Future technologies for intralogistics

Other partners of the two VDMA trade associations are the German Logistics Association (BVL), the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML from Dortmund, the EHI Retail Institute and the Scientific Society for Technical Logistics (WGTL).

The future of intralogistics is digital and connected. Various products are already developing strongly in the direction of autonomous intelligent systems. Driverless transport systems and vehicles are already a familiar sight in warehouses and production facilities around the world. New navigation methods and increasingly sophisticated sensor technology are ensuring efficiency and process automation in production and warehouse logistics worldwide. What added value do they offer users? What new and further technical developments are there? Experts from research, users and manufacturers will be providing answers to these and other exciting questions at CeMAT in the Logistics Solutions Forum in Hall 21.

The vision of self-optimizing intralogistics solutions requires further research and development.

Together with the Fraunhofer IML, the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association has developed three technology roadmaps for intralogistics in 2025. The result is concrete recommendations for action for the technology fields of sensor technology, communication and data science, which will be presented and discussed at the Logistics 4.0 Forum in Hall 19.

Other aspects of digitalization relate to the processes within supply chains. Blockchains could be the key element here for digitally connecting all participants in a supply chain. Transparency, process security and tamper-proofing are key advantages of the technology. Nevertheless, many questions remain unanswered: Which use cases are blockchains suitable for in logistics? When is the right time to deal with the topic? How should the introduction be approached? What legal and technical challenges still need to be clarified? The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association will address these and other questions with experts at the Logistics 4.0 Forum.

Machine learning, digital twin and IT platforms are finding their way into logistics

New digitalization technologies such as IT platforms, machine learning and digital twins are broadening the horizons of the logistics world. The improved technology makes it possible to optimize the entire value chain processes and thus work more effectively and cost-efficiently.

Large volumes of data and the sharp increase in computing power form the ideal framework for machine learning applications in the Industry 4.0 environment. This means that a lot of previously unused information can become part of the value chain and contribute to the digital transformation of companies. Platforms will also increasingly dominate the logistics market. Many providers and consumers are ensuring that digital platforms organize the market, reduce transaction costs and assume a key position that redistributes value creation. Digital twin solutions also allow different perspectives in logistics. The digital twin interacts with its partner. It records and analyzes the individual levels of the life cycle. The special feature: Observations and sensor data from ongoing operations flow back into the model in real time and can be used for optimization. The CeMAT forums will also focus on the challenges that companies have to overcome in this area.

VDMA program at a glance

Monday, 23.04.Technology Roadmaps Intralogistics 2025 (3 - 5 p.m., Logistics 4.0 Forum, Hall 19)

Tuesday, 24.04.Digital Twin (10 - 12 a.m., Logistics 4.0 Forum, Hall 19) Driverless and autonomous into the future (10 - 12 a.m., Logistics Solutions Forum, Hall 21) IT security (3 - 5 p.m., Logistics Solutions Forum, Hall 21)

Wednesday, 25.04.Identification/Traceability (1 - 3 p.m., Logistics Solutions Forum, Hall 21) Blockchain - the digital turbo for logistics? (3 - 5 p.m., Logistics 4.0 Forum, Hall 19)

Thursday, 26.04.Use of IT platforms in the supply chain (10 - 12 a.m., Logistics 4.0 Forum, Hall 19) Artificial intelligence in the supply chain (3 - 5 p.m., Logistics 4.0 Forum, Hall 19)