VDI’s Technical Committee for AGVs gazes into the crystal ball

The initiative of VDI’s Technical Committee for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) on the future of mobile robotics is a distinguished panel of industry representatives pondering the future AGVs and AMRs. This expert forum offers insights into work that addresses the challenges of today. One focus is the use of mobile robotics outdoors, where there is tremendous growth potential, especially in the use of AGVs on site but outside enclosed structures. The forum presents three specific innovations that can be seen as milestones for outdoor AGV operations.

Moderated by: Dr.-Ing. Günter Ullrich, Managing Partner, Forum-FTS GmbH; Head of VDI Technical Committee for AGVs

Panel discussion with

Marco Bernstein, Head of Partner Management, ProLog Automation GmbH & Co. KG
Thomas Albrecht, Head of Autimated Guided Vehicles (AGV), Fraunhofer Institute of Material Flow and Logistics IML

Does it make sense to invest in highly flexible logistics systems?

Volatile markets, product personalization, made-to-order production, and shorter production cycles are ratcheting up the pressure to adapt and redesign production systems. Innovative solutions are needed for more flexible logistics systems that can feed this type of production. How flexible do these systems need to be? Some companies are already investing in adaptable production and logistics systems to boost their competitiveness. Is this investment worth it? What degree of flexibility makes sense?

Moderated by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Schulz, Director, Institute of Mechanical Handling and Logistics (IFT), University of Stuttgart

Research trends from flexible intralogistics
Markus Schröppel,Assistant Institute Director, Institute of Mechanical Handling and Logistics, University of Stuttgart
The adaptable, variable factory of the future
Johann Soder, Managing Director, SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG
Robotic warehouse systems: quickly implemented and highly flexible
Marco Gebhardt, Managing Director, GEBHARDT Fördertechnik GmbH

From crisis to future management

The cascading crises of recent years have unmasked the vulnerability of global supply chains that had been streamlined for efficiency before the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s why supply chain managers have begun moving beyond sustainability and flexibility and focusing more on resilience. Supply chain resilience is also the focus of this expert forum. This is about more than just the kind of crisis management occupying many companies today, however. Experts from research and business offer presentations followed by a roundtable to look into the future of supply chain management.

Moderated by: Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Henke, Institute Director at Fraunhofer IML, Corporate Logistics Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at TU Dortmund University

Keynotes:
Torsten Oldhues, Managing Director Operations, Havi Logistics Germany GmbH
Roland Rosen,
Principal Research Scientist for Modeling & Simulation, Siemens AG

Why a 5G campus network is a must for industry

The mobile communications and industry experts at BAYFU offer an exciting glimpse into 5G technology and how it can help businesses face the challenges of digital transformation. Attendees also get a field report from the Prinzhorn Group, which has already successfully deployed a 5G campus network.
This trade forum addresses the most urgent industry issues and explains how 5G campus networks can be a flexible, scalable, future-proof tool for raising critical operational technology apps to a new level.

Moderated by: Stefan Wimmer, Managing Partner, Bayerische Funknetz GmbH (BAYFU)

5G Campus: Foundation of digital industry
Stefan Wimmer, Managing Partner, Bayerische Funknetz GmbH (BAYFU)
5G campus in operation at the Prinzhorn Group—insights and experience
Michael Krumay, Head of Technology, Hamburger Containerboard of Prinzhorn Group

How to best leverage the benefits of sustainabilit

More and more consumers are demanding recyclable, environmentally friendly packaging. Logistics managers also reap economic and strategic advantages from low-impact or multi-use packaging, but many companies still find it challenging to truly leverage these benefits in their business operations. The LogiMAT trade forum “Transport and shipping packaging—How to best leverage the benefits of sustainability” looks at how manufacturers, retailers, and service providers can make sustainable packaging management a reality.

Moderated by: Sandra Lehmann, editor, LOGISTIK HEUTE, HUSS-VERLAG GmbH

Using analytics to optimize the flow of recyclables
Markus Weissenbäck, Head of Optimization Group, Supply Chain Services working group, Fraunhofer IIS
Added value for the customer—Sustainability. Performance. Scalability.
Dr. Michael Ott, Head of Logistics/Warehouse, van Eupen Logistik GmbH
HERMA InNo-Liner: Linerless labeling system—less waste, less expense, less hassle
Philipp Ott, Global Sales, Herma GmbH

Identify and leverage new trends

There is definitely no shortage of trends and new developments in intralogistics. Some address procedural and organizational issues, and some are technical solutions whose practicality and cost-effectiveness even the experts find difficult to assess.

The experts at the I.N. Forum delve into the following key questions:
What trends or innovations are actually sustainable?
What adds real value and what is just a waste of money?
What are more long-term concerns, and what might just be dead ends?

Moderated by: Dr. Jörg Pirron, Chair of the Intralogistics Network in Baden-Württemberg and Managing Director, PROTEMA Unternehmensberatung GmbH

The great tragedy of intralogistics – The destruction of a beautiful trend by the ugly face of data reality
Alexander Kopp, Team Leader and Manager, PROTEMA Unternehmensberatung GmbH
Integral planning as an enabler for the logistics and factory of the future
Mathias Stach, Associate Partner, Drees & Sommer SE

Thought leaders on risks and opportunities for intralogistics

Intralogistics is a cornerstone in the effort to design efficient processes in the manufacturing, retail, and service sectors. But nothing can guarantee that everything always runs smoothly, of course. Energy crises, armed conflicts, material shortages, and the effects of pandemics are just some of the things that can quickly disrupt global supply chains. What risks and opportunities are emerging from the current state of intralogistics? The LogiMAT summit brings together thought leaders from the scientific and business communities to discuss this and other issues.

Moderated by: Matthias Pieringer, editor in chief, LOGISTIK HEUTE, HUSS-VERLAG GmbH

Panel discussion with:

Steffen Bersch, CEO, SSI SCHÄFER Gruppe
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fottner, Chair in Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics at the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Munich
Gerald Hofer, CEO, KNAPP AG
Andreas Krinninger, member of the Board of Directors, KION GROUP AG and President, KION Industrial Trucks & Services EMEA
Christian Erlach, member of the Board of Directors Sales, Jungheinrich AG