The German Material Flow Congress, previously located at the Technical University of Munich on the campus of the Institute for Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (fml) in Garching as a platform for knowledge transfer, exchange and networking, is moving to Dortmund and joining forces with the Test Camp Intralogistics.
Previously in Munich. Photo: fml
The German Material Flow Congress has established itself as a high-caliber professional event at the TU campus in Garching for over four decades. Now, the Test Camp Intralogistics, which originated within the IFOY network, will become the new home of the German Material Flow Congress (MFK). The synergistic effects are significant.
On April 15th and 16th, 2026, suppliers, users, planners, consultants and researchers will meet for the first time in a specially designed event cube in the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund for an intensive exchange about current developments and future-oriented technologies.
Prof. J. Fottner
The long-established congress, founded in Munich in the mid-1980s by the Association of German Engineers (VDI), was held at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Garching from 2002 to 2025. The VDI Society for Production and Logistics is the technical sponsor, and it is supported by the Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (fml) at TUM. "For over four decades, the German Material Flow Congress has established itself as a leading platform for knowledge transfer, exchange, and networking – both in research and among planners, intralogistics providers, and their customers. Science meets reality there – that's what makes the congress so valuable. Anyone who wants to know what really works in intralogistics – and what the future holds – is in exactly the right place," says Anita Würmser, Chair of the Jury for the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck (IFOY) Award and Manager of the Intralogistics Test Camp.
In the future, in Dortmund. Photo: impact
Professor Johannes Fottner, congress director and head of the TU Dortmund University's Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (fml), also sees the change of location as a benefit: "With the new setting, the congress gains significantly in profile. Participants not only experience a top-class lecture program, but can also test the latest intralogistics and robotics solutions – including the IFOY finalists." For visitors to the Test Camp in Dortmund, this offers real added value: They can easily extend their ticket to include participation in the MFK. "More practical experience, more depth, more dialogue – a win-win situation for everyone," says Fottner.
A benefit for everyone
The Test Camp Intralogistics will take place for the sixth time at Messe Dortmund in 2026. In the Westfalenhalle, companies from Europe, the USA, and Asia will present around 100 innovations in logistics, intralogistics, and robotics. Whether it's a test drive with a forklift, working with a cobot, or trying out software, everything revolves around hands-on testing of selected innovations and new developments.
The German Material Flow Congress (MFK) focuses on a current key theme each year, which is brought to life through lectures and panel discussions with experts from research and industry. Practical presentations – for example, on topics such as digitalization, automation, and sustainability – are an integral part of the program.
Under the theme "Next Stop: Beyond Automation," the "MFK@Test Camp 2026" focuses on technologies and strategies that go beyond traditional automation. The focus is on artificial intelligence, robotics, and networked systems that not only automate processes but also intelligently control them, learn, act autonomously, and reintegrate humans. The congress explores how these developments can be translated into practical and economically viable solutions – with concrete application examples, the latest research findings, and ample opportunity for critical discussions.
