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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.
Better utilize potential
Better utilize potential
Photo: THD
More than 1,300 km of railway lines could be reactivated in Germany, according to a study of 115 project proposals. However, only 8 km of track were reactivated in 2022, and not a single line in 2023. The "Alliance for Rail" is calling for greater inclusion of freight transport. The model: Switzerland.
The potential of reactivating railway lines in rural areas is far from being fully exploited. This is the conclusion of a study by the Deggendorf Institute of Technology, in which 115 reactivation projects across Germany participated. So far, only one-tenth of the initiatives have successfully revived a line. A study by the Leibniz Association also identifies untapped potential. The Alliance for Rail is also calling for a more active role from the federal government to accelerate the success of reactivation projects.
The study's scientific director, Professor Johannes Klühspies, stated: "The biggest obstacle to these projects is the so-called economic viability hurdle, meaning that the reactivation must be financially viable."
The Alliance for Rail (Allianz pro Schiene) had already drawn attention last year to the sharp increase in the number of feasibility studies for reactivations in Germany. Together with the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), the non-profit alliance calculated that feasibility studies yield positive results in more than 75 percent of cases. However, the managing director of the Alliance for Rail, Dirk Flege, laments the slow pace of progress: "We are seeing a massive backlog in implementation. We need to become eight times faster in Germany than we are currently if the public sector wants to implement just the reactivations for which positive feasibility studies already exist by 2030." This would amount to 1,300 km of track.
Flege: "All federal states need a clear reactivation strategy with concrete timelines so that local stakeholders don't toil away for years and decades without making any progress."
Freight transport is often neglected by local stakeholders when railway lines are reactivated. Klühspies explains: “Freight transport frequently requires additional investment because it involves heavier loads than passenger transport. Loading tracks and freight handling areas also urgently need to be included in the planning. The right incentives are needed to ensure that rail freight is meaningfully integrated into reactivation projects.” Just like the Zentralbahn railway in Switzerland.
The Leibniz Association says that freight transport must be given significantly more consideration in reactivation projects than before, also in order to better connect commercial areas to the rail network.
The Alliance for Rail is calling for a federal program specifically for freight transport. Flege: "For the reactivation of passenger lines, the federal government already covers 90 percent of the costs. Such funding does not yet exist for freight transport. Therefore, a separate budget line would be the best option.".
The study by Deggendorf Institute of Technology is available for download
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