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Prime example of sustainability
High-speed doors combine perfect insulation, energy-efficient functionality, and modern technology. The new building for the Road Traffic and Shipping Office in Schaffhausen is a showcase project for sustainable construction. Efaflex doors further contribute to minimizing energy consumption.
Swiss Post under increasing pressure
Without the logistics division, which generated CHF 278 million in operating profit in 2025, Swiss Post as a whole would be close to being in the red. As it is, the group still made a profit of CHF 315 million in 2025. Meanwhile, the company is still reeling from the shock of the bus fire in Kerzers that claimed six lives.
News from the management team
Toyota Material Handling, a provider of forklift trucks and intralogistics solutions, is hosting a panel discussion with leading European executives on the second day of LogiMAT at the Stuttgart trade fair. Participants include Jan Lorenz, CEO of Toyota Germany; Hiroshi Kuriyama, head of Toyota Europe; Ralph Cox; and Avinash Balachandran, head of development.
Hupac defies difficult environment
In 2025, the Hupac Group transported approximately 975,000 road shipments using combined road/rail transport. This represents a 4.3% increase in transport volume. Hupac stated that this performance allowed it to maintain its leading position in Europe, particularly on the transalpine TEN-T corridor.
Not as rosy as expected
For material handling and intralogistics suppliers in Germany, the 2025 financial year shows a 7 percent decline in production volume. This brings the value down to €25.8 billion, reports the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association. No turnaround is yet in sight for 2026.
The perpetrator set himself on fire
Following the fire on the postal bus in Kerzers, initial findings from the investigation do not point to a terrorist act. Hearings and witness statements suggest that the perpetrator was mentally unstable, acted alone, likely holds Swiss citizenship, and lived in the canton of Bern.
«Vehicle Lifetime» in Katowice
In Katowice, SSI Schäfer is setting up a highly automated logistics center for the «Vehicle Lifetime» division of the automotive supplier Schaeffler in close cooperation with the robot specialists from RO-BER, the SAP experts from SWAN and the robotics and AGV experts from DS Automation.
With Kardex Mlog towards Lodz
As part of the expansion of an existing high-bay warehouse by three additional aisles, a pallet conveyor loop, and the modernization of the existing pallet conveyor system, Kardex Mlog has provided 20,016 new pallet spaces for the Polish pharmaceutical company Aflofarm Farmacja.
A fire in a postal bus claims lives
Six people are believed to be dead and several injured after a postal bus went up in flames in Kerzers on Tuesday evening around 6:25 p.m. Police reported late Tuesday evening that the bus was completely destroyed and that the fire may have been deliberately set.
Always up-to-date via remote access
Economical to purchase, with focused performance, ergonomic and equipped with numerous safety features, the new Linde Ri14 to Ri18 series reach trucks from Linde Material Handling (MH) are set to premiere at LogiMAT.
Book loading zones online
Book loading zones online
A Nuremberg-based "CNA," which sees itself as a think tank for mobility, transport, and logistics, is currently exploring bookable loading zones due to a lack of stopping options for delivery vehicles and couriers in metropolitan areas. A project called "SmaLa" tested this smart online concept in Hamburg.
The first four SmaLa zones were established in the Hamburg-Mitte district in 2021. These loading and unloading zones can be booked in advance or while en route, as needed. This allows delivery drivers and courier, express, and parcel (CEP) service providers to reserve loading zones for their desired time slot when planning their routes, thus minimizing the current traffic congestion caused by drivers searching for parking and double parking. To ensure that delivery drivers and CEP service providers are notified as early as possible when loading and unloading zones are already occupied, their availability will be displayed in the virtual booking system. To enable this functionality, the loading and unloading zones will be equipped with appropriate sensors.
The sensors ensure that the virtual booking system receives and processes real-time data. The use of the Smart Delivery and Loading Zones (SmaLa) is limited by a time limit to allow multiple suppliers and courier, express, and parcel (CEP) service providers to use them simultaneously. The specific time limit for using the Smart Delivery and Loading Zones will be determined based on the pilot project. The plan is to test a maximum time limit of 60 minutes during the pilot phase.
Pilot phase with 60 minutes
The smart delivery and loading zones will be partially equipped with an interactive sign indicating the zone's special features. Currently, the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) do not allow for prioritizing specific groups of people or reserving delivery zones. Therefore, the pilot phase is based on an exemption from the StVO.
Photos: CNA/DHL
The zones could be booked on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. for durations of 15 to 60 minutes. To prevent long-term bookings, a delivery zone could be booked a maximum of 60 hours in advance. After 7 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays, the zones were also available to all other users as regular parking spaces.
The SmaLa project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport and was awarded as a winning project in the BMWi Reallabor competition because it was able to test a conceptual approach under real conditions.
