Frank van Dijck has been elected to the role of president of the FEM at the FEM Congress held in Turkey at the end of September. Forkliftaction News spoke with van Dijck, who is also the CTO and board member with Dutch materials handling logistics company Vanderlande, about his FEM role and his hopes for what he can achieve while in it.

FLA: Prior to this appointment, what has been your biggest achievement?

FvD: It is difficult to describe my biggest achievement. I am proud of so many things that I have achieved in my career. I am in the materials handling industry now for more than 22 years after having been a customer in one of my previous jobs. This has [taught] me how crucial proper change management is when implementing automated MH systems and it is something that I always have tried to put forward in the later steps of my career. Whether it relates to designing, developing or selling new systems or in leading a technology organisation with significant strategy - and transformation programs.

FLA: What excites you most about the materials handling industry?

FvD: It is a very diverse industry with many different types of customers and solutions. Our systems are at the centre of the logistics operations of our customers and play a crucial part in the global supply chain.  Our industry has a great impact in improving the performance of our customer’s operation. This makes it very interesting to me.

FLA: What is the most significant change you have seen in the industry in your time?

FvD: There have been several significant changes over these years. Some of the bigger ones are:

The strong rise of ecommerce, especially during COVID times;
Different technological developments, such as the transition from cranes to shuttles to AMR;
And now the fast growth in AI technology which creates a lot of new possibilities on the product and solution sides.
I recently picked up the statement that “the pace of change has never been this fast, and yet it will never be this slow again….”. So as FEM and as an industry we need to be prepared for change. 

FLA: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities that you see in your new role?

FvD: Guiding our industry through a period of continuous change, in a geo-political unstable world. Main agenda items will be related to sustainability and the regulation around this, and to the technological developments that will continue and that are mainly related to digital. Both will bring challenges and probably lead to additional costs and investment, but they will also create new opportunities. It is our duty to pick up these challenges in such a way that they help to grow and improve our industry. Innovation is key in this. 

FLA: Can you share one piece of information about yourself which would surprise our readers?

FvD: I don’t think that your readers know me, so everything that I tell is probably new for them. I am 57-years-old, am married to Petula and have two grown up sons, Bas and Niels, a dog and a cat. I live in The Netherlands and I like to run and read. I like to travel, and luckily I have a job that requires traveling.