Editor Allan Leibowitz comments on the news of the week

If there's one topic that seems to be dominating materials handling, it's automation. The increasing interest in the application of technology to previously manual tasks is very evident in our news this week, with a report from a leading consultancy noting that automation "has arrived" in European warehousing. We also share a German case study indicating the immediate benefits of automation - even when it's bolted onto an existing operation. And, finally, we note the growing investment in automation by courier and logistics giant DHL Express, with significant technology enhancements, especially in the Asian region.