Straight-talking logistics experts: This is what we want from politics!
Logistics is the backbone of the German economy but many restrictions and regulations make work difficult for the industry’s entrepreneurs. Three logistics experts clearly state on motionist.com what they expect from politics.
‘Private vehicles have no place in city centres’
Cities are full and our transport infrastructure is reaching its maximum capacity. However, it is not the vehicles that supply supermarkets, retail outlets and construction sites that need the most space, but rather private vehicles. How can this be reduced? This is what two experts from Hamburg discuss on motionist.com: Professor Gesa Ziemer, Head of the City Science Lab at Hafencity University, researches mobility in the cities of tomorrow. Hans Stapelfeldt, Network Manager at Logistik-Initiative Hamburg, is responsible for implementing the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) strategy and the ITS World Congress 2021.
Manoeuvring trailers faster
The traditional Bavarian vehicle manufacturer Martin Reisch GmbH produces high-quality drawbar trailers for the agricultural and commercial vehicle industry. With a new auxiliary steering system, customers can now manoeuvre backwards faster and more easily.
Emission-free through the night
Night logistics could be a real problem-solver: with emission-free and low-noise vehicles, night logistics protects the climate and could even spare local residents’ nerves from imminent gridlock in cities. But how much longer do we need to wait for this to become reality?
From truck driver to pilot coach
Pilot coach – that sounds like something linked to aviation. But it is, in fact, very down-to-earth as we’re talking about the kings of the road: truck drivers. So that they can fulfil their tasks responsibly and to the best of their ability, the haulier Reinert Logistics trains special driving trainers. After all, it is about much more than just manoeuvring the drawbar trailer from the loading point to the unloading point.
FUTURE LAB
Straight-talking logistics experts: This is what we want from politics!
Logistics is the backbone of the German economy but many restrictions and regulations make work difficult for the industry’s entrepreneurs. Three logistics experts clearly state on motionist.com what they expect from politics.
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.
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
Manoeuvring trailers faster
The traditional Bavarian vehicle manufacturer Martin Reisch GmbH produces high-quality drawbar trailers for the agricultural and commercial vehicle industry. With a new auxiliary steering system, customers can now manoeuvre backwards faster and more easily.
Millions in the making
Heavy haulage specialist Daniel Bower shared his vision with The Drake Group to create a low-height, semi-modular, steerable low loader – the first interchangeable Drake platform to run entirely on BPW axles.
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.
SUCCESS STORY
Manoeuvring trailers faster
The traditional Bavarian vehicle manufacturer Martin Reisch GmbH produces high-quality drawbar trailers for the agricultural and commercial vehicle industry. With a new auxiliary steering system, customers can now manoeuvre backwards faster and more easily.
Millions in the making
Heavy haulage specialist Daniel Bower shared his vision with The Drake Group to create a low-height, semi-modular, steerable low loader – the first interchangeable Drake platform to run entirely on BPW axles.
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.
SMART CITY
‘Private vehicles have no place in city centres’
Cities are full and our transport infrastructure is reaching its maximum capacity. However, it is not the vehicles that supply supermarkets, retail outlets and construction sites that need the most space, but rather private vehicles. How can this be reduced? This is what two experts from Hamburg discuss on motionist.com: Professor Gesa Ziemer, Head of the City Science Lab at Hafencity University, researches mobility in the cities of tomorrow. Hans Stapelfeldt, Network Manager at Logistik-Initiative Hamburg, is responsible for implementing the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) strategy and the ITS World Congress 2021.
Emission-free through the night
Night logistics could be a real problem-solver: with emission-free and low-noise vehicles, night logistics protects the climate and could even spare local residents’ nerves from imminent gridlock in cities. But how much longer do we need to wait for this to become reality?
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.
Emission-free through the night
Night logistics could be a real problem-solver: with emission-free and low-noise vehicles, night logistics protects the climate and could even spare local residents’ nerves from imminent gridlock in cities. But how much longer do we need to wait for this to become reality?
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.
LOGISTICS HERO
From truck driver to pilot coach
Pilot coach – that sounds like something linked to aviation. But it is, in fact, very down-to-earth as we’re talking about the kings of the road: truck drivers. So that they can fulfil their tasks responsibly and to the best of their ability, the haulier Reinert Logistics trains special driving trainers. After all, it is about much more than just manoeuvring the drawbar trailer from the loading point to the unloading point.
‘As a woman, you can accomplish anything in the logistics industry.’
On 8 March, it is International Women’s Day – it has been a public holiday in Berlin since 2019, while in other countries, such as Russia and Vietnam, it has been for much longer. How are women faring in logistics? The best way to find out what’s going well and where difficulties lie is for successful women in logistics to tell us themselves.
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.
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
Heavy on the road
Tools for the automotive industry weigh up to 60 tons. To move them, you need strong axles – and more than usual.
