WAGNER Switzerland AG
WWW.LOGISTICSINNOVATION.ORG
The online magazine for Switzerland, the EU and the rest of the world
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.
«Vehicle Lifetime» in Katowice
«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.
Fig.: SSI Schäfer
Schaeffler is one of the leading suppliers to the automotive and mechanical engineering industries and has been driving innovation in motion and mobility for over 75 years. This high standard of quality is also evident in the "Vehicle Lifetime Solutions" division, which offers customized repair and service solutions for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and tractors. The highly automated logistics center in Katowice, Poland, enhance performance
Smart technologies
In Katowice, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), intelligent robotics, and modern conveyor technology are to be perfectly integrated to guarantee seamless material flows. This presents a challenge, as the installation is taking place in a building that is only 12 meters high. The system is designed to make optimal use of the available space and can be expanded at any time with additional AMR or AGV units.
The centerpiece of the system will be an automated small parts warehouse with over 120,000 storage locations, operating 55 RackBots and 116 RunBots. The RackBots autonomously store and retrieve containers on all connect the system to the container conveyor technology
Wamas Control Center
Directly connected is the destacking area, where an intelligent robotic cell automates the destacking of small load carriers (KLTs) and prepares empty pallets for further transport. The gantry robot used for this purpose is implemented by RO BER. Key advantages of gantry robots include gentle product handling, consistent performance – regardless of product size and weight – and relieving employees of physically demanding tasks.
Small parts AGVs flexibly supply ergonomic workstations, while pallet AGVs handle the efficient transport of large load carriers. These driverless transport systems are supplied by the AGV specialists DS Automotion. The autonomously operating transport systems are therefore a key component of the value chain. For seamless integration into warehouse organization, the driverless transport systems can be individually adapted to different applications and areas of use.
Perfectly orchestrated
With its new, highly automated warehouse, Schaeffler relies on state-of-the-art control through SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM). The successful implementation is the result of a close partnership between Schaeffler's expert teams and SWAN GmbH. While Schaeffler develops the customized business logic in the Warehouse Management System – the core of SAP EWM – SWAN ensures intelligent material flow control within SAP.
This also includes the seamless integration of all technical interfaces to the sub-systems, including conveyor technology, automated small parts storage, and AGV fleets. The complex system is controlled and monitored by a central information platform: The WAMAS Control Center ensures complete transparency, coordinates material flows, and provides key performance indicators for optimization and maintenance. The result: a perfectly orchestrated intralogistics solution that combines efficiency, precision, and future-proofing.
The system is therefore easily scalable and ensures optimal availability for Schaeffler: "For us , it was crucial to combine maximum efficiency with the greatest possible flexibility," explains Jörg Zellerhoff, Warehouse Engineering Logistics Techn. at the Schaeffler Group. "The new distribution center enables us to react particularly quickly to changing market demands ."
Jörg Zellerhoff sees the new facility in Katowice as a prime example of modern logistics: "Here we are demonstrating how state-of-the-art technologies can be combined to form a harmonious overall system." With their combined experience and innovative strength, Schaeffler and SSI Schäfer were already certain at the start of the project: The distribution center in Katowice is intended to become an important component of Schaeffler's global logistics strategy – and another milestone in a strong partnership.
