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The Technology Trends That TAL 2021 Speakers Are Calling the Future of Automotive
Automotive is undergoing the biggest disruption in all the years of its existence. New technologies are coming to the fore, and if you cannot flexibly adapt, you’ll lose a lead that is very hard to earn back. What important trends are transforming logistics today in the eyes of the experts who spoke at Trends in Automotive Logistics 2021?
Switching to SaaS: a strategic change that saves CAPEX and OPEX
Security, scalability and cost optimisation – these are just a few of the cloud benefits that will surprise few people today. But what else does the cloud conceal? This year we’re expected to see an unbelievable 23% increase in cloud-services spending over 2020 – partly but not solely due to the need to secure remote workforces and optimise IT costs. That’s because the transition to SaaS services has unlocked an entirely new category of company-wide benefits for the strategic development of companies that use it.
Driving trucks from home, and UX as an engine for digitalisation: The most interesting quotes of TAL 2021
Seeking the right balance for automotive logistics – that was the main theme for this year’s Trends in Automotive Logistics conference, held in Pilsen on 21 September 2021. A total of fourteen speakers from throughout Europe came to share verified tips and experience gained from digitalisation projects. How do automotive logistics experts see the future? We’ve chosen the most inspiring statements from this year’s conference just for you.
Automation in Logistics – From Hardware to Artificial Intelligence
Intralogistics and warehouse automation were once again among the main topics at this year’s TAL conference. And Czech technology start-up VertiFlex, which was one of the main partners for the entire event, focuses on precisely these areas. VertiFlex is active on eight markets in Central and Eastern Europe, to which it supplies automated vertical stackers for warehousing from Swedish manufacturer Weland Solutions boosted with its own VertiNode AI software, which makes use of the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence. In our interview with their managing partner Bohumil Tejnický, we spoke on the development of automation in intralogistics
Supply chain digitalisation and automation at RAPA
For more than 70 years, RAPA has been known as a specialist for solenoid valve technology, and in total this company has 100 years behind it. Today, hydraulic and pneumatic components and system solutions for the automotive industry as well as numerous customers in the healthcare and industrial sectors are produced under the RAPA brand. This company with roughly 1,000 employees cooperated with Aimtec to resolve a lack of know-how in integrations and to digitalise the supply chain. We talked about the details of this solution with Jan Stočes, Aimtec’s director of Cloud & Integration Solutions.
The TAL 2021 Conference: Logistics Digitalisation Must Come with Balance
Fourteen speakers from throughout Europe assembled in Pilsen on 21 September for the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference, organised by Aimtec in cooperation with IHK Regensburg and DTIHK. The automotive logistics experts appearing on the conference stage included Marco Prüglmeier from i2market and Michael Schneider from idealworks. The topic of establishing the right balance regarding logistics digitalisation accompanied the entire programme. And the conclusion? Constant balancing, the seeking of new paths and evaluation of individual solutions’ pros and cons is, the speakers say, what is most likely to guarantee success for both small projects and cross-company transformations. TAL 2021’s participants found confirmations of this in the majority of the conference presentations.
Automotive should learn from e‑commerce. Through data and digitalisation.
If you want to succeed, learn from the best. That is why we’ve interviewed Ivan Marinec, with his rich portfolio of experience from operations and logistics management in automotive. Over 20 years in this field have given him a unique perspective on the current turbulent situation and more importantly on the trend of digitalisation in automotive manufacturing. We asked him for tips as well as lessons learned that have helped him to start his own company.
A digital‑first approach to logistics innovation by idealworks
When BMW’s new spinoff, the fully owned subsidiary idealworks, was founded in November last year, the message was fairly clear: This Munich startup – which is partnering with major players such as NVIDIA Corporation, ADLINK Technology, and SICK – is reimagining autonomous logistics and changing the way intelligent robots work. We spoke to idealworks’ CEO, Michael Schneider, about the startup’s first year of business, its goals for next year, and his presentation at TAL 2021.
Zebra Intelligent Cabinets: A safe place for your mobile devices
In recent years, mobile terminals and printers, industrial tablets and more have become a part of modern warehouses and production lines. A single plant can have even hundreds of these items in its inventory. How do you handle and store these smart devices? Intelligent cabinets from Zebra Technologies create a central hub for your warehouse equipment, in which stored devices can be secured and monitored similarly to warehoused items.
Automotive for a New Age: Localised Manufacturing and Supply Chains Alongside New Business Models
For over a year now, the global economy has seen a trial by fire, and it is struggling with the impacts of anti-epidemic measures. In automotive, the pandemic has mercilessly revealed the vulnerability of global manufacturing and supply structures, and meanwhile this sector is seeing the greatest change in a century, with combustion engines gradually giving way to electric.
We learned while doing – and always valuing decency and good relationships
Aimtec is celebrating its 25th birthday. That’s why we couldn’t resist asking its co-founder Jaroslav Follprecht what has changed and what events most strongly shaped the company – but also how hard it is and has been to find work-life balance.
TAL 2021: The topic for automotive logistics in 2021 will be finding a balance
Audi, BMW Group, ŠKODA AUTO, ZF Friedrichshafen, Volkswagen, Eissmann Group Automotive – návštěvníci konference Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) už měli v minulosti možnost vyslechnout si zkušenosti, případové studie a inspiraci od těchto velkých hráčů v automotive a také od desítek jiných. Loni v únoru přilákal jubilejní 20. ročník do Plzně téměř 300 českých i zahraničních účastníků, kteří podle zpětné vazby odjížděli spokojeni. I v letošním roce chystáme inspiraci v podobě toho nejlepšího z logistiky v automotive. Posun na podzimní datum 21. 9. 2021 vidíme jako příležitost setkat se v Plzni znovu osobně a navázat tak na úspěšné předchozí ročníky. O tom, na co se letos můžete těšit, jsme si povídali s Romanem Žákem, předsedou představenstva Aimtecu.
Local automotive manufacturing? Smart microfactories will make it possible.
Traditional production lines may soon be replaced by innovative microfactories consisting of manufacturing cells with flexible robotic stations. These can make do with a floor area that’s two orders of magnitude smaller and can be brought into operation considerably faster.
Expensive electromobility may endanger Europe’s OEMs
Even ten years from now, European OEMs will still spend more to produce each electric vehicle than they would for a compact automobile with an internal combustion engine. Pressure on companies’ profitability will continue to grow, and in time it can lead them to merge into larger units – and to share R&D costs as well. Will Europe’s automotive leaders fall into the red?
The warehouse automation market will see strong growth – powered by e‑commerce
The research company Statista is predicting a doubling of the warehouse market automation market by 2026. The volume of investments into automated warehouses, and thus into related technologies as well, is predicted to rise worldwide from its 2019 level of $15 billion up to $30 billion in 2026. This trend was already growing before the pandemic, but now companies that operate warehouses have been forced to shift automation away from “nice-to-have” priority up to “must-have”. If they want to remain relevant in this field, such a strategy change is a necessity. How high will this trend rise?
