Anyone entering this part of the warehouse and production facilities at cosmetics manufacturer Dr. Kurt Wolff in Bielefeld does not expect to see conveyor technology: every space is used, characterized by normal walkways, flanked by production and filling systems. You would hardly guess that an automated pallet conveyor system runs over four floors here.
"In the future, it will be image processing that will shape success and competitiveness by monitoring customized logistics and production processes," says Volker Kugel, Director of Automation Projects at Eckelmann, with conviction. As a result, he installed an innovation unit at the headquarters in Wiesbaden: The development expertise for AI-supported image processing was concentrated and expanded in terms of personnel in the new "Vision AI" unit.
Current TOP 5
Igus is increasingly training junior staff itself. A new training factory at the company headquarters in Cologne-Porz will support this. The company aims to no longer be reliant on external specialists by 2027.
Booxit aims to make logistics processes more efficient and sustainable with intelligently networked reusable boxes. The start-up is receiving support from plastics specialists Haidlmair and Polytec.
The Austrian dairy NÖM AG has commissioned Kardex Mlog to build a fully automated dispatch warehouse and conveyor system. The new building will offer space for up to 26,000 pallets. As general contractor, Kardex Mlog is also coordinating the steel racking construction, the roof and wall cladding and the supply of two electric monorail systems. The ground-breaking ceremony took place on June 23, with acceptance scheduled for April 2027.
The material flow of raw materials, parts and semi-finished products in production and warehouses is often complex and can often be expanded in terms of efficiency. Machine learning, generative AI and the like can help with optimization.
Storage and retrieval machines
Rockwool, a leading supplier of rock wool insulation materials, has commissioned Swisslog to implement a fully automated high-bay warehouse at its production site in Neuburg an der Donau. With this investment, the company is driving forward the modernization of its logistics and reducing manual processes.
Prologis is planning to convert a 278,000 square meter site in Dortmund into an all-electric logistics and business park designed to DGNB Platinum sustainability standards and focused on employee well-being.
The Motan Group, a manufacturer of machine systems for the plastics industry, has erected a new logistics building on its existing production site in Isny in the Allgäu region. From here, the entire production is now supplied with all the individual parts required for the construction of the machines. In cooperation with BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann, a structured, efficiently used logistics area has been created, which optimizes the internal material flow.
The aim of MSK's EMSY software is to make product load securing simple and future-proof. It enables automated pallet logistics thanks to end-to-end networked processes.
At Fachpack, the Beumer Group is presenting a new digital solution for process optimization, condition monitoring and maintenance for conveyor technology and end-of-line packaging lines: Using data diagnostics, Beumer Guardian is set to help customers increase their operational efficiency in the future.
Future Logistics Congress - 43rd Dortmund...
More than 350 participants will come together in Dortmund on September 9 and 10, 2025 for the 43rd Future Logistics Congress. This year, everything revolves around artificial intelligence (AI), resilience and sustainability. Speakers from science and business will discuss approaches and provide insights into solutions for forward-looking logistics.
All stock at a glance - with its autonomous scanning robots, Dexory creates a digital twin of the warehouse in real time. Major players such as DB Schenker and Maersk rely on the London-based start-up's technology. A component from Germany is also contributing to its success. All robots are equipped with Wiferion's inductive charging technology as standard.
The Fiege Group begins construction work on a new logistics center in Hamminkeln in September. The property, which is scheduled for completion in autumn 2026, will have almost 55,000 square meters of logistics space.
Weighing and packaging technology
Packaging, precise and fast weighing, reliable and production-integrated testing: These are Ishida's topics at Fachpack.
Shuttle warehouse with 160,000 storage spaces
TGW Logistics recently handed over a highly automated intralogistics system to FEGA & Schmitt Elektrogroßhandel GmbH. With the investment in the logistics location in Heilsbronn, the electrical wholesaler benefits from shorter throughput times and an efficient flow of goods.
H&M will be able to handle its logistics in Central and Eastern Europe faster and more agile in future: Arvato has expanded its e-commerce distribution center in Stryków, Poland, and installed an automated shuttle warehouse with a capacity of up to 270,000 boxes.
Timmer will be presenting versatile lifting solutions at Fachpack in Nuremberg. The Lightlift and Quicklift lifting systems, equipped with a variety of grippers such as multi-suction cups, bag suction cups or cone suction cups, will be used.
Automation and digitalization are unavoidable and present small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with both challenges and great opportunities for greater competitiveness, cost savings and increased sales. Entry-level scenarios are flexible solutions that grow with the company at both hardware and software level.
To achieve its environmental goals and to meet the growing sustainability awareness of its customers, the Europa Worldwide Group, an international logistics service provider, relies on Blue Yonder's Logistics Emissions Calculator, a component of the Sustainable Supply Chain Manager solution.
