Is platooning the future of long-distance transport?
The technology was reliable, less diesel was used and the drivers were also satisfied: in a practical test on the A 9 motorway between Nuremberg and Munich, truck platooning convinced project partners DB Schenker and MAN Truck & Bus. Even if there is still a long way to go until it comes into operation, the initiators are certain that the technology offers great potential.
Good combination: Logistics across Europe
For years, Ekol has been one of the fastest growing logistics companies in Europe – mainly thanks to an innovative company policy that is both customer- and future-oriented.
Locomotive builder sees success in new areas
Von der Schiene auf die Straße: Beim Bau von Speziallokomotiven, etwa für den Tunnelbau, zählt die Schöma Maschinenfabrik aus Diepholz zu den weltweit führenden Anbietern. Vor zwei Jahren begann das Unternehmen, auch Agrarauflieger für den Gülletransport zu fertigen. Der Erfolg ließ nicht lange auf sich warten.
A hub for the future of logistics
The Digital Hub Logistics in Hamburg has been connecting established companies with start-ups and players from the fields of research and education for two years now. The former warehouse in the city’s Speicherstadt warehouse district is a place where new ideas and business models for the future of logistics are taking shape.
Electric heavy goods vehicles? No problem!
For a long time, it was impossible to imagine heavy goods vehicles and alternative drives going hand in hand. With the eActros, the first Daimler 25-tonner with an electric engine, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has made this combination possible: robust, reliable and with a range of around 200 kilometres – when it comes to customer use, does this electric truck live up to the hype? Baden-Württemberg company Logistik Schmitt is putting the vehicle through its paces.
FUTURE LAB
Is platooning the future of long-distance transport?
The technology was reliable, less diesel was used and the drivers were also satisfied: in a practical test on the A 9 motorway between Nuremberg and Munich, truck platooning convinced project partners DB Schenker and MAN Truck & Bus. Even if there is still a long way to go until it comes into operation, the initiators are certain that the technology offers great potential.
A hub for the future of logistics
The Digital Hub Logistics in Hamburg has been connecting established companies with start-ups and players from the fields of research and education for two years now. The former warehouse in the city’s Speicherstadt warehouse district is a place where new ideas and business models for the future of logistics are taking shape.
Why do we fear robots?
Martina Mara is Professor of Robot Psychology at the Linz Institute of Technology (LIT) of the Johannes Kepler University Linz. She is carrying out research on how robots and humans can work well together, and what is key to ensuring we do not fear machines. How can driverless vehicles gain our trust, for example?
eLOUNGE
Electric heavy goods vehicles? No problem!
For a long time, it was impossible to imagine heavy goods vehicles and alternative drives going hand in hand. With the eActros, the first Daimler 25-tonner with an electric engine, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has made this combination possible: robust, reliable and with a range of around 200 kilometres – when it comes to customer use, does this electric truck live up to the hype? Baden-Württemberg company Logistik Schmitt is putting the vehicle through its paces.
Battery research: cells with a future
Politicians and experts alike agree that electric vehicles are part of the future of mobility. Powerful batteries are the key element of electric vehicles. That’s why there is currently massive investment going into German battery research and production. While Asian companies are currently at the forefront of battery technology, this soon ought to change.
Practical testing of electrified commercial vehicles – are they ready for day-to-day operations yet?
How reliable is an electric drive in the axle? Are the ranges sufficient for day-to-day long-distance transport? How will the customers respond – and what do drivers think of the electrified drive system of the future? A six-month practical test of the BPW eTransport axle at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has returned some revealing results.
Battery research: cells with a future
Politicians and experts alike agree that electric vehicles are part of the future of mobility. Powerful batteries are the key element of electric vehicles. That’s why there is currently massive investment going into German battery research and production. While Asian companies are currently at the forefront of battery technology, this soon ought to change.
Practical testing of electrified commercial vehicles – are they ready for day-to-day operations yet?
How reliable is an electric drive in the axle? Are the ranges sufficient for day-to-day long-distance transport? How will the customers respond – and what do drivers think of the electrified drive system of the future? A six-month practical test of the BPW eTransport axle at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has returned some revealing results.
SUCCESS STORY
Locomotive builder sees success in new areas
Von der Schiene auf die Straße: Beim Bau von Speziallokomotiven, etwa für den Tunnelbau, zählt die Schöma Maschinenfabrik aus Diepholz zu den weltweit führenden Anbietern. Vor zwei Jahren begann das Unternehmen, auch Agrarauflieger für den Gülletransport zu fertigen. Der Erfolg ließ nicht lange auf sich warten.
Good combination: Logistics across Europe
For years, Ekol has been one of the fastest growing logistics companies in Europe – mainly thanks to an innovative company policy that is both customer- and future-oriented.
Wine logistics: fruits of the vine in the best of hands
Reading time: approx. 5 minutes Text: Michi Jo Standl Photos: Jennifer ZumbuschIn Germany, around 20.5 litres of wine were consumed per person in 2018. Regional wines are growing in popularity. According to the latest GfK wine market analysis, food retailers sold 6.1...
SUCCESS STORY
Locomotive builder sees success in new areas
Von der Schiene auf die Straße: Beim Bau von Speziallokomotiven, etwa für den Tunnelbau, zählt die Schöma Maschinenfabrik aus Diepholz zu den weltweit führenden Anbietern. Vor zwei Jahren begann das Unternehmen, auch Agrarauflieger für den Gülletransport zu fertigen. Der Erfolg ließ nicht lange auf sich warten.
Good combination: Logistics across Europe
For years, Ekol has been one of the fastest growing logistics companies in Europe – mainly thanks to an innovative company policy that is both customer- and future-oriented.
Wine logistics: fruits of the vine in the best of hands
Reading time: approx. 5 minutes Text: Michi Jo Standl Photos: Jennifer ZumbuschIn Germany, around 20.5 litres of wine were consumed per person in 2018. Regional wines are growing in popularity. According to the latest GfK wine market analysis, food retailers sold 6.1...
SMART CITY
City logistics: what will solve the problem?
Given that online trade is booming in Germany, logisticians should actually be happy. After all, an increasing number of orders also means a greater number of assignments for them. But what if the number of parcels continues to rise to unimagined heights? Are logistics in the city then the problem or the solution? At the Moving City event, the industry considered new logistics approaches and technologies to cover the last mile.
Urban logistics: on the road to zero emissions
Many European cities are experimenting with their own ways of making urban logistics more sustainable and more user-friendly for residents. Gothenburg, for example, is focusing on consolidating inner-city freight transport, Zurich is examining which trends in the retail sector will impact the city in the future and Utrecht is striving for a completely emission-free centre.
Autonomous driving in cities – opportunity or risk?
The transport infrastructures of large cities are reaching the limits of what they can handle. The roads are becoming congested with an increasing number of delivery services and individual mobility solutions. Is autonomous driving the answer? Would it make urban mobility safer, more efficient and cleaner – or would it just mean even more vehicles on city roads, thus causing the system to break down completely?
Urban logistics: on the road to zero emissions
Many European cities are experimenting with their own ways of making urban logistics more sustainable and more user-friendly for residents. Gothenburg, for example, is focusing on consolidating inner-city freight transport, Zurich is examining which trends in the retail sector will impact the city in the future and Utrecht is striving for a completely emission-free centre.
Autonomous driving in cities – opportunity or risk?
The transport infrastructures of large cities are reaching the limits of what they can handle. The roads are becoming congested with an increasing number of delivery services and individual mobility solutions. Is autonomous driving the answer? Would it make urban mobility safer, more efficient and cleaner – or would it just mean even more vehicles on city roads, thus causing the system to break down completely?
LOGISTICS HERO
The Transport Ambassadors are flying the logistics flag
What does a Transport Ambassador actually do? Neither the Federal Foreign Office nor Wikipedia has an answer to this question. Perhaps it’s best asking someone who already has this title on their business card, such as Jens Thiermann, Chair of the Die Transportbotschafter (The Transport Ambassadors) e. V. association.
Will trucks soon park in high-bay warehouses?
According to the German Haulage, Logistics and Waste Disposal Federation (abbreviated BGL in German), German motorways lack 35,000 to 40,000 parking spaces for trucks. What can be done about this? A software company has developed an innovative system that creates three to four times as many parking spaces in a given area, thus solving several problems at the same time – the ‘TruckTower’ is an environmentally friendly truck parking facility and an inexpensive hotel for truck drivers in one.
‘The drivers are the backbone of the German economy’
Logistics is suffering from a severe lack of drivers – the profession has lost its appeal and its image is suffering. The ‘PROFI – Pro Fahrer-Image’ initiative aims to change this and ensure that industry, retail, the transport sector and the general public once again appreciate professional drivers for what they are, namely one of the most important players in the logistics chain. In an interview, Professor Dirk Engelhardt, chairman of the board of Germany’s Federal Road Freight Transport, Logistics and Waste Management Association (abbreviated BGL in German), and Ralf Merkelbach, key account manager for major fleets in Europe at BPW Bergische Achsen, explain how the initiative plans to achieve this goal.
BPW ON YOUTUBE
BEST SOLUTION
Quality in the face of a crisis – a Turkish success story
The Turkish commercial vehicle industry is struggling with declining sales, but quality remains in demand, particularly in difficult economic times – more than 20,000 BPW axles and air suspension systems were assembled in BPW Otomotiv’s plant near Istanbul in 2018, and the company’s production output has tripled in the past five years.
Mini black box: a small box with huge impact
Why make it complicated if it can be simple? To trace the forces that impact a running gear during a field test, Reiner Moog used to have to unpack all his measuring equipment. Now, with the mini black box, the head of field testing at running gear specialists BPW Bergische Achsen is breaking new ground: the new device fits inside a case and can be ready to use in two hours. This might not sound spectacular, but it could be the Holy Grail of measurement technology.
Upturn in the economic wonderland
India’s economy is flourishing with remarkable growth rates. The requirements for transport and logistics are also growing in line with this. Kamal, one of India’s largest manufacturers of tipper vehicles, has now installed BPW air suspension in its first tipper. The technology offers many advantages, in particular given the harsh conditions on the country’s roads.
Mini black box: a small box with huge impact
Why make it complicated if it can be simple? To trace the forces that impact a running gear during a field test, Reiner Moog used to have to unpack all his measuring equipment. Now, with the mini black box, the head of field testing at running gear specialists BPW Bergische Achsen is breaking new ground: the new device fits inside a case and can be ready to use in two hours. This might not sound spectacular, but it could be the Holy Grail of measurement technology.
Upturn in the economic wonderland
India’s economy is flourishing with remarkable growth rates. The requirements for transport and logistics are also growing in line with this. Kamal, one of India’s largest manufacturers of tipper vehicles, has now installed BPW air suspension in its first tipper. The technology offers many advantages, in particular given the harsh conditions on the country’s roads.
BIG PICTURE
Big fair guest: a 31-metre “princess”
This lady named “Princess”, a yacht from Holland, almost 31 metres long and more than nine metres high, was a guest at the water sports fair “Boot Düsseldorf”.
