Dear readers,
The wave of digitalisation has already changed our society forever. Now – with catchphrases like “Industry 4.0” and “Inter-net of Things” – it is working its way into the entire industrial value creation chain, and therefore into intralogistics processes. Sensors and actuators use the internet to ensure close coupling of objects, such as vehicles or transport units, and IT systems, thus creating real-time transparency with regard to processes in the real world. This transparency makes it possible to optimise existing business processes and make deci-sions on workflows based more on current facts and less on predicted figures and estimates. What’s more, it even facilitates entirely new business models.
Under the main theme of “Smart Supply Chain Solutions”, CeMAT is addressing this digitalisation, and has consciously added “solutions” to the term “smart supply chain” (meaning the digitalised supply chain). This emphasises the fact that it is becoming ever more important to offer end-to-end solu-tions that integrate all components, from the hardware to the application software.
I hope you enjoy reading Logistics Insider! Prof Dr Uwe Kubach
Internet of Things and Customer Innovation, SAP SE
Digitalisation is altering the entire industrial value creation chain.
Getting into Industry 4.0
made easy
PROCESS OPTIMISATION Industry 4.0
will be the hot topic at this year’s CeMAT. After all, experts believe that – alongside container transport – new technologies could have a particularly great impact on contract logistics and intralogistics. CeMAT will see numerous exhibitors presenting solutions that may be of interest to compa-nies of all sizes, many of which will make getting to grips with Industry 4.0 easier. For example, prototype setups with low
invest-ment costs, such as in the machine-to-ma-chine (M2M) communication sector, or the introduction of digital order handling are well suited to this. The topic of Indus-try 4.0 will also be discussed as part of the CeMAT forums. One highlight will be the podium discussion on this topic on the Wednesday, when experts includ-ing Professor Michael ten Hompel, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mate-rial Flow and Logistics (IML), Profes-sor Uwe Kubach, SAP, and Bernhard Müller, Managing Director for Indus- try 4.0 at SICK, will be debating current technological challenges.
Small and medium-sized companies often have very special requirements for their logistics IT, and providers must take account of this. More on page 4/5.
THE CeMAT BAROMETER: FIGURE OF THE MONTH
of CeMAT’s visitors do not attend any other industry events in the year of CeMAT.
25%
Title photos: Deutsche Messe AG, SAP SE, 3darcastudio/fotolia
Photos: Deutsche Messe AG, BITO, Jungheinrich, IFOY
LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS Subcontracting
of logistical services has long since become more than just a matter for trans-port and services providers. “Naturally, outsourcing also provides intralogis-tics manufacturers themselves with the flexibility to react quickly and efficiently to changes on the market,” explains Armin Weih, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA Materials Handling and In-tralogistics Association. “However, we are seeing yet another type of outsourcing – this time on the user side.” Customers in a wide variety of sectors no longer want to buy “just” a product or system; they want throug put performance or process optimisation. “Intralogistics providers are expanding their skills and what they are offering in order to be able
to offer their customers more service and support,” says Weih. “They are becoming increasingly involved in their customers’ logistical processes, and actively work-ing with them to shape these processes. This type of added value is becoming more and more important – for both parties.”
In some sub-areas manufacturers are also becoming general contractors, who – if desired – can analyse the customer’s entire logistics structure and then sug-gest tailor-made processes and suitable solutions. “The hardware is, of course, delivered in the end, but it has long since ceased being the sole focus,” says Weih. “Primarily because nowadays there is a lot of automation and complex IT struc-tures hiding behind the material flow.”
It is primarily in these areas that manu-facturers are supporting their customers and taking on important tasks.
With their sometimes highly flexible systems, intralogistics experts them-selves are offering solutions that han-dle consignments for several customers from one warehouse for 3PL service pro-viders. What is much more important, however, is the IT’s client capability. “At present I can’t imagine intralogistics ex-perts also taking on the operative out-sourcing activities,” explains Arne Pierau, Managing Partner of Pierau Unterneh-mensberatung in Hamburg. “But was it imaginable back then that freight carriers and forwarders would take on these oper-ative activities, as we have seen happening increasingly often over recent years?” CeMAT allows visitors to gain a comprehensive overview of possibilities for optimising their intralogistics.
The exhibitors’ offering goes far beyond standard solutions.
The
make or buy
dilemma
OUTSOURCING
In the intralogistics sector as in many others, system manufacturers have long been offering more than
just product solutions. More and more customers are expecting a holistic system-based approach.
THE FORKLIFT OSCARS The IFOY Organisation has an-nounced the nominations for the “International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award” 2016. The applications were whittled down to 13 vehicles and solutions from the brands BYD, Crown, Jungheinrich, SSI Schäfer, Still and Toyota Material Handling for the final round.
“A total of 16 companies applied this year with the wid-est range of products,” says Anita Würmser, Chairperson of the IFOY Jury. “These 13 devices and solutions are the best of the best in terms of innovation.” The IFOY Award recognises the year’s best industrial trucks and intralogis-tics solutions.
Which vehicles and solutions make the grade in the IFOY Award 2016 will depend on the results of the IFOY Test and the IFOY Innovation Check, which all nominated vehicles must undergo over a week in February on the grounds of IFOY partner’s CeMAT in Hanover.
The winner of each category will be selected by a jury made up of 25 renowned trade journalists and the leading logistics media from 16 countries around the globe. The IFOY Award evaluates the aspects of innovative value, tech-nology, design, ergonomics and handling, safety, cost-effi-ciency and sustainability, among others. For the intralogis-tics solutions what counts above all is innovation, customer benefit, sustainability and the solution’s marketability.
The IFOY Award will be presented on 31 May at the CeMAT opening celebration in Hanover.
Nominations for the
IFOY Award are set
STORAGE TECHNOLOGY Warehouse installations specialist
BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann is supplying the new logistics cen-tre created by Kühne + Nagel (AG & Co.) KG at the Nuremberg freight village bayernhafen with modern shelving and container systems. The full-service provider delivered and installed a mul-ti-storey system as well as cantilever, pallet and shelving racks. Kühne + Nagel’s customers in Nuremberg include major firms from the automotive, electrical engineering, consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries. These very different goods demand customised intralogistics so that they can get to their points of use or retailers within a few hours.
RENTAL Jungheinrich AG
and Anhui Heli Co., Ltd., (Heli) are founding a joint venture to rent out indus-trial trucks on the Chi-nese market. Both part-ners will hold a share of 50 per cent in the joint company. The nominal capital is 200 million ren-minbi yuan, or just under 28 million euros (as at: 11.1.2016). The compa-ny’s headquarters is Shanghai. The joint venture is expected to be the largest lessor of industrial trucks on the Chinese market. It is planned that operative business will commence in mid-2016. The foundation of the joint venture is still subject to the usual ap-proval conditions.
The joint venture is expected to be the largest lessor of industrial trucks on the Chinese market.
FROM THE INDUSTRY
The IFOY Award recognises outstanding achievements in the industrial truck sector and intralogistics, and documents performance and innovation.
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Title photos: Deutsche Messe AG, SAP SE, 3darcastudio/fotolia
Photos: Deutsche Messe AG, BITO, Jungheinrich, IFOY
The new logistics centre is a key component of Kühne + Nagel’s expansion strategy.
BITO kits out
Kühne + Nagel warehouse
Jungheinrich founds
joint venture in China
TOP FEATURE
LOGISTICS IT A major topic that is now increasingly grabbing the attention of SMEs is digitalisation and Industry 4.0. “Once again here the focus is on reducing costs, increasing efficiency and optimising processes,” says Reinhard Bösl, Director for System & Industries at SICK AG, based in Waldkirch. “SMEs expect solutions that are tailored to them, that offer a clear ben-efit, that have low maintenance require-ments and that guarantee secure exchange of data.” Visitors will get lots of new ideas and be able to marvel at technological innovations at CeMAT. SICK will be pre-senting its entire portfolio of sensor tech-nology specifically for intralogistics with regard to Industry 4.0 in Hanover. “The
fo-cus is on the area of data networking and data collection, so reliable identification and processing of data,” says Bösl. “Our sensors record and communicate data, but real added value only arises if the recorded data can be utilised as a decision-making basis for improvements.” After all, par-ticularly in logistics, where several million packages are moved through facilities each day, companies really do have to deal with “big data”. This data holds great potential – as well as a great challenge: to use sensor intelligence to process data in such a way that the right decisions can be made. This applies to both big companies and SMEs. “Industry 4.0 concerns not only machinery and systems, but also software,” adds
Oli-ver Wolf, Head of the Software Engineer-ing Department at Fraunhofer IML in Dort-mund. “It’s now all about creating IT-based networking of the widest range of data sources in order to exploit the added value that Industry 4.0 can offer.” SMEs require secure standards in order to be able to re-liably implement Industry 4.0 in their value creation chain. To this end, Fraunhofer is currently developing the necessary tools and standards as part of Industrial Data Space.
Software must suit requirements and business processes
In addition, an increasing volume of con-signments and complex supply chains
From the large
to the small
Industry 4.0 is also slowly creeping into small and medium-sized companies. What expectations do they
have for their logistics IT? Where do their challenges lie in terms of digitalisation?
TOP FEATURE
Automated solutions for the warehouse: Innovative systems such as iGoEasy from STILL are making it possible for operators to automate transport tasks for a single vehicle easily and independently using an iPad.
mean constant growth in data in the logistics sector. With this in mind, IT solutions have a key role to play in opti-mising processes, networking them, and exploiting data in a targeted manner. The topics of “security” and “creating a ro-bust and transparent IT infrastructure” are also gaining importance for SMEs. “Our flexible IT solutions are particular-ly useful for companies that are active on the international stage and kit out their sites according to uniform
standards,” explains Tor-ben Posert, Head of Sales Logistics at VITRONIC Dr-Ing. Stein Bildverarbei-tungssysteme GmbH. “Our VIPAC product family offers customers a broad basis for automatically recording and analysing data in the widest possible range of applications.” He explains that the software packages are designed to cover com-plex requirements, whilst still being user-friendly in operation and visualisa- tion. “In addition, we offer our customers the oppor-tunity to archive all infor-mation locally and central-ly and access it at any time through the web,” says Posert. “Many of our cus-tomers use consignments’
volume and weight data for invoicing.” In order to ensure this, systems are cer- tified and work with special IT memories, he says. This makes it possible to provide
even small and medium-sized customers with consistent solutions, allowing them to make their way into Industry 4.0.
“Companies are still often faced with the strategic decision of whether they see unique selling points in the logistics, which can lead to cost benefits with
indi-vidualised solutions,” says Volker Welsch, Head of Sales for Germany at psb intra- logistics GmbH, headquartered in Pirma- sens. “In this case it’s im-portant to use software that’s tailored to the warehouse organisa-tion.” Particularly when it comes to automated whole solutions. “For a long time now we have been seeing this way of thinking not only among major groups, but also among an increasing number of small and me-dium-sized enterprises, SMEs,” says Welsch. After all, the market for intra- logistics software is still growing in terms of both new installations and retro- fitting measures, he says, with the aim always being able to ascertain whether the software still suits the customer’s requirements and business processes. “We see a task within permanent optimisa-tion of processes with our customers that makes it possible to constantly expand and improve our software,” says Welsch.
Photos: Deutsche Messe AG (2), VITRONIC, psb intralogistics
SICK will be presenting its entire portfolio of sensor technology – specifically for intralogistics with regard to Industry 4.0 – at CeMAT 2016.
TOP FEATURE
“It’s important for companies to
use software that’s tailored to
the warehouse organisation.”
Volker Welsch, Head of Sales for Germany, psb intralogistics GmbH
“As a provider of complete
solu-tions for auto ID systems,
devel-opment of IT is one of our core
competencies.”
Torben Posert, Head of Sales Logistics, VITRONIC Dr-Ing. Stein Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH
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What awaits visitors to the viastore stand at the next CeMAT?Philipp Hahn-Woernle: On our stand
of around 300 square metres at CeMAT we will be showing smart, networked intralogistics solutions with great con-crete user benefits – both as a tech-nology-independent system integrator and as a provider of innovative intralo-gistics software. viastore SYSTEMS is a specialist in the building and modernisa-tion of automatic intralogistics systems, through which we create operative excel-lence for our customers – the foundation of their growth and profitability. We offer them the entire range of intralogistical system solutions: consultation, planning, implementation, continual improvement – from the automatic small parts warehouse to the highly complex distribution centre, from the shuttle system to the logistics centre for frozen products.
With the international standard WMS viadat for all warehouse types and the SAP solutions in EWM and LES/TRM, viastore SOFTWARE is the top provider of intralogistics software. With our ex-pertise as a material flow technology expert for over 45 years, we make it pos-sible for our customers to intelligently
manage and consistently control their entire intralogistics. This allows them to benefit from technology-independent advice, tailor-made processes and ergo-nomic and intuitive operation. We will also be presenting our SAP EWM and WM skills as a long-standing SAP partner on the SAP partner stand.
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Which industry trends do you believe will be at the forefront at the trade fair? Intralogistics is increasingly becoming an IT matter. Thanks to digital networking of the entire value creation chain, intralogistics IT is going far beyond the warehouse and distribution centre and, for example, inte-grating manufacturing or supply to assem-bly work stations, as well as consumers. Assuch, the software increases our customers’ value creation and profitability. In addi-tion, intralogistical tasks are constantly being automated to a higher and higher degree. Good ideas, new technologies, and, above all, rapid and reliable workflows are required across the board. An end to this development is not in sight, and there will be plenty of exciting innovations to experi-ence at CeMAT once again.
3
What are you personally looking for-ward to most?
To intensive contact with our customers, potential customers and partners that have a concrete need for innovative intra- logistics solutions, and to expanding our network.
viastore is a leading international provider of intralogistics systems and intra- logistics software. The company viastore SYSTEMS GmbH focuses on planning, implementing and constantly improving systems. viastore SOFTWARE GmbH pools together all activities to do with the standard WMS viadat and viastore SAP logistics solutions (WM and EWM). viastore employs 470 people worldwide, and generates turnover of 130 million euros.
viastore
3 questions to...
Philipp Hahn-
Woernle
CEO of viastore
IN CONVERSATIONIN BRIEF
IN BRIEF
Supply Chain 4.0 at the automotive logistics forum
On 3 and 4 February 2016 BVL International and VDA (the German Association of the Automotive Indus-try) will be inviting visitors to Frankfurt am Main. The key note speakers will be Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann from Opel, Dr Hansjörg Rodi from Schenker and Alex-ander Koesling, Mercedes-Benz Cars. There will also be seminars on current topics. Opel, DB Schen-ker and Continental will be offering factory tours. More at: www.bvl.de/fal
B+S manages warehouse logistics for recipe box shipper
B+S GmbH Logistik und Dienstleistungen is run-ning Germany’s only ful-filment centre in Bielefeld for online recipe box retail-er Hello Fresh. Thousands of boxes of fresh food with matching recipes leave the depot each week. The logistics expert has intro-duced new packing lines with different tempera-ture zones for the job.
Amazon develops its own parcel service
American online retailer Amazon wants to develop its own parcel service in Germany. A team at Ama-zon Logistics is already tak-ing care of seektak-ing out suit-able sites. They say that the distribution centre in Olching, near Munich, serves as a model project, which, if successful, should be rolled out across Germany. “We want to increase flexibili-ty and offer new services such as same-day delivery,” says Bernd Schwenger, Director of Amazon Logistics, talking to DVZ.
IN BRIEF
INNOVATION “Under the lead theme of ‘Smart
Supply Chain Solutions’, our appearance at Ce-MAT 2016 will centre around the topics of ‘auto-mation’, ‘intelligent software for fleet solutions’ and ‘energy efficiency’,” says Thomas A. Fischer, CSO at STILL. “The concept of ‘intelligence’ is increasingly coming to the forefront when it comes to flexible solutions, which are in greater and greater demand among customers.”
The trend towards electric counterbalance trucks is also going full steam ahead. “More and more customers are switching from combustion engine forklifts to electric forklifts in order to meet the increasing requirements of emissions reduction,” explains Emanuel Matthaei, Director for Sales & Marketing at CLARK Europe GmbH. “In addition, machinery prices are under pres-sure in the area of high-volume electric pedestri-an stackers pedestri-and low-platform trucks.” After all, more and more customers are seeing this seg-ment as a product with a limited lifespan, there-fore preferring to replace a device instead of spending a lot of money repairing it, he explains.
Alongside alternative drives, Jungheinrich believes that intelligent linking of software
and hardware components in the warehouse is another important aspect. This is why the company has developed a logistics inter-face that – as middleware – ensures smooth communication between the warehouse equipment and company software. This has created an interface between the forklift and warehouse management system, which can be taken into account in the wide varie-ty of warehouse IT, intralogistics processes and applications.
With 80-volt drive and lift motors, the electric forklift GEX20-30L achieves performance comparable to that of combustion engine forklifts in terms of speed, acceleration and gradability.
Photos: viastore, CLARK
Intelligent
and clean
For forklift manufacturers, the topics of “automation”, “intelligent linking of
hardware and software” and “energy efficiency” will be the focus at CeMAT.
“More and more
cus-tomers are switching
from combustion
en-gine forklifts to electric
forklifts in order to
meet the increasing
requirements of
emissions reduction.”
Emanuel Matthaei, Director for Sales & Marketing, CLARK Europe GmbH
Photos: BVL/Bublitz, SICK, Jungheinrich, 3darcastudio/fotolia
Reinhard Bösl
Director for System & Industries, SICK AG, Waldkirch
“As the world’s leading trade fair for intralogistics and supply chain management, CeMAT is an essential date in SICK’s calendar. This is where the decision-makers from our customers’ firms, the sector and the world of politics meet. It allows us to present our innovations for the intralogistics sector and gain plenty of new suggestions by engaging in exchange with the industry’s experts.”
Prof Raimund Klinkner
President of the Board, BVL International
“Intralogistics and conveyor technology are two key areas in logistics. BVL International will be organising specialist forums as a partner of the trade fair for the third time in 2016, this year on the topics of ‘Smart concepts in practice’, ‘Smart workplaces in logistics’ and ‘Smart routes to inno-vation for SMEs’. CeMAT is a highly attractive international marketplace. In a time of intelligent and efficient network-ing of systems, I expect lots of ideas to come from this trade fair again. I’m already looking forward to it.”
What exhibitors and visitors
expect
from CeMAT
Dr Lars Brzoska
Member of the Board for Sales, Jungheinrich AG
“We will be presenting our entire product portfolio at CeMAT. We will be focusing on system business in order to show that we not only make great machines, but also offer our customers holistic solutions.”
Imprint
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registration for
CeMAT 2016 on
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