CeMAT Preview in Hannover (from left): Dr. Christoph Beumer, Christoph Hahn-Woernle, and Dr. Andreas Gruchow.

• Sustainability as overriding theme
• Focus on industrial trucks and logistics systems
• Line-up also includes packaging systems, identification systems and port handling systems

Hannover - CeMAT opens for business on 2 May 2011, against a background of accelerating economic recovery. The world's leading trade fair for intralogistics is taking place this year under the tagline "Sustainability in Intralogistics". Following a decline in sales in 2009 and 2010, the industry is expecting to see nine per cent growth in turnover during the current year. Companies right across the industrial spectrum are starting to invest in logistics again. CeMAT will clearly benefit from this upturn during its five-day run (2 - 6 May) - and will in turn help to drive business growth across the industry.

More than 1,000 exhibitors will be presenting their latest innovations on a net display area of some 80,000 square metres. "This means that CeMAT remains the undisputed No.1 event for this market worldwide", says Dr. Andreas Gruchow, a member of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG. "The high quota of foreign exhibitors and visitors underlines the unique importance that CeMAT has for the industry."

Around a half of the exhibitors at CeMAT come from outside Germany. The countries with the largest exhibitor presence at the show are Italy, China, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Finland and Switzerland. They will be showcasing the complete spectrum of intralogistics technologies: industrial trucks and accessories, complete plant installations, systems and accessories, continuous handling systems, robot logistics, cranes, lifting platforms, access platforms, hoisting gear, logistics management, auto ID systems, software, warehousing systems and equipment, port handling equipment, order-picking and packaging systems, loading equipment, telematics and logistics real estate.

An additional attraction this year will be the trade show "Platformers' Days", which is being staged under the aegis of CeMAT on the open-air site in Hannover. It offers visitors a wealth of exhibits and information on mobile lifting and access equipment - its uses, operation and opportunities for rental.

Sustainability in Intralogistics

CeMAT Preview on Wednesday, 16 February 2011, on the fair ground of Hannover, Germany.

The issue of sustainability poses a special challenge for intralogistics, especially in view of the continuing rise in energy and raw material costs and the ongoing climate debate. This is why "Sustainability in Intralogistics" has been chosen as the tagline for CeMAT 2011. The focus here is not on "sustainability" as some fashionable buzzword, but on what it really means - namely, maintaining a balance between the claims of the environment, economic success and social responsibility.

"Intralogistics delivers technical solutions that can achieve greater productivity with less energy input, help to reduce packaging waste and make it possible to ease the burden of manual labour and create a better working environment for our workforce. We are really committed to these goals, and our industry has the potential to achieve them", says Christoph Hahn-Woernle, spokesman for the Intralogistics Forum and a managing partner of viastore systems GmbH, Stuttgart.

International CeMAT Forum

For the first time the Federal Logistics Association (BVL) is organizing the International CeMAT Forum. As well as sustainable technical developments in intralogistics systems, the presentations will cover the complete spectrum of logistical operations. The topics discussed range from the creation of secure and reliable supply chains to the distribution of goods in transport networks as well as the operation of terminals in intermodal hubs. The role of technical systems in the creation of sustainable and seamless value chains for the transhipment of load carriers and the maintenance of production supplies will be examined in detail. Attention will focus primarily on Brazil, China, India, Russia and the USA. Experts will discuss new approaches to topical issues and foster a better understanding, through dialogue, of the sustainable evolution of logistics.

Port Forum "Green Logistics for the globalized economy"

The Federal Association of Public River Ports (BÖB) is joining forces with the Central Association of German Sea Port Operators (ZDS) to stage the "Port Forum" once again at CeMAT 2011. This event is being held in the Robotation Academy on the Exhibition Grounds. Business professionals and representatives of the transport operators and the ports will be giving lecture presentations and taking part in discussions to consider how "green" port logistics can contribute to the development of sustainable logistics chains, and how this will affect the activities of shipping and forwarding agents and the logistics specialists who supply such concepts.

In a first block of presentations on the theme "Sea and river ports working together to deliver green logistics in hinterland transport operations", the subjects under discussion include the growing market for intermodal transport systems, bulk goods traffic and the fast-developing project business. In the platform discussion that follows, the participants will debate the competitive advantages of "green logistics" in ports versus road-haulage solutions, questions of infrastructure policy and the subsidy schemes available for combined transport systems.

The second block of presentations has as its theme "The integration of sea and river ports through technical innovation", with special reference to information technologies and innovative cargo-handling technologies.

Packaging and Auto ID systems

The special presentation "Auto ID and Packaging Logistics" at CeMAT 2011 highlights the role played by automated identification processes in packaging logistics. Visitors can see how the continuous data stream makes it possible to optimize the flow of goods in terms of traceability, process transparency and costs. They will also get an insight into the practicalities of incorporating this technology into goods shipments, with particular reference to primary packaging, packaging for transport, the assembly and securing of loading units and complete cargoes.

Logistics Factory - Automation in the logistics sector

The concept of "Logistics Factory" focuses on innovative robot-based automation solutions which extend beyond conventional production applications and adapt flexibly to complex, non-standardized logistics processes. The automation of material flows will necessitate the automation of information flows. The emphasis here is on the stringent technological demands in the logistics sector, as well as flexibility and scalability.

Intralogistics Campus

The Scientific Association for Technical Logistics (WGTL) and the engineering federation VDMA are once again the prime movers behind the Intralogistics Campus at CeMAT. This group presentation explores the industry's capacity for innovation through the links between engineering companies and academia. The WGTL will report on the latest research findings in intralogistics in a central forum and through lecture presentations at other locations.

TectoYou

TectoYou is CeMAT's answer to the increasingly vociferous demand from industry for young skilled workers. TectoYou is aimed at school-leavers, vocational school students and university freshmen. The initiative is designed to encourage their interest in technology and give them a clear idea of the career opportunities open to them. The official patron of TectoYou is the Federal Minister for Education and Research, Professor Annette Schavan.


To find out more about CeMAT Germany, or to register to visit go to: www.cemat.de.