CeMAT 2014 (19 to 23 May): CeMAT 2014 and intralogistics sector on solid growth trajectory

Hannover. Germany’s intralogistics industry enjoyed another strong year in 2013, with sales rising three percent to 19.7 billion euros. Forecasts point to similar growth for the current year, which would see the industry once again outperforming Germany’s overall economy. Intralogistics systems providers are also doing well internationally, especially in China and the U.S, with eCommerce ranking as one of the biggest growth drivers in all major markets. The German Retail Federation (HDE) is expecting eCommerce sales in the Federal Republic to rise to nearly 39 billion euros in the 2014 calendar year, which represents a year-on-year increase of 17 percent. The resulting demand for smaller orders, shorter turnaround times and guaranteed availability is feeding back up the production chain into demand for more efficient logistics systems and error-free order picking.

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From 19 to 23 May, the world’s top providers of intralogistics solutions will be showcasing the current state of the art in this fast-evolving industry at the CeMAT fair in Hannover, Germany. At 1,025, the number of exhibitors at this year’s fair will be slightly up on the predecessor event in 2011. This year’s show will also be highly international. Some 43 countries will be represented, and 58 percent of the exhibitors will come from outside Germany.

“CeMAT is the world’s leading intralogistics fair. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in keeping abreast of critical technology trends, such as automation and digitization,” Dr. Andreas Gruchow, a member of Deutsche Messe’s Managing Board, said. “To stay in the game, suppliers of physical products need to update and optimize their warehousing, transport and software systems. It’s all about reacting more quickly and operating more cost-effectively than the competition.

” Apart from Germany, the biggest exhibiting nations are Italy (116), China (104), the Netherlands (41), France (32), Sweden (29), the U.S. (26), Spain (25), Belgium (22), Turkey (22) and the United Kingdom (22).

Five main technology clusters

In 2014, the CeMAT technology offering spans halls 25, 26, 27 and 13 as well as Pavilions 32 to 35 on the open-air site under the EXPO canopy. It is structured into five main technology areas. The “Move & Lift” section features the latest industrial trucks, cranes, hoisting equipment and turnkey integrated systems. The “Store & Load” cluster is dedicated to automated solutions in warehousing, loading and unloading technologies. The “Pick & Pack” cluster is all about order-picking and packing systems. The “Logistics IT” cluster showcases a comprehensive range of IT solutions for the logistics industry, and the “Manage & Service” section revolves around the transport logistic@CeMAT platform.

“Smart – Integrated – Efficient”

The lead theme and motto for CeMAT 2014 is “Smart – Integrated – Efficient.” It envisions the intelligent, integrated management and control of all logistics processes across the entire production and supply chain. “While in many sectors of the economy the Industry 4.0 vision – the intelligent integration of different technologies, products, locations and even humans – is still in its infancy, it is already an everyday reality in the intralogistics sector,” explains Dr. Christoph Beumer, Chairman of the CeMAT Executive Committee and Managing Director of BEUMER Group GmbH & Co. KG. “Intelligent machines, parts and products that can communicate with one another and hence autonomously control most of their functions and handling operations are the key to lean, efficient
processes across the entire production chain.”

New exhibition area on open-air site

Another new addition to the CeMAT lineup will for the first time give selected resellers of industrial trucks a platform where they can showcase used vehicles. Eleven dealers will show a wide range of vehicles on 1,500 square meters (16,145 sq. ft.) on a newly designated part of the open-air site at the Hannover Exhibition Center. The market for second-hand industrial trucks is growing quickly and becoming increasingly important from a sustainability viewpoint. More than 50 percent of new vehicles in Germany are leased or rented and then sold on the secondary market. For many companies, a late-model ex-lease forklift truck, for instance, represents a cost-efficient and reliable alternative to a factory-new vehicle. Particularly in southern and eastern Europe and in the BRIC countries, companies are increasingly turning to used vehicles and equipment.

Supporting forums and events in halls 13 and 27

The five-day supporting program of forums and events for CeMAT 2014 kicks off on 19 May. The captivating offering, which centers on a wide range of different user industry themes, was put together by the trade fair organizer, Deutsche Messe, in cooperation with selected partners from the logistics industry. “This year, our focus is on key user industries and markets. By working closely with our partners, we have once again been able to devise a high-quality and diverse program which is very much focused on the interests and needs of our visitors and on adding real value to their trade fair experience,” explains Gruchow.

The forums are located in halls 13 and 27. The forum venue in Hall 13 will also be the venue for the CeMAT Opening Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on 19 May. Among the keynote speakers will be Stefan Schostok, the Lord Mayor of Hannover, and Stefan Kapferer, a State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The Opening Ceremony will be followed by the CeMAT Business Roundtable panel discussion, which will be moderated by Thomas Wimmer, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Logistics Association (BVL), and feature the following panelists: Mathias Krage, Managing Director of Krage Speditionsgesellschaft mbH, Christoph Beumer, Managing Director of BEUMER Group GmbH & Co. KG, and Stephan Wohler, Managing Director of Edeka Minden-Hannover Stiftung & Co. KG.