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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.
Robot maneuvers semi-trailer
Robot maneuvers semi-trailer
A. Bilz in the robot cockpit
The «Kamag Precision Tractor» picks up a semi-trailer from its parking space and the person behind the wheel leans back in a relaxed manner - in the SAFE20 research project, Dachser in Ulm is testing the mixed operation of human-driven vehicles and fully automated vehicles in company yards.
Autonomous vehicles have great potential in logistics, for example, to fully automate the maneuvering of swap bodies. But how can this be implemented safely and efficiently in a busy freight yard? The transport service provider Dachser in Langenau near Ulm has been researching this in real-world operations. And the two autonomous yard vehicles used here are moving quickly.
Three large, round sensors are located at the front ends and in the center of the bumper of the tractor unit, from which bright green cables branch off into the vehicle's digital interior. Additional sensors and antennas are mounted on the roof.
These robot-controlled vehicles, traveling at speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour, blend seamlessly into mixed traffic. Accompanied only by a safety driver ready to intervene in case of emergency, the vehicles of the yard logistics specialist Kamag must navigate numerous unpredictable situations, maneuver around obstacles, change direction, and watch out for pedestrians and cross traffic. This presents a significant challenge for the sensor technology and the associated IT systems.
Integrated into the traffic flow
Lidar scanners use laser light to capture the surroundings and create a digital image. A GPS antenna on the roof ensures precise positioning of the vehicle while driving. A second antenna receives data from infrastructure sensors. This is how the evaluated information from radar and camera data is transmitted. "The maneuvering of swap bodies and trailers from parking areas to loading or unloading at the transshipment hall offers considerable potential – especially given the shortage of drivers," explains Stefan Hohm, Head of Development at Dachser.
To enable the complex process of fully safe, automated truck traffic in a logistics facility, cameras and sensors were also installed on the outside of the buildings for the research project. If one of these detects a person, for example, crossing a pedestrian crossing, the autonomous vehicle receives this information in advance. It can reduce its speed and, if necessary, stop immediately, even before it turns the corner and the person comes into view.
Photos: Dachser
“For mixed operations on our site, it’s crucial that the autonomous vehicles don’t become an obstacle,” says André Bilz, Team Leader Truck & Terminal Equipment at Dachser’s headquarters. Currently, adhering to existing safety regulations, it would only be possible to operate such vehicles at 6 to 8 km/h. The vehicles tested here, however, travel three times faster, at speeds of up to 20 km/h.
For three and a half years, the research project investigated how this works in practical logistics operations. Important foundations were laid, such as a comprehensive safety concept that was validated in continuous operation under real-world conditions. The project results will now be incorporated into the development of legally sound framework conditions for automated freight transport at transshipment points.
Valuable addition
In addition to Dachser, seven partners are involved, including the Fraunhofer Institutes for Material Flow and Logistics IML and for Transport and Infrastructure Systems IVI. ZF Commercial Vehicle Systems from Hanover is acting as project coordinator and was primarily responsible for the conversion of the Kamag PT tractor unit. The two special vehicles, supplied by Kamag Transporttechnik, were equipped by the various partners with the necessary sensors and on-board electronics for data processing. Sick provided the sensors and played a leading role in developing the safety concept. Götting, an automation expert, supplied key components for vehicle localization.
Bilz and R&D colleague Christoph Ehrhardt draw a positive conclusion: "We don't yet have a production-ready solution, but valuable experience and data with which we can shape the future," says Ehrhardt.
Christian Auchter
