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MAGA in the approach path
German technology remains highly regarded when it comes to rapid material handling, the elimination of weaknesses, and service quality. Following successful projects in Oklahoma and Texas, the steel trader " Steel and Pipe Supply " (SPS) in Kansas City once again relied on Kasto saws and storage systems.
Rent warehouse equipment instead of buying it
Bito is launching an offensive with an economical alternative for companies that want to re-equip, expand, or temporarily supplement their warehouse and production areas, but don't want to tie up their capital long-term: renting instead of buying is the motto. The advantages – especially in " dynamic times " – are obvious.
«Kanpai» with sake on the pharmaceutical chain
Logistics provider Yusen is presenting an expanded global platform for the healthcare sector at LogiPharma in Vienna, where companies such as Novartis, Bayer, Takeda, and hospital supplier UCB are currently participating. The platform focuses on the professional delivery of specialized healthcare solutions.
Streamlined logistics
Coop's own rail connection for urban logistics in Zurich, streamlined logistics vehicles and the outsourcing of all operating room logistics in a cooperation between the Seeschau Clinic and the Swiss Post are the projects that are entering the final sprint for this year's Swiss Logistics Award from GS1.
Vacuum technology makes mobility possible
Compressed air has traditionally been used primarily for fixed installations. Schmalz's vacuum grippers also mainly operate with lines that often have to run across halls and facilities. However, mobile robotics increasingly requires flexible solutions – a need that Schmalz now intends to address more effectively.
A foray into drive technology
Safelog, the specialists for software for controlling intralogistics processes, have entered into a cooperation with the drive experts from SEW Eurodrive at LogiMAT in order to jointly develop a high-performance software for controlling mobile and stationary processes in intralogistics.
Networking with perspectives
“Never walk alone” could be the motto of a networking event hosted by the consulting experts from “Adnovum”, where the Digital Product Passport (DPP), cybersecurity and IT opportunities with Petra Merino (GS1 Switzerland) and security expert Andreas Achterholt are on the agenda on May 7th in Zurich.
Maintenance in Austria
With a new workshop in Obersiebenbrunn near Vienna, rail manufacturer Stadler is expanding its capacity for the commissioning, approval, and servicing of modern rail vehicles in Austria. The workshop has been used to maintain Westbahn's high-speed trains since March 2026.
Idealworks pushes into the US market
Idealworks, part of the Munich-based Agile Robots Group, with more than 1,700 AMRs and AGVs worldwide and one of the pioneers in industrial automation through AI in robot-controlled logistics processes, has founded a US company headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.
New chain belt sorting
At LogiMAT, conveyor technology provider Interroll attracted attention with a new chain-belt sorting system developed after the acquisition of Sortteq. Together with MCP Play, this creates a material flow ecosystem that combines single-item transport with intelligent sorting.
2D scanner on the sewing box
2D scanner on the sewing box
Once the world's largest sewing thread manufacturer, A&E Gütermann, with 380 employees and €74 million in revenue, is now part of the US-based Elevate Textiles. Now, near Freiburg im Breisgau, the company has digitized its finished goods warehouse processes with the help of ZetesMedea.
The first step, it is said, has halved the personnel costs for conducting the perpetual inventory, while increasing quality and speed. Further steps are planned. The company was founded in 1864 by Max Gütermann and is still a world-leading manufacturer of sewing thread.
The 12,500 sq m finished goods warehouse offers 91,000 storage spaces for 70,000 different products. Around 60 employees still manage the flow of goods primarily using paper documents. In 2022, a phased digitalization process was launched with ZetesMedea, which communicates with the SAP R3 ERP system at A&E Gütermann via an interface. The first digitalization step focused particularly well on the continuous inventory, which had previously been carried out by teams of two. "The inventory conversion project was completed within just four months, and we expect to see a return on investment as early as 2023," confirms project manager Oliver Maier.
The inventory lists generated in SAP are now digitally transferred to ZetesMedea. At A&E Gütermann, the Warehouse Execution System is active not only as a cloud solution but also as an app on Honeywell CT45XP mobile computers. An integrated 2D imager enables data capture. Inventory can be activated directly from the start screen. This is now carried out more quickly by a single employee because paper lists are no longer needed. This not only saves approximately 30,000 sheets of paper per year but also halves the personnel required for inventory, allowing employees to continue working in the picking process without interruption.
The employee is shown on the 5-inch display which storage bin to go to. After counting the items, the quantity is entered into the CT45XP and checked. Any discrepancies with the inventory recorded in SAP are immediately apparent and displayed to the employee. In these cases, the count must be checked again. Overall, this has significantly improved inventory accuracy.
Photos: Zetes / Stemmermann
Further positive effects of the digital inventory process with ZetesMedea include automated archiving. Whereas previously receipts had to be filed and stored for 10 years, this now happens invisibly and reliably in the cloud. Furthermore, new employees can be trained more quickly because ZetesMedea's work instructions are clear and easy to understand on mobile computer displays. In addition, ZetesMedea's cloud-based web portal offers a live overview of all currently running orders and their status, as well as the ability to assign and prioritize orders.
Gütermann has now also digitized the storage of its approximately 1,400 warehouse positions per day. The company expects similar positive effects and error-free operation. Zetes is headquartered in Brussels and employs over 1,300 people in 22 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In 2017, Zetes became a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation.
