The sheer variety of the supporting program offered at the upcoming LogiMAT (March 11-13) is almost overwhelming. Over the three days of the trade fair, around 70 expert forums will provide conference-level content. Every fourth forum will focus on artificial intelligence. And of course, there will also be hands-on logistics experiences.
It begins immediately after the official opening of LogiMAT by trade fair director Michael Ruchty with the award ceremony for the "Best Product 2025". Later in the morning, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alice Kirchheim, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, will discuss how much automation in logistics makes sense and what degree of development robotics towards humanoid robots can be foreseen.
Three further forums will address the topic of automation: Sandra Lehmann, editor of «Logistik Heute», on Tuesday; Jean Haeffs, Managing Director of the VDI specialist society for Production and Logistics, on Wednesday, on the topic of «Dark Warehouse»; and Roman Ungern-Sternberg, Head of Operations at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, on Thursday, with a value stream-based «Brownfield» approach.
On Tuesday, Johannes Fottner, head of the Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow and Logistics (fml) at the Technical University of Munich, will discuss the benefits and limitations of AI. An hour later, Arndt Bake, General Manager GTM EMEA at Basler AG, will highlight the importance of AI-based image processing for transformation, efficiency improvements, and process optimization in logistics.
Photos: Euroexpo
On the second day of the trade fair, Robert Schulz, head of the Institute for Materials Handling and Logistics (IFT) at the University of Stuttgart, discusses the opportunities and risks of AI methods for process optimization and automation with his discussion participants.
In addition to the expert forums on key topics, on Wednesday Veronika Kretschmer from the IML (Institute for Material Flow and Logistics), Günter Ullrich, head of the VDI (Association of German Engineers) technical committee on AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), will delve into the risks posed by cyberattacks and the consequences of the 2027 Machinery Directive for mobile robotics. Thorsten Aha, editor-in-chief of Ident-Verlag, and Peter Altes, managing director of AIM-D (Academy for Information Technology and Logistics), will address "enabling technologies" for the automation and digitalization of the supply chain. On Wednesday afternoon, top managers and experts from academia will meet for a panel summit moderated by Matthias Pieringer, editor-in-chief of "Logistik Heute" (Logistics Today).
AI everywhere
This year, the Mobile Robotics User Forum will also be located in the gallery in Hall 6. There, trade fair visitors can learn about current trends in the AMR and AGV segments, as well as suitable solutions and proper handling in their own environments, and receive expert advice. The forum will focus on five key topics: technology, planning, proof of concept, safety, and cybersecurity. Another highlight of the supporting program is the LogiMAT Campus, taking place in a new format on March 13th in the ICS Foyer. This career and networking event offers everyone looking to launch their career in logistics direct contact with potential employers in the logistics sector.
Furthermore, two daily live events on the topics of AutoID technologies (Hall 2) and load securing (Hall 9) round off the supporting program. Outdoors, between Halls 7 and 9, and Halls 8 and 10, vehicle demonstrations with forklifts and warehouse equipment will take place, where trade visitors can test new vehicles and equipment themselves.
Trade fair director Ruchty: “The high added value for trade visitors is and remains a key trademark of LogiMAT.”.
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