Innovations and Trends in material handling and logistics

Innovations and Trends

A diverse spectrum of social and technological developments will shape the future of intralogistics. As a key element of the value chain and one becoming increasingly reliant on digitalization, intralogistics has to address today’s challenges. Far more than that, it needs to stay one step ahead. That is why many experts describe logistics as setting the pace of the fourth industrial revolution.

On the following pages we present an array of trends and innovations that everyone involved with intralogistics needs to know.

E-grocery - intelligent solutions for individual shopping carts

E-GROCERY

Intelligent solutions for individual shopping carts
The rapidly growing sector of online retailing places a high demand on intralogistics for grocers. Constant cost restraints, the growing demand for order today and deliver today, along with the need for higher process efficiencies, mandate companies apply the dynamics of e-grocery to their supply chain.

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3D Depiction of Beeline, Germany

How to create a sustainable intralogistics and building infrastructure

When planning a new logistics building – and for retrofits too – green building and sustainability factors gain in importance. SSI SCHAEFER offers several green solutions. Moreover, the company offers further services from energy consulting and planning, certification and monitoring, and subsidy consulting. Johannes Zimmermann, Director Construction Management at SSI SCHAEFER, provides deeper insights in the following interview.

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order picking at dm

Returnable containers

How volume reduction helps to reduce CO₂ emissions and what returnable container options SSI SCHAEFER provides.

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Picking and Handling

Best Place to Work: Ergonomics Meets Efficiency

An activity is carried out efficiently and effectively when it comes easy and follows clear processes. In order to meet these requirements, as part of the ergonomics@work!® program, we implement special picking stations designed to motivate employees, promote peak performance and significantly improve ergonomics at the work station. Movements such as lifting and carrying are assisted with ergonomic pulling and pushing. This means optimization of workflows and work heights. The goal is to create “feel-good work stations” that feature intuitive operator guidance using intelligent communication and display systems. The solutions are specifically tailored to the customer’s needs.

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Hochregallager und Regalbediengerät Exyz

Sustainably Convincing Storage Machines and Shuttles

Everybody is talking about climate protection. Discussed in-depth in society and linked to global campaigns, the topic of sustainability is also increasingly becoming a decisive criterion in logistics to ensure whether the offered solutions are viable. This is nothing new for SSI SCHAEFER as the topic corresponds to the long-term view on Green Logistics that was firmly engrained at an early stage. This is part of our Think Tomorrow. philosophy according to which we plan logistics solutions that are tailored to our customers’ needs and continually optimized with a view towards long-term criteria - this is the basis of our success.

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IT, Digital, Software

Sustainable Logistics with and through IT

Intralogistics systems are becoming larger and larger and increasingly complex. Today’s computing power of a modern warehouse IT infrastructure is breaking new ground in terms of size and complexity, thus reaching dimensions that would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago. In the following article Markus Klug, Team Leader Data Analysis & Simulation, explains how SSI SCHAEFER enables sustainable logistics with and through IT.

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Digitization

Predictive Maintenance for Sustainable Intralogistics

In the following interview, Elie Zita provides an overview of how digitalization has revolutionized customer service, guaranteeing maximized system availability and sustainability as a result of customized, predictive maintenance.

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Think Tomorrow. - ecofriendly granulat

Sustainable plastic containers

Interview with Dr. Armin Vogel: how sustainable plastic containers are produced and used in logistics over the long term.

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SSI Exyz C in warehouse environment

SSI Exyz C: Automating Pallet Racks at a Later Point

A new compact “C” assembly group is now available, completing the range of proven SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines from SSI SCHAEFER. SSI Exyz C automates the pallet rack processes in existing buildings in heights of up to 13.5 m. Without any need to upgrade floor slabs or perform extensive modifications - implementation during ongoing operation is also possible. Learn more about the energy-efficient solution.

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Digitization

Digitalization meets Customer Services

One Step Ahead for Permanent Availability

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Automated Guided Vehicles at SSI Schaefer

Automation meets manual processes and vice versa

Learn more about how SSI SCHAEFER increases efficiency in manual or semi-automated processes with our AGV portfolio.

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WEASEL Layout with mezzanine, vertical lift module LOGIMAT, shelving, conveyor,

SSI Mechatronics

In the area of SSI Mechatronics, SSI SCHAEFER applies a product-based approach to supplying the market. Our day-to-day business involves delivering intralogistics components to a general contractor. How this business sector works and the role that SSI SCHAEFER plays is explained by Arnold Lanz, Vice President of Hub Development & Integrator Business.

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header and footer for website landingpage it blog

IT Blog | A Successful Warehouse Digitization Requires Reliable Data | Part 1/2

Valid Material Master Data as a Basis for More Efficient Material Flow Processes
When it comes to innovative warehouses and logistics centers, SSI SCHAEFER is a strong partner who delivers and realizes solutions from a single source on demand. Its extensive and at the same time high-end products lay the foundations for complete customized solutions. A complete solution by SSI SCHAEFER generally also covers the migration of a considerable amount of data to the IT systems, which are installed with the new warehouse. SSI SCHAEFER has the required expertise to migrate data into a new system in coordination with the customer and advises the warehouse operator regarding the significance of valid data and its benefits for a sustainable and efficient warehouse operation.„In God we trust, all others must bring data“ [1]Since the very beginning of the IT evolution, data has been digitally processed into information on a numeric basis. The quality of results has always depended on the quality and reliability of the input data, and this will continue to be the case long into the future. At the same time, the calculation model behind it all is of vital importance as it processes the input data into useful and efficient results. There is no way around the need for digitization, especially when you are trying to continuously process even more data for an even better warehouse operation.

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Picking at SSI LOGIMAT in combination with SSI WEASEL

Future-proof solution for flexible small parts storage

No matter whether it is due to rapid growth, supply bottlenecks or absence of employees – the importance of flexibility in small parts storage becomes apparent in cases of unforeseen events. How do you ensure delivery capacity, even in dynamic times? If automation is the solution, what measures can be implemented in a small parts warehouse with only minor investment? How flexible and scalable are these systems?

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Blog deep freeze

The Art of Staying Cool

... Even When the Temperature Rises in Frozen Food and Fresh Produce Logistics

Special requirements are the order of the day, particularly in fresh produce logistics. Fresh produce logistics comprises fresh fish, dairy, and fruit and vegetable shipments from countries all over the world, as well as frozen food shipments straight to the consumer – and always in the shortest time possible. Frozen food and fresh produce require uninterrupted cooling in order to preserve their maximum shelf life. It goes without saying that this also involves adherence to all legal provisions regarding the cold food chain.

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WAMAS, Software, WCS, Warehouse Control System

WCS: Fulfillment Software for the Automated Warehouse

Successful fulfillment has become a multidimensional and complex service within the supply chain. Automated, highly dynamic warehouses in particular require sophisticated order fulfillment software solutions: such as those offered by the WAMAS Warehouse Control System (WCS). Modern WCS systems are the first choice in automated warehouses across all industries. They connect both people and performance modules and help align order fulfillment efficiently.

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IT WAMAS® Screen

Is Automation only for Large Companies? An Interview with SSI SCHAEFER

To stay competitive in a pandemic climate, many food and beverage businesses might have considered, researched and even strategized co-opting automation solutions to their operations. For many of them, the term automation still implies machines or robots taking over manufacturing plants. While there is a space and need for such solutions, automation can also further enhance efficiency side-by-side with human labour. Further, manufacturers could also incorporate software solutions that help ensure product quality and safety that Labour would struggle to keep up with.

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BarryCallebaut_inbound outbound platform.jpg

High-rise warehouse for the world's largest chocolate producer

The Barry Callebaut Chocolate Box
The extremely rapid progress of technology has opened the door to numerous innovative concepts. Especially in the field of logistics, where fully automated high bay warehouses are becoming increasingly popular. This solution is also the main focus of ‘The Barry Callebaut Chocolate Box’. Thanks to SSI SCHAEFER, a world player and pioneer in this field, it has become a powerful piece of technical ingenuity. Steve Vercammen from SSI SCHAEFER Belgium gives an insight into this project.

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Blog: Returns Handling in Fashion Logistics by Manfred Januschke

Returns Handling in Fashion Logistics

The e-commerce sector continues to grow exponentially and promises rapidly increasing sales. However, at the same time, the number of returns is constantly rising, which puts a strain on margins. The fashion industry suffers from this development, as it wants its products to be available for the customer as quickly as possible to prevent loss of value in the seasonal business. Automation is an effective solution of meeting this ideal.

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Blog WAMAS

The Supreme Discipline of E-Commerce: Intralogistics Solutions for Food Retail

Freshness, timeliness, and service quality are the challenges of the food retailing industry in the classic, stationary retail trade. Due to the changing consumption patterns and the online boom in the food retail industry, new logistics challenges arise, which can only be met with state-of-the-art software.

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e-commerce

How should Next-Gen leaders adopt digitalization in a warehouse operation?

Times are changing for business owners, the environment where businesses are usually ‘normal’ are no longer usual, at least from where the next generation is concerned. In a survey conducted by PWC on the ‘Family Business Survey 2021, Singapore’, it reveals how the new wave of next-gen leaders is motivated to lead their family-owned businesses into a more digitalized state, however, implementation and transformation has been slow.

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Container and Carton Conveyor System

6 myths about automation of the intralogistic processes

Warehouse automation has many advantages: it increases the efficiency and speed of order processing, helps to reduce costs and reduces the number of errors caused by people. However, there are still doubtful opinions on if it necessary to automate the warehouse. SSI SCHÄFER's expert shares his opinion on some popular misconceptions about automation and explains why they don’t reflect the way things really are.

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Megatrends

CGI Highlight image with high-bay racking, robots and conveying process

Industry 4.0

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