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Kion and Siemens together in a parallel universe
Kion will be the first company in Europe to use Siemens' new simulation software " Digital Twin Composer " , thereby also seeking a degree of independence from the US market, where NVIDIA has so far been the dominant solution for merging the digital and real worlds in smart warehouses.
Columbus's "egg"
Now Linde MH also offers an expanded series with an integrated lithium-ion battery: The major advantage, according to the manufacturer, is the increased space in the driver's cab, which is up to 35 percent above the industry average, and the fact that the footwell has grown significantly with the elimination of the traditional battery compartment.
“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 will take place on May 8th Lenzburg Castle and , 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.
Heavy metal on the slope
Heavy metal on the slope
Mountain railways and their supports leave behind unwelcome remnants when they are dismantled – for example, when new facilities are built. Soils in the surrounding area must be tested for corrosion inhibitors and heavy metal contamination. The Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU) and the Federal Office of Transport (BAV) have developed a set of requirements.
Freestanding structures, usually steel cable car pylons, are protected from corrosion with a metallic (zinc- or lead-based) or non-metallic (PCB-based) coating. Through natural weathering of the pylons, these pollutants gradually enter the environment.
The need for a practical and straightforward approach to investigating and managing soils contaminated with heavy metals in mountainous regions became particularly evident during the major project to expand the Urserntal–Oberalp (2014 to 2018), a project that also included the dismantling of various older facilities. In cooperation with the cantons of Uri and Graubünden, the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the Federal Office of Transport (BAV) have now defined a procedure that aims to address both the concerns of soil protection and the cable car companies' efforts to implement soil protection requirements in a proportionate and economical manner.
Photos: Schlatter / BAFU / BAV
Several factors determine the extent of contamination and the presence of various pollutants, such as the chemical composition of the coating, the duration of wear, and factors influencing pollutant dispersion (topography and the direction of rainwater runoff are particularly crucial for pollutant distribution). In practice, zinc has proven to be the primary pollutant; in over 90 percent of cases where other (metallic or non-metallic) elements were detected, zinc was also present. In 97 percent of cases where the limit value for a pollutant was exceeded, zinc was the decisive factor.
When dismantling cable car pylons, the foundation is usually removed to a depth of at least 30 to 50 cm below the natural ground surface. This generally requires excavating the soil around the foundation. Typically, only a small area around the pylons is removed. The excavated soil may only be replaced or reintroduced to the site if it is not contaminated with pollutants.
For plants built before the 1990s, this is not so straightforward. At least two supports must be tested for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
