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“Best of Intralogistics” in the test camp
As part of the Test Camp Intralogistics and the International Forklift of the Year (IFOY) competition, the preliminary certificates for 2026 were presented today in Dortmund by Jan Drömer, Chairman of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Section, to the 17 nominees who will now go into the final round.
SVTL meets in a historic setting
The general assembly of the Swiss Association for Temperature-Controlled Logistics at Lenzburg Castle on May 8th will address, in addition to the usual agenda items, personnel management, modern advertising for skilled workers on social media and the question of whether humanoid robots will one day be helpful .
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.
Race for emission-free cooling
Race for emission-free cooling
Foodservice providers in the United Kingdom recently put two 19-ton electric trucks with multi-temperature machines into operation, which delivered such good results that the temperature was already back to the target value after the cargo space was closed, even before the journey had started again.
The manufacturer of transport refrigeration units (Frigoblock) subjected the vehicles and temperature control systems to testing using real-world data from everyday operations. The units, equipped with EK25 and FK2 refrigeration units, were put into operation at Brakes' foodservice operations and feature automatically controlled temperature feedback . An Electra truck with an EK25 unit has been supplying customers in the Midlands since the end of 2022, while the electric DAF LF with a Frigoblock FK2 unit began operations in January 2023 from the Brakes depot in Reading, near London.
Jon Jerrard-Dinn, Area Sales Manager at Thermo King and Frigoblock: “We are working to explain to the industry the advantages of electrifying their refrigerated transport vehicles and how relatively easy it is to implement.”
Photos: Frigoblock
“ Our vehicles cover a good 90 million kilometers a year in the UK. This makes converting to a zero-emission fleet crucial for achieving our company’s ambitious decarbonization targets and supporting our customers in reaching their goals,” adds Fleet Manager Paul Vernon. Brakes’ main fleet experiences frequent door openings due to numerous delivery stops. Therefore, it is essential that the refrigeration units work in tandem with the vehicle to ensure an uninterrupted cold chain and produce no direct exhaust emissions. The EK25 has proven its worth in the face of these challenges. Combined with Enviro Drive inverter technology, the unit offers maximum efficiency and minimal impact on the vehicle’s fuel or electricity consumption. “ We were delighted to find that it works seamlessly with our new electric trucks,” says Vernon.
Electra's new 19-tonne electric box truck has been operating in the Midlands since August 2022, and its performance has been evaluated daily by Brakes. The trials have shown that the Frigoblock EK25's temperature recovery performance was even better than that of a conventional diesel vehicle.
«"With this electric vehicle, we were able to drive through city centers like Birmingham. The fact that the device brought the temperature in the cargo area back to the target value before we continued our journey is quite exceptional," said Vernon.
The second electric vehicle, the DAF LF, is equipped with the latest FK2 system, which features telematics. This connectivity provides the fleet operator with 24/7 information on machine operation, as well as remote monitoring and proactive control. The DAF has been operating from the Reading depot since January 2023, a depot that also boasts a solar power system. This system provides the depot and its vehicle charging stations with a self-sufficient supply of renewable and emission-free energy.
