Under the theme “Next Stop: Beyond Automation,” the MFK @TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS in Dortmund on April 15 and 16, 2026, will focus on technologies and strategies that go beyond traditional automation. The focus will be on artificial intelligence, robotics, and networked systems that not only automate processes but also intelligently control, learn, act autonomously, and reintegrate humans.

The congress will highlight how these developments can be translated into practical and economically viable solutions – with concrete application examples, the latest research results, and room for controversial discussions.

Preliminary program. Admission only with Combo-Ticket MFK+TCI, exhibitor pass, or jury ticket  (state of December 17, 2025):

Day 1, April 15, 2026

9:00	Opening of MFK/TCI Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fottner, Thilo Jörgl, Ina Brandes (Minister of Culture and Science in North Rhine-Westphalia)
9:30	Welcome remarks by the conference director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fottner, Full professor of the Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, and Logistics fml, Technical University of Munich
9:35	Presentation Prof. Dominik Bösl, Professor of Business Information Systems, Hochschule der Bayerischen Wirtschaft
	Humans. Machines. Are humanoid robots the future of logistics?
	Moderator: Dr. Christian Jacobi, Partner, ebp-consulting
10:00	Introduction to the session Dr. Christian Jacobi, Partner, ebp-consulting
10:10	Presentation: Automation on two legs? Industry survey, market study, and recommendations for action Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alice Kirchheim, Full Professor at the Chair of Conveying and Storage Systems, Technical University of Dortmund, and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
10:30	Presentation: The Future of Autonomous Mobile Robots Kevin Kron, Senior Staff Integration Project Manager, Boston Dynamics
10:50	Presentation: Use of humanoid Robots at the BMW Group Oliver Bilstein, VP Overseas Supply, BMW Group
11:10	Presentation Dr. Stephan Peters, Member of the Board, Rhenus
11:30	Panel disussion Moderator: Dr. Christian Jacobi, Partner, ebp-consulting Participants: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alice Kirchheim, Full Professor of the Chair of Conveying and Storage Systems, Dortmund University of Technology, and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML Oliver Bilstein, VP Production Control, Logistics, Material Control, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC Kevin Kron, Senior Staff Integration Project Manager, Boston Dynamics Dr. Stephan Peters, Member of the Board, Rhenus
12:30	Lunch break
	Limits of automation – airports as the final boss?
	Moderator: Dr.-Ing. Günter Ullrich, Manging Director, Forum-FTS
13:30	Special challenges and structured change management: System understanding and future-proofing for autonomous ground processes Dennis Stein, Vice President Logistics and Informationmanagement Fraport Ground Services, Fraport  Frankfurt
14:00	Safety standards in the EU - today and in the future Peter Stoiber, CEO Digitale Faszination, ISO Committee Member
14:30	The Airport Challenge: Insights into the Digital Test Area Air Cargo (DTAC) Niklas Ullrich, research associate, and Manuel Wehner, research associate, Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
15:00	Coffee break
nbsp]	Planning
	Moderator: Dr. Christian Jacobi, Partner, ebp-consulting
15:30	Efficient warehouse planning with the Warehouse Designer Nico Schöninger, Senior Consultant und Dr. Christian Jacobi, Partner, ebp-consulting
16:00	IFOY Panel Start-ups: Challenges and lessons learned Moderator: Stefanie Nonnenmann, Senior Editor, impact media projects
16:30	IFOY Panel Automation (EN): Automation by default Moderator: Charleen Clarke, Editorial Director, "Focus on Transport & Logistics"
17:15	Networking Night with Dinner, Drinks & DJ

Day 2, April 16, 2026

9:00	Presentation of IFOY certificates
	Making locations fit for the future
	Moderator: Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schwarzer, Associate Director, Logivalue
9:30	Brownfield modernization: Efficiency and resilience in diagnostics distribution Dominik Eicke, Head of Engineering & Innovation EMEA, Roche Diagnostics
10:00	Logistics in the heating technology industry as a pawn in the energy transition Fabian Dietz, Head of Supply Chain and Logistics, Wolf und Philipp Carl, Managing Partner, Director BU Logistics, Rothbaum Consulting Engineers
10:30	Logistics Townhouse Carl-Friedrich Rico zu Knyphausen, Managing Director und Raimund Paetzmann, Managing Director, logivalue
11:00	COFFEE BREAK
	AI in logistics
	Moderator: Prof. Thorsten Schmidt, Professor of Technical Logistics Dresden University of Technology
11:30	AI-Driven Time Studies and Warehouse 360 for Efficient Shopfloor Operations Patrick Blitz, Principal Product Manager, ProGlove
12:00	AI-based picklist generation in practice: potential and challenges Korbinian Zöls, research assistant, Technical University of Munich, and Hannelore Mayr, managing director, CIM
12:30	LUNCH BREAK
	Best Practice in Logistics
	Moderator: Dipl.-Ing. Peter Bimmermann, Director of Business Development D/A/CH, Autostore System
13:15	tba.
13:45	Best Practice in SME: Automation in an online music store Maximilian Molkenthin, Chief Logistics Officer, Thomann
14:15	Best Practice: Logistics automation program at CLAAS Matthias Eberhardt, Head of Supply Chain Management CSE, CLAAS
14:45	COFFEE BREAK
15:15	Shaken, not stirred! - James Bond in the crosshairs of physics Prof. Dr. Metin Tolan, Chair of Experimental Physics, Technical University of Dortmund
15:45	End of event