38th Zurich Logistics Colloquium: Successes from the field

The Zurich Logistics Colloquium in the Lecturers' Foyer of ETH Zurich was once again a complete success. Around 70 guests from industry and business took the opportunity on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, for a lively exchange of ideas in the course of the three inspiring presentations.

Modernized logistics center presented

Dr. Jean Philippe Burkhalter, Head of Operations (COO) and member of the Executive Board of Elektro-Material AG in Zurich, kicked off the event with a presentation of their modernized logistics center entitled "Logistics Center - New Standards".

At the beginning, Dr. Burkhalter emphasized the indispensability of sustainable and responsible action in the entire value chain of every company. This formed the basis in the development of the company's own solution concepts, in which EM applied a so-called "Urban Areas Strategy". This means that the company does not have a central warehouse, but rather nine branches in locations optimally placed for customer proximity. In addition, customer loyalty is strengthened via digital channels, personal advice in the EM stores, and customer-centric services.

In this context, Dr. Burkhalter presented the "movEM" project, in which a pioneering logistics center was developed in cooperation with Dr. Acél & Partner AG. The building design followed the principle of "Shape Follows Function", so that almost all logistics activities are accommodated on the first floor in a process-oriented manner. The high level of automation additionally increases efficiency in logistics. The implemented solution is groundbreaking for Switzerland.

Electricity also needs logistics

"Power supply: A logistical task?" was the question posed by Dr. Maurus Bachmann, Managing Director of Verein Smart Grid Schweiz (VSGS) and Swisseldex, at the beginning of his presentation. Although power supply is rarely perceived in this way, it is part of high-end logistics. What the power grid accomplishes today in terms of logistical performance is considered a distant goal to strive for by many other companies. Today, its availability is 99.996 %.

The challenge of power supply is mainly the "commissioning" of the voltage and the impossibility to "store" electricity. This means that the power supply requires perfectly coordinated logistics. Controlled in real time, the right quantity and voltage must always be available.

Production must therefore be permanently coordinated with consumption, both in terms of location and time. This is a complex task: What framework conditions apply to production, how does consumption change, what do the power grids do, what local utilization models exist, and how is the enormous challenge of seasonal variations to be dealt with?

At the Zurich Logistics Colloquium, Dr. Bachmann emphasized that the overall view of the power supply from production to consumption is central to the distribution network of the future. Short-, medium- and long-term concepts are necessary for this planning. But consumers also need to establish a new awareness and adaptability, especially with regard to e-mobility.

In summary, Dr. Bachmann sees the biggest challenges for the logistics of power supply in seasonal storage, the integration of photovoltaics, and the lack of a clearly set focus.

Waste disposal logistics for the major "Stuttgart 21" project

Finally, Dipl. Ing. Wolf-Dieter Tigges, Head of Technology S-Bahn Frankfurt-Friedberg / Gateway-Gardens, DB Netz AG, presented the major project of Deutsche Bahn with a focus on waste management logistics "Stuttgart 21: Challenges for waste management logistics". Stuttgart 21 fits in as a hub in the "Stuttgart-Ulm" project, which aims to expand the trans-European transport network on the central west-east axis to optimize passenger and freight traffic.

Deutsche Bahn's giant project has to deal with rather unusual logistical requirements. During the conversion of Stuttgart's main train station into an underground through station, which is to be rotated 90 degrees from its current position, new solutions are needed not only for the disposal of the excavated material that is produced. Due to the extraordinary location in the middle of the city, nuisances caused by noise, vibrations, dust, dirt and light must also be reduced as much as possible. New solutions solve these challenges. A new construction road system was set up for Stuttgart 21 so that public road traffic is not affected by the construction. Disposal can 98% take place via rail or trucks, excavation can be monitored seamlessly thanks to an electronic waste verification process, and new technologies are being used to combat immission pollution. Mr. Tigges highlighted the development of a new intermodal transport container as a particular success. The special container, developed together with Schmitz Cargobull, enables efficient and safe bulk handling operations.

Source and further information: Dr. Acél & Partner