What stood out during the first day of Logistica and ICT & Logistiek? LogistiekProfs took a tour of the exhibition fields and noted four important takeaways.
1. Supply chain management is booming
The sessions in the Supply Chain Theatre were popular. Last year, the seminars were already filled to the brim, so the organisers decided to expand the theatre. This proved to be no luxury: sessions on strategy, processes, visibility and the ROI of supply chain improvements were once again well attended.
According to Sjaak Lekkerkerker of BLMC, which co-organises the sessions in the theatre, the unpredictability of the market plays a major role. "Companies are wondering how to make their supply chains more flexible and agile. They come to the theatre and the Supply Chain Square to listen to others' experiences and ask for advice."
2. Without AGV you do not really participate
Having an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) on your stand is a must, a tour of the fair suggests. The differences between them are huge: from AGVs that follow lines to AGVs that find their way through the warehouse with cameras and machine learning.
Eurotec's Lowpad went home with the Logistica Award 2019, the award for the best logistics innovation. An AGV that stands out with its compact size. With its low height of 12 centimetres, the Lowpad can lift and move shelving units, roll containers and Danish trolleys. The powered steering wheels on the four corners of the vehicle are also unique. This allows the Lowpad to move in any direction from a standstill, including diagonally or around a bend.
3. Cautious rise of platforms
The platform economy is steadily making its way into logistics, with only 16 per cent of trade and manufacturing companies currently using platforms to ship goods, according to research presented by evofenedex at the fair. A missed opportunity, says the trade organisation. To make companies more familiar with the possibilities of the platform economy, it is organising the session 'Online platforms: without complex implementation always get a grip on the supply chain' in the coming days. Companies interested in using platforms can visit ChainCargo and Miles Delivery, among others, at ICT & Logistiek.
4. Robotic arms
In hall 2, the robot arms caught the eye. Many system integrators show collaborative robot arms on their stands to support picking and packing. For example, we encountered the Universal Robots version several times.
In the same hall, we also found Robomotive's Box pick cell, finalist for the Logistica Award. This order picker can pick boxes and individual items within a range of three metres. Thanks to a 3D camera system and adaptive gripping technology, there is no need to use AI or deep learning. The box pick cell can pick around four hundred items per hour, with an availability of more than 95 per cent.
