% of a full-time position (approximately €15,000–20,000/year in personnel costs). At a lease rate of €1,500/month (= €18,000/year), ROI breaks even on this calculation alone; add to this the reduction in return costs through FEFO compliance and fewer out-of-stock gaps.

For pharmacies with <150 prescriptions/day, payback extends beyond 7 years – in this market segment, Gollmann recommends the smaller Consis Light configuration (from ~€35,000) or a rental model. Gollmann offers consultation and economic feasibility analysis free of charge during the initial consultation.