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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.
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.
Red line "crossed"
Red line "crossed"
Image: Siemens Mobility
The US Infrastructure Investment Bill, initiated by the Biden administration, gives municipal transit authorities the opportunity to modernize their often outdated vehicle fleets. Twenty-four articulated light rail vehicles from Siemens, built in Sacramento, will soon connect East Cleveland to the airport on the "Red Line.".
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) has contracted Siemens Mobility to replace its Red Line fleet. The purchase of two dozen light rail vehicles also includes an option to acquire 36 additional vehicles to later replace the fleets of the GCRTA's Blue and Green Lines.
IL Birdsong Terry. Photo: GCRTA
“The new light rail lines will lead to an increase in ridership and transportation-oriented development along the Red Line from East Cleveland to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,” says India L. Birdsong Terry, CEO of GCRTA, who, with a $292 million budget, heads over 2,300 employees and 35 million trips annually, operating within a 457 square mile radius.
GCRTA owes this success primarily to the support of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). "We are extremely grateful for your support of the Rail Vehicle Exchange Program and GCRTA," Terry adds.
The existing trains will be replaced.
“The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Bill has given our customers the opportunity to undertake the necessary modernization of their urban infrastructure. We are very grateful to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for choosing us as their partner,” said Michael Cahill, President of Siemens Mobility Rolling Stock in North America. “With the modernized light rail fleet, passengers will benefit from improved accessibility, state-of-the-art technology, and enhanced safety, making their daily commute easier and more enjoyable.”
GCRTA's current local and long-distance train fleets are 39 and 42 years old respectively, having long exceeded the typical lifespan of rail vehicles. The delivery of the new S200 light rail vehicles is scheduled to be completed within four years. These new high-floor vehicles are equipped with two door heights, allowing access to both high and low-floor platforms. This means the trains can operate on the Red Line, the Blue Line, and the Green Line.
Congressman Shontel Brown. Photo: private
The GCRTA received a grant of $130 million from the US Federal Railroad Administration (FTA) under the FY22/23 Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, a subsidy program created under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Bill.
The trains are equipped with de-icing technology for all weather conditions, a modern driver's cab with heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and heated windshields for improved visibility. The final design will be jointly developed by GCRTA and Siemens Mobility over the next 15 months, before the trains are manufactured at Siemens Mobility's rail plant in Sacramento, California.
Senator Sherrod Brown. Fig.: US Senate
GCRTA is the public transit authority for Cleveland, Ohio, and the surrounding cities and towns of Cuyahoga County. With over 19 million passengers annually, it is the largest transit operator in Ohio. GCRTA is one of over 35 transit operators in North America that use Siemens rail vehicles, locomotives, components, and automation systems.
