Logistics Summit 2024
Thesen am Tresen - The STILL Logistics Talk
Panel discussion at the Logistics Summit
The STILL logistics talk ‘Thesen am Tresen' continued at the Logistics Summit in Düsseldorf in October 2024.
STILL experts discussed the topics of automation and hydrogen with logistics experts in two talks hosted by logistics journalists Anita Würmser and Thilo Jörgl.
Automated - and then what?
The economy is automating its intralogistics, and there is no longer any shortage of innovative offers. Euphoric about the possibilities of new technologies, decision-makers often suffer a blow - once the start button has been pressed. In practice, many a successfully launched showcase project turns out to be an expensive, permanent construction site in the years that follow. And customers are often left stranded when it comes to more complex issues such as process changes or mixed automated fleets.
EIt is important to set the right course. Experts discuss the pitfalls and success factors of post-automation. What mistakes are being made? What role does service play? How do you ensure scalability and networking? And what should you avoid at all costs so that the tempting plug & play does not suddenly turn into a costly plug & pay?
Guests
Dr Florian Heydenreich, Executive Vice President Sales & Service STILL EMEA
Florian Heydenreich has been Executive Vice President Sales & Service EMEA at Hamburg-based intralogistics specialist STILL GmbH since 2023. The sales and organisation specialist previously held various management positions at KION Group AG. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President KION ITS (Industrial Trucks & Services) EMEA Germany, where he played a key role in reorganising and structuring the sales and service organisation of the KION ITS EMEA brands in Germany. He has also worked for Schaeffler and the Boston Consulting Group. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, business development and brand management.
Axel Frey, CEO Seifert Logistics Group
Axel Frey is the CEO of the Seifert Logistics Group. He began his career with the southern German logistics service provider in 2008 with a dual degree in Business Administration - Forwarding, Transport & Logistics. He was appointed to the management board in 2019 and became COO just one year later. In 2022, Frey will succeed Harry Seifert as CEO, which also settled the company's succession.
His areas of expertise include modern management methods and the development and implementation of complex and technology-driven contract logistics projects. In particular, he was instrumental in setting up the Seifert site in Malsch and, as head of business development, played a key role in the growth phase in the mid-2010s.
Frey has been teaching at DHBW Heidenheim since 2011 and at HNU Neu-Ulm since 2020. In 2023, he was honoured by the Logistics Hall of Fame as Logistics Leader of the Year.
Marc Lösken, Head of Brand Logistics Production & Logistics, Porsche AG
Marc Lösken is Head of Brand Logistics Production & Logistics at Porsche AG. A graduate engineer, he has been with Porsche for 28 years. After studying mechanical engineering, he began his career at the car manufacturer in 1996 as a project planner for the 986/996 models, then moved to production planning in the saddlery, worked as a PVP trainer in lean management and was responsible for the Cayenne project in quality management. In 2001, he took over the management of AT/ET engine production and in 2006 the management of spare parts logistics, before becoming operations manager and, from 2012 to 2021, managing director of Porsche Logistik GmbH.
Hydrogen - the new fuel for forklift trucks?
For a long time, diesel was the fuel of choice for forklift trucks. It wasn't great for the climate, but the machines were enormously powerful. Over time, electric vehicles became powerful enough to replace most diesel trucks. But there is another alternative for storing electrical energy - fuel cells. They have been successfully tested in customer projects for years. Filling stations and charging processes are safe. Yet there are still only a few companies that rely on hydrogen for internal transport. What is the reason for this? Will hydrogen soon come out of its niche? Does it make sense for suppliers and users to be open to new technologies? Renowned experts report on projects, funding opportunities and challenges. New information on a not so new topic.
Guests
Andreas Tsioulakis, KION Group AG
Andreas Tsioulakis is Vice President Electronic Systems at KION Group AG. After a career in management consulting, Andreas Tsioulakis joined the KION Group in 2017. He was responsible for the strategy and development departments, among others, before taking over the global Electronic Systems division for the KION Group in 2023.
His activities include research and development of future electrical/electronic architecture and embedded software development to support the strategic areas of energy, digitalisation and automation for the products of the KION brands. He is also responsible for the Competence Centre for Mechatronics and Power Electronics, which also produces the STILL fuel cell system in Hamburg.
Johannes Berg, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG
Johannes Berg is Director Corporate Affairs at Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG - HHLA. In this position, he is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies to represent the company's economic and political interests in business, politics and society. Johannes Berg is a member of HHLA's Strategy Team and advises HHLA Next. He is also chairman of the supervisory board of HASYTEC Electronics AG in Kiel. HASYTEC specialises in the development and manufacture of ultrasonic anti-fouling technologies. Previously, he founded the Digital Hub Logistics in Hamburg and developed it into an important ecosystem for start-ups and innovation management in logistics. Berg studied international relations in Dresden, Mexico and Kaliningrad and holds an MBA from Vlerick Business School in Belgium and Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt
Thorsten Schmidt has been professor of Technical Logistics at the Technical University of Dresden since 2008. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Dortmund and industrial and systems engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. After completing his doctorate and habilitation at the TU Dortmund, he was head of the 'Machines and Systems' department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML in Dortmund until 2008.
His work focuses on the development and design of in-house production and logistics systems as well as the development and optimisation of technical systems for in-house material flow and handling technology.
Schmidt is President of the Scientific Association for Technical Logistics (WGTL), chairman of the Technical Committee FA 301: Logistics Systems and Management of the VDI Society for Production and Logistics (GPL), a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Logistics Association (BVL), editor-in-chief of the journal 'Logistics Research', section 'Technical Logistics and Logistics Engineering', and editor-in-chief of the journal 'Forschung im Ingenieurwesen'.
Moderation
Anita Würmser
Anita Würmser (born 1961) is a journalist, publicist and managing partner of impact media projects GmbH in Ismaning near Munich. She advises companies and managers on all communication issues and specialises in all areas of transport and logistics as well as the conception of successful media formats.
Thilo Jörgl
Thilo Jörgl (born 1973) is a journalist, presenter, communications consultant and managing partner of impact media projects GmbH in Ismaning near Munich. He blogs at www.bestoflogistics.de and works for the Logistics Hall of Fame and the IFOY Award. His main topics include logistics strategy, logistics real estate, logistics software, international trade fairs and industrial trucks.