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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.
First LNG investor
First LNG investor
Photo: NPorts/W.Scheer
The port infrastructure for Germany's first liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal is in place. Amidst considerable public attention, the handover to Uniper for the connection to the gas network was officially completed. The first Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) is scheduled to dock there in mid-December.
FSRUs are specialized vessels that convert liquefied natural gas (LNG) into gaseous gas for injection into the grid. The German government had already chartered four floating LNG terminals in the spring, each with a capacity of at least 5 billion cubic meters per year. Two of the four state-owned FSRUs are scheduled to begin operations in Brunsbüttel and Wilhelmshaven at the turn of the year 2022/2023.
R. Habeck: Joy reigns.
The facility at Voslapper Groden in Wilhelmshaven was completed within 194 days. A landing platform and fender and mooring dolphins were constructed at the existing transshipment facility. "Lower Saxony delivered in record time, achieving the much-lauded new speed of Germany," said Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony's Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Construction and Digitalisation. This was made possible primarily by the precise coordination and highly professional collaboration of all project partners.
“At the same time, we want to further reduce imports of fossil fuels as quickly as possible by accelerating the energy transition and expanding renewable energies and storage. The goal is to switch to climate-neutral green gases as quickly as possible and to make Wilhelmshaven a hub for green hydrogen and the import of renewable energies from the North Sea,” added Environment and Energy Minister Christian Meyer.
Photo: NPorts/A.Burmann
In a symbolic handover ceremony, Niedersachsen Ports officially transferred the port infrastructure to Uniper. Uniper has already begun work on establishing a connection between the FSRU (Fiberside Supply Unit) and the onshore facilities at the port pier (superstructure). "Our shared goal is in sight. In just one month, we will be able to welcome the first LNG terminal vessel here," added Holger Banik, Managing Director of Niedersachsen Ports.
Further connection to the natural gas pipeline network, located 28 kilometers away, and thus also to the Etzel natural gas storage facility, is currently being developed under the direction of Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE).
Wilhelmshaven had proven to be the ideal location for a liquefied gas terminal, as a suitable jetty with the UVG bridge from Vynova was already in place.
For the foundation, 194 piles were driven into the ground, providing the necessary stability for the structure. Nine precast concrete sections were manufactured and transported to the construction site by pontoon. The individual sections weigh between 160 and 380 tons. The platform and the access walkways of the landing were constructed from these sections. Steel was used to construct 18 walkways along the access walkways, spanning a length of 350 meters. Finally, slip hooks designed to withstand a weight of 150 tons were attached to the mooring dolphins to secure the FSRU (Field Support Unit). In total, over 7,000 tons of steel and more than 3,000 cubic meters of concrete were used in the construction.
Fig.: Ports of Lower Saxony
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action has chartered a fifth floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, in addition to the four already leased vessels. This fifth FNG terminal is scheduled to be operational by winter 2023/2024. It will also dock in Wilhelmshaven, where one of the first four vessels will be located. The fifth FNG terminal has a capacity of at least 5 billion cubic meters per year and is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2023. Excelerate, the vessel's owner, will provide the FNG terminal to the consortium of TES, E.ON, and Engie, as well as handle its technical operation and other necessary services.
In parallel, TES will establish a green hydrogen unloading facility at the terminal in Wilhelmshaven. TES aims to seamlessly integrate green hydrogen imports during the first 12 months of the FSRU's operation. The goal is to operate the FSRU with LNG unloading at the Wilhelmshaven site only until the hydrogen terminal for green gas is commissioned; according to TES, this is expected to be in 2025.
"All steps that free us from the grip of Russian imports as quickly as possible are more necessary than ever in these times," said Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck. "At the same time, we are simultaneously developing the green hydrogen unloading facility (...). The FSRU will be chartered for five years, but will only be operated at the Wilhelmshaven site until the hydrogen terminal for green gas is operational."
Photo: Uniper
Furthermore, on August 16, 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between BMWK, Uniper, RWE, and EnBW/VNG regarding the temporary supply of these FSRUs. According to this agreement, the aforementioned companies intend to fully utilize their delivery windows from the turn of the year 2022/23 until March 31, 2024.
The third and fourth FSRUs are planned for Stade and Lubmin, respectively, and are expected to be operational by the end of 2023. The Stade FSRU will be operated by Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH, while the Lubmin FSRU will be operated by RWE and Stena-Power. The Brunsbüttel and Stade FSRUs are intended to operate only until the planned onshore terminals at these locations become operational. This is currently projected to occur in 2026.
According to official figures, this means that at least 25 billion m³/year of capacity from state-owned FSRUs will be available via the floating liquefied natural gas terminals by winter 2023/2024. An additional 4.5 billion m³/year is expected from the private project in Lubmin. Together, these FSRUs alone could cover approximately one-third of the current gas demand (base year 2021 – 90.5 billion m³).
