• Home Page
• Journal
  • Journal
  • Distribution
  • Editorial Board
  • Editorial Staff
  • Sections
  • List of reviewers
  • Requirements for Articles
  • Russian Logistics Journal
• News
  • Events list
  • Rules for press releases
  • News of Logistics
• Subscription
  • Subscription via Agencies
  • E-mailing
• Advertising
  • Advertising in Journal
  • Website Advertising
• Archive
• Contacts

CeMAT 2016: Sharp focus on IT

Hannover, Germany - Under the umbrella of the CeMAT IT Roundtable (which took place at the new headquarters of the intralogistics specialist “viastore” in Stuttgart on 6 April) the speakers and journalists engaged in an intensive dialogue. The focus was on the role of IT at CeMAT and the growing convergence of the physical and digital worlds in the logistics sector. “The quality of the hardware and its smart integration into IT systems have a decisive impact on the success of intralogistics solutions,” explained Wolfgang Pech, Senior Vice President at Deutsche Messe. “In Hannover numerous exhibitors will demonstrate how to automate logistics processes – live and in action.”

At this year’s CeMAT the German software giant SAP will be staging a large-scale “partner presentation” in the heavily frequented Hall 27 in the display category Logistics IT. “The spotlight will be on our S4/HANA logistics software suite,” said Ralf Schränkler, Solution Sales Executive SCM at SAP. “We no longer distinguish between internal and external logistics – in our view it is essential to create a continuous logistics chain from the supplier to the end user.” Supply Chain Execution (SCE) is an integral component. For this reason, SAP is focusing primarily on integrated approaches in order to establish a direct link with warehouse automation systems and warehousing technology in general. This includes the creation of advanced intralogistics solutions.

“In my role as a business leader I am very pleased that CeMAT 2016 is placing a sharp focus on IT,” emphasized Michael Baranowski, Managing Director of the Paderborn-based Team GmbH. “This corresponds to market demands.” He sees strong potential for cloud computing and augmented reality (e.g. via head-mounted displays). CeMAT 2016 will feature practical demonstrations of pick-by-vision. “At our stand in Hannover visitors will have the chance to pick items with the aid of a head-mounted display,” Baranowski announced. “They will be in a position to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this new technology and identify potential applications in their own companies.” According to Baranowski, the decision to concentrate on digitalization and Logistics 4.0 at CeMAT 2016 is exactly the right step. These issues are currently in high demand among exhibitors and visitors.

IT and digitalization are high up on the agenda at viastore. More than half of the company’s workforce is deployed in the IT sector. “Software-related processes and logistics automation are currently the driving forces behind corporate growth,” explained viastore’s CEO Philipp Hahn-Woernle. “In the software segment we are building on our strategic partnership with SAP. At the same time we are continuing to develop viadat, our own intralogistics solution.” At CeMAT 2016 viastore will unveil a new, intuitive user interface for viadat. In addition, the company will be presenting numerous other intralogistics offerings to the visiting public.

SSI Schäfer likewise welcomes the new CeMAT concept. “The effective integration of hardware in a warehousing or order-picking zone depends on the availability of good software,” explained Johann Klug, Global Product Manager IT at SSI Schäfer. Against this background the company has significantly enhanced its IT skills in recent years. “Visitors to CeMAT will be able to see this with their own eyes,” Klug said. “This year we are intent on demonstrating our integrated problem-solving capabilities.” From the viewpoint of SSI Schäfer the smart networking of human resources, processes, goods and locations is one of the central functions of intralogistics.

“Digitalization begins in the mind,” maintained Rainer Glatz, Director of the software section of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). “Visitors and exhibitors have to think in terms of digital processes.” Frequently, there is still a strict separation between production and logistics, IT and logistics and between individual enterprises. Glatz sees CeMAT as a major opportunity to promote integrated logistics in Germany. “I hope that the exhibit category ‘Logistics IT’ will function as a growth factor for CeMAT as a whole,” Glatz said in Stuttgart. “Digitalization is here to stay – now is the right time to place digitalization at the focal point of CeMAT.” In this context he mentioned the high-caliber opening session of the IT and Automation Forum on Tuesday, 31 May (beginning at 12 noon), where representatives of software companies, research organizations and industrial enterprises will deliver keynotes and participate in a panel discussion on the topic of “Traceability – the basis for Industry 4.0”.