For two days, the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS at Messe Dortmund will once again be all about the best innovations in intralogistics. Prof. Dr. Alice Kirchheim, Head of the Institute for Material Flow Systems at the Fraunhofer IML Dortmund since April 1, opened the two-day event, which is taking place for the fourth time in the Ruhr metropolis, in her first public appearance.

B2 visitors have more than 10,000 square meters of hall space at their disposal to immerse themselves in the latest innovations in intralogistics and try them out for themselves: they can put on exoskeletons, drive forklift trucks, interact with robots and try out new IT tools. The guests - most of whom are in managerial positions at contract logistics companies, in industry and trade - will have access to more than 100 new technologies and innovations in the hall.

Highlights include the "Order Picker Safari" special test area for order picking processes and the "Mobile Robotics" test area. More than 20 manufacturers will be demonstrating innovations from the trend area of automated guided vehicles (AGV/AMR).

The demonstration area of the Stuttgart-based technology company NAiSE is celebrating its world premiere. In the 5G MIPS Challenge, the company and its partners will be demonstrating collaboration between people and robots from different manufacturers without safety fences. The VDMA's AGV Mesh-Up is also located in this test area. The globally unique live test of the VDA5050 communication interface for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) will take place for the fourth time as part of the TEST CAMPS. The interface enables transport robots to drive automatically in logistics centers or production halls under a common control system, regardless of manufacturer.

The new head of the Institute for Material Flow Systems at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, Prof. Dr. Alice Kirchheim, came to the opening of the event to get an overview of the latest innovations from intralogistics providers. Together with other invited guests, the scientist took a tour of the test setups from Jungheinrich, Crown, Still and SSI Schäfer, among others.

"Whether container ship, truck or freight train: goods transportation is visible to consumers, but the intralogistics processes behind four walls are often not. Efficient logistics centers play a decisive role in supply chains. If they don't work, the supply chains won't work either. Intralogistics providers play a crucial role in making logistics work, and even more: they help to ensure that logistics is successful, sustainable and innovative - not just in North Rhine-Westphalia, but all over the world," emphasized Kirchheim.

B2B visitors will find a wide range of products and services in the hall. With the nominees for the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck (IFOY) AWARD 2024, 16 top innovations from Europe, China and the USA alone will be available for testing. The day before, the vehicles underwent the three-stage IFOY audit in the hall. As part of the TEST CAMP opening, 15 manufacturers accepted the "Best in Intralogistics" certificates on behalf of their nominees. Jan Drömer, Chairman of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association, presented the certificates.

Visitors to the innovative event format can not only try out devices themselves, but also hold in-depth technical discussions and network with international experts. They can get an overview of the range of products on offer on eight themed highlight tours. They can immerse themselves in the subject matter in the conference program. More than 30 speakers from Europe, China and the USA - all users, scientists or top experts from renowned intralogistics manufacturers - will be appearing in 18 sessions.

On the first day, they will discuss topics such as flexible automation, start-ups, hydrogen drives and artificial intelligence. The second day will be entirely dedicated to mobile robotics: at the Mobile Robotics Conference, the most important topics will be covered by experts who will provide an outlook on the future of the industry. Experts from INTEL, DB Schenker and Dresselhaus will also report on experiences from completed projects. To round off the conference, a German and an English group of visitors will visit the DTM2 logistics center of online retailer Amazon on an excursion to the former Westfalenhütte Dortmund.