A Year of New Energy and Networking for Industry 4.0

2022 marks the year that the intralogistics industry was able to return to some semblance of normality – with exhibitions and trade fairs that could be visited live and in technicolor. Events like LogiMAT and the World of Material Handling (WoMH) were a breath of fresh air for an industry that had been hit hard by the pandemic. Now that we are heading toward the last quarter of 2022, it is time to take stock. Below, we take a look back at the past months and at what is still to come.

What is the aim of a trade fair? Ideally, trade fairs should bring companies, customers, and specialists together and bridge the gap between supply and demand. However, in the case of the World of Material Handling (WoMH) trade show, the organizers decided to go one step further. Linde Material Handling made the most of their 17,000 m2 exhibition space. Their aim was to have guests and customers not simply walk by, but to actively participate in the event. One hundred different forklifts were on show in their outdoor area, providing visitors with the opportunity to test the vehicles for themselves. And that wasn’t all: A complete goods flow concept was set up in the main hall, allowing spectators to experience first-hand how various solutions and products can be implemented into the supply chain and what benefits they provide. Specifically, this meant that visitors were able to view all stages of the goods flow process in person, from goods receipt to storage, and from picking and production to last-mile delivery.

With their practical focus, these trade fair concepts could well serve as a model for the future. However, many exhibitions and trade fairs have continued to focus on networking. LogiMAT 2022, Europe’s largest intralogistics trade fair, brought together 1,500 exhibitors from more than 40 European countries. It was a special moment for the industry as a whole: old acquaintances were able to see each other once again, and panels and discussion forums were a hotbed of activity. Intralogistics brands like Dematic, STILL, Jungheinrich, Toyota, and Linde Material Handling were also on site, where their representatives took part in discussions and active debates. All participants were able to come to the same conclusion: While the events of the past two years had caused a great deal of upheaval and posed new challenges, the industry had faced these challenges head on and with all its strength.

This atmosphere of optimism and determination could also be found at other trade fairs. The main focus of Logistics & Distribution in Dortmund and Logistics & Automation in Hamburg (in May and June, respectively) was on storage solutions and IT infrastructure for material flow management. And while events such as MHLC 2022 had to be postponed until 2023, others were determined to put on a show for example MODEX 2022, which catered to a wide range of supply chain and logistics topics with a variety of keynote speakers and exciting on-floor seminars.

So what can we look forward to in the remaining months of 2022? The Logistics Summit will be taking place from October 5‒6 in Hamburg, offering podium discussions, opportunities for networking, and master classes. And just two weeks later, from October 19‒21, the Bundesverband der Deutschen Logistikwirtschaft [Federal Association for the German Logistics Sector] is hosting the International Supply Chain Conference in Berlin, where new automated solutions such as STILL’s automated tugger trains will be on display. One month before this, and a few thousand miles away, Material Handling Middle East will be taking place in the United Arab Emirates from 13‒15 September. Here, exhibitors such as Dematic will be presenting their latest innovations in the field of automation technology. As you can see, the intralogistics year is far from over.

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