Together into the future

BLG's customers include leading car manufacturers as well as strong brands from the retail sector. BLG's roots go back to the year 1877. Today, BLG Logistics is a growing company that has developed into a global logistics provider with activities at over 100 locations in Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Including all its subsidiaries, the group of companies currently provides around 18,000 jobs worldwide.

There is no doubt that the digital transformation is changing the way we work and offering new digital solutions in logistics. BLG Logistics has been dealing with the topics of digitalization, innovation and general future issues in various parts of the organization for some time now. This is because BLG does not want to be a bystander, but wants to actively drive forward the fourth industrial revolution and test new ideas in practice. As part of this, the logistics service provider formed an interdisciplinary innovation team at the end of last year, which is responsible for the systematic planning, management and control of innovations within the company. It is essentially made up of those who have already played a leading role in technical innovations and topics relating to digitalization and automation within the company.

Ideas emerge between metaplan boards and writable windows

As part of the innovation core team, they now have the opportunity to deal with innovations and future issues more intensively than in day-to-day business. The BLG DigiLab has also been set up at Neustädter Hafen in Bremen to provide space for new ideas, a place to discuss digitalization issues and to test agile project methods. Metaplan boards, colorful walls and writable windows encourage creative exchange and are intended to create an atmosphere that inspires new ideas. The think tank serves as a meeting point for digitalization projects and offers space for creativity. The 100-day projects are also coordinated from here.

Being able to use a 3D printer is part of the training for the budding mechatronics engineers at BLG Logistics.

As speed of implementation plays a particularly important role in digital topics, new technologies are tested in 100-day projects at BLG Logistics. There are only 100 days from the idea to actual use. An interdisciplinary project team from various departments investigates the possibilities of new, promising technologies. These are to be put into trial operation as quickly as possible, also in cooperation with very young companies. If the test operation is successful, it can be used in other areas of the company. One example of these ambitious projects is the use of drones. At the BLG logistics center in Emmerich, the logistics specialist uses drone technology to support operations, for example for stocktaking in the block storage facility and for shelf storage control. BLG received the 2017 Tool Award from AKJ Automotive for this "drone support in logistics", which was awarded on the basis of the innovative content as well as the achievable benefits and added value for the user. The logistics company is currently examining whether the drones can be used at other BLG locations.

Qualification as the key

At BLG Logistics, empowering and qualifying employees is a key component of digitalization activities. In a changing working environment characterized by complex processes and technologically sophisticated systems and tools, it is becoming increasingly important to involve people and promote their skills. Only in this way can they actively influence the digital transformation as decision-makers and designers. At BLG, this means that employees in the company use new technologies in their day-to-day work right from the start and that digital skills are promoted.

In addition to innovative learning methods via online platforms, the practical handling of technical devices is also part of this. Since the beginning of the year, the complex use of 3D printing has therefore been part of the in-company training process for prospective mechatronics engineers. With the help of a 3D printer that was procured for the training area, the trainees can quickly bring their technical drawings and models to life. For example, they learn how to determine the right materials for different printed parts, configure the printer or control it using an app.

Simply print spare parts

All they need as a construction plan is a CAD file on the basis of which the desired part can be printed, meaning that planning and production are entirely digital. In addition to training, there are various other possible applications within the company. In particular, spare parts are produced for the technical areas: Instead of waiting a long time for a new part, buying it at a high price or possibly purchasing entire devices from scratch, spare parts are simply printed at BLG Logistics using the additive manufacturing process. Models, samples and prototypes are also created with the 3D printer and used by the project and process management and sales departments.

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