Stay at home or march off? Like Sepp, many managing directors are currently hearing and reading a wide range of opinions and wisdom on the economic situation from all sides and now want to make a decision. Leave, stay, take an umbrella? Stock up on supplies, close the shutters and work on costs? Freeze advertising budgets? And all this despite the fact that instead of, let's say, a 20 percent increase in turnover last year, our hard-working managing director is currently reporting an increase of eight percent?

Just as unpredictable as the weather is the question of the so-called "mood in the economy" (a bottle of champagne for whoever can finally explain to me conclusively what that is). It is also pointless and dangerous. This mood is rumored to have something to do with the economy. So if enough people are worried, and there are always enough of them in Germany, this creates a maelstrom and, in the worst case, what people fear will happen. Just because you fear it. But all this still has nothing to do with facts. I dare say that companies that do not allow themselves to be swayed from their course and that take advantage of good sales to research, develop and modernize will fare better than overly cautious doubters. It is therefore no coincidence that modernization in the warehouse is the special topic of this year's issue of SPEKTRUM: on 24 pages, we provide tips for successful modernization and have gathered expert opinions (from page 13).

With this issue of SPEKTRUM, my colleagues and I are saying goodbye to the summer break - you can read materialfluss again on September 18 with issue 8-9/19, when a trade fair highlight is just around the corner: our favorite packaging trade fair Fachpack in Nuremberg. But enough talk of business, I wish you a sunny and unforgettable summer. Have a good rest!

Martin Schrüfer
Managing Editor-in-Chief