Connecting two hospitals to one central laboratory

Connecting two hospitals through long-distance pneumatic tube transport

In modern healthcare environments, every second counts. Laboratories depend on fast, uninterrupted and reliable sample transport to support critical healthcare processes and patient care.

In Marseille, SNEF and Telecom Tube Systems collaborated on a technically advanced healthcare logistics solution connecting two hospitals located 800 metres apart. The objective was clear: create one central laboratory workflow capable of transporting all samples to the laboratory in less than five minutes per sending.

The challenge: high-volume transport across two hospital sites

The installation required a long-distance pneumatic tube system capable of handling a continuous high volume of sample transport between two separate healthcare facilities in a dense urban environment. To connect both hospitals across the 800-metre distance, part of the pneumatic tube route was installed through a metro tunnel beneath the city, adding another layer of technical complexity to the project.

To achieve this, the system was designed with:

Combining long-distance transport, high capacity and automated logistics within a critical healthcare environment made this a highly demanding implementation where reliability and continuity were essential every single day.

Expertise in long-distance pneumatic tube transport

A technically advanced healthcare logistics project, delivered with precision by SNEF thanks to their extensive expertise, meticulous execution and strong focus on long-term system reliability and maintenance. Telecom Tube Systems was selected for its extensive expertise in long-distance, multi-carrier pneumatic tube systems and its ability to deliver reliable healthcare logistics solutions under demanding operational conditions.
For this installation, Telecom supplied the complete pneumatic tube solution, including all required pneumatic equipment and system components.

At the laboratory, six Triton stations automate the unloading process, enabling samples to arrive quickly, safely and efficiently while supporting a streamlined central laboratory workflow.

Reliable healthcare logistics in daily operation

Today, the system transports approximately 3,000 carriers every day between both hospitals and the central laboratory.

By combining long-distance transport, automation and intelligent system design, the installation supports fast and reliable sample logistics across the entire 800-metre connection.

During implementation, delivery delays threatened the commissioning schedule. Through close collaboration, technical expertise and flexible problem-solving, Telecom and BP Atlas successfully ensured continuity and supported the timely realization of the installation.

A future-proof healthcare logistics solution

This installation demonstrates how advanced internal logistics can support centralized laboratory processes, improve operational continuity and optimize high-volume healthcare logistics in complex urban environments.