"Pepe" as a guide
At the Supply Chain CX Congress in Berlin, a modern transshipment point for shifting steel transport to rail was chosen, located along a 2 km long, reactivated track system where freight trains are unloaded with special equipment, heavy-duty cranes, forklifts, LH60 handling machines and reach stackers.
The winning project, the "Rail.Hub" from steel logistics company Denkinger, impressed the jury with its mix of ideas and innovations, as well as their rapid and consistent implementation. In a strong field of competitors, the project prevailed narrowly but decisively. The name "Rail.Hub" doesn't necessarily sound unique, especially since other projects with the same name already exist, such as the more software-oriented transport management platform from the Brandenburg-based provider Zedas.
Denkinger's project involved the real-world, self-initiated reactivation and expansion of a disused rail siding south of Ehingen near Ulm. The "Rail.Hub," a new modern wooden hall, the integration of translucent photovoltaic modules, and the use of electric trucks resulted in a sustainable overall concept that is more focused on the physical equipment but is also optimized through in-house developed digital projects. A key component of this is a proprietary OCR-supported goods receipt inspection system, contributing to efficiency and process optimization.
A company avatar named "Pepe," which provides all the important information about the location, is another part of the digitalization concept. The pilot project for remote crane operation using modern camera technology is also showing great promise.
The fleet of electric trucks stationed at the Rail.Hub, ready for onward transport, is powered by a 1.5 megawatt photovoltaic system. The site is surrounded by fruit trees irrigated with collected rainwater. The location forms the basis for intermodal transport and combined transport, relieving traffic congestion in the region and resulting in significant CO2 savings.
Photos: Denkinger
Simon Brunner, CEO of Denkinger: “With our Rail.Hub, we have created a modern logistics center where we have successfully combined sustainability, digitalization, regional responsibility, and our passion for logistics in an equal way. We would like to thank our entire team, the project team, and our partners.”
The video of the Denkinger Rail.Hub project is here.
