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800 visitors at the test camp
Many participants of the test camp also took the opportunity to attend the 33rd Material Flow Congress – held for the first time in Dortmund – under the direction of Professor Johannes Fottner. A total of around 800 visitors came to Dortmund's Westfalenhalle to view approximately 100 innovations.
With my back against the wall
The shift to rail freight through the Alps has suffered significant setbacks recently. According to BLS Cargo, the main culprits are the dilapidated German infrastructure and the numerous line closures and construction sites along the north-south corridor. This is also impacting personnel policies.
Kion and Siemens together in a parallel universe
Kion will be the first company in Europe to use Siemens' new simulation software " Digital Twin Composer " , thereby also seeking a degree of independence from the US market, where NVIDIA has so far been the dominant solution for merging the digital and real worlds in smart warehouses.
Columbus's "egg"
Now Linde MH also offers an expanded series with an integrated lithium-ion battery: The major advantage, according to the manufacturer, is the increased space in the driver's cab, which is up to 35 percent above the industry average, and the fact that the footwell has grown significantly with the elimination of the traditional battery compartment.
“Best of Intralogistics” in the test camp
As part of the Test Camp Intralogistics and the International Intralogistics and Forklift of the Year (IFOY) Award, the preliminary certificates for 2026 were presented in Dortmund by Jan Drömer, Chairman of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Section, to the 17 nominees who will now go into the final round.
SVTL meets in a historic setting
The general assembly of the Swiss Association for Temperature-Controlled Logistics will take place on May 8th Lenzburg Castle and , in addition to the usual agenda items, personnel management, modern advertising for skilled workers on social media and the question of whether humanoid robots will one day be helpful .
MAGA in the approach path
German technology remains highly regarded when it comes to rapid material handling, the elimination of weaknesses, and service quality. Following successful projects in Oklahoma and Texas, the steel trader " Steel and Pipe Supply " (SPS) in Kansas City once again relied on Kasto saws and storage systems.
Rent warehouse equipment instead of buying it
Bito is launching an offensive with an economical alternative for companies that want to re-equip, expand, or temporarily supplement their warehouse and production areas, but don't want to tie up their capital long-term: renting instead of buying is the motto. The advantages – especially in " dynamic times " – are obvious.
«Kanpai» with sake on the pharmaceutical chain
Logistics provider Yusen is presenting an expanded global platform for the healthcare sector at LogiPharma in Vienna, where companies such as Novartis, Bayer, Takeda, and hospital supplier UCB are currently participating. The platform focuses on the professional delivery of specialized healthcare solutions.
Streamlined logistics
Coop's own rail connection for urban logistics in Zurich, streamlined logistics vehicles and the outsourcing of all operating room logistics in a cooperation between the Seeschau Clinic and the Swiss Post are the projects that are entering the final sprint for this year's Swiss Logistics Award from GS1.
Identification code in transition
Identification code in transition
Image: GS1 Switzerland
Despite the tempest in a teacup surrounding the alleged "abolition" of the EAN barcode (which will remain available), GS1 Switzerland is promoting the qualities of the 2D code, which is slated for widespread availability from 2027, as crucial for future supply chains. Coop recently signed a letter of intent.
GS1-supported 2D codes, such as the GS1 DataMatrix, can contain information beyond the GS1 Trademark Number (GTIN) as well as details like expiration dates, batch numbers, or serial numbers. In contrast, EAN/UPC barcodes can only encode the GTIN. Thanks to GS1 Digital Link, it's also possible to provide consumers with internet links to ingredients and allergens, product images and videos, and other information that was previously often difficult to find in small print.
New 2D code
Another advantage: The 2D data carriers require only a third of the space occupied by the barcode. Emmi already supplies selected products to Coop that only bear the GS1 DataMatrix printed on them. The GS1 DataMatrix encodes the GS1 article number (GTIN), the net weight, the price, the best-before date, and the batch number. The EAN-13 barcode contains only the GS1 article number.
According to GS1 Switzerland, the companies Emmi, Feldschlösschen, Migros, Ospelt, Spar, Volg, and Wander have already committed to using the new options. GS1 Switzerland anticipates that the currently approved and proven symbologies EAN/UPC and GS1 DataBar will likely remain in use for a considerable time. For the use of additional data at the point of sale, the GS1 DataMatrix code is the obvious choice, as it supports the Application Identifier Standard (AI Standard) and thus enables, for example, the encryption of traceability data on a consumer unit.
Previously standard EAN barcode
Thanks to the migration from the EAN-13 barcode to the GS1 DataMatrix, the internal GS1 article numbers (Restricted Circulation Number, RCN) could be replaced by GTINs in the future. In practice, the RCN would still be used in the EAN-13 code, but the newly assigned GTIN would already be used in the GS1 DataMatrix.
The general approval of GS1 DataMatrix and GS1 QR Code as primary GS1 data carriers for consumer retail units, in addition to the already approved symbologies EAN/UPC and GS1 DataBar, is said to "likely take years".
GS1 Global has adopted and published a position paper on the processing of symbologies such as GS1 2D data carriers at the point of sale. The question is not whether GS1 2D data carriers will be approved for unrestricted use at retail point of sale, but when.
Comparison of the systems. All images: GS1 Switzerland
The GS1 Digital Link standard will enable further applications in the future that go beyond the traditional use of GS1 barcodes in the supply chain. Its structure follows valid and generally available web standards and should therefore be directly interpretable by web browsers without conversion.
Inevitably, various adjustments and bilateral agreements within the supply chain are necessary to ensure that the implementation runs as smoothly as possible.
This article uses explanations and details from the GS1 Switzerland application recommendation and a freely accessible GS1 webinar on
klk.
www.gs1.ch
