Logistics Congress Bavaria Under the Sign of New Technologies

More than 350 experts from transport and logistics gathered for the year-end at Southern Germany’s largest industry congress in Nuremberg. The focus was on opportunities for the transport of the future through the use of new technologies, from truck drives to autonomous material flow, as well as the optimal networking of transport modes.

(Nuremberg) The transport and logistics industry is not at rest: Economic and demographic change requires increasingly efficient processes. The geopolitical and ecological situation simultaneously demands more resilience in logistical systems. The Logistics Congress | Bavaria 2024 at the Nuremberg Meistersingerhalle showcased the opportunities arising from this situation of change. In the search for parking spaces, the interplay between humans and robotics, as well as the optimal use of transport modes, the integration of data, people, and systems proved to be a profitable perspective for the more than 350 participants.

“For the Bavarian economy to continue to grow and secure jobs, it needs a powerful logistics system. The right course must be set now,” emphasized State Minister Christian Bernreiter | Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Construction and Transport | in his opening speech. “The Logistics Initiative Bavaria, with the CNA e.V. as the largest network for transport and logistics in Bavaria, provides a platform for the entire industry to enable dialogue, present innovative solutions, rethink, further develop, and jointly shape the future for Bavaria. The opportunities arising from this are impressively demonstrated by the Logistics Congress | Bavaria 2024 with its specialized exhibition and diverse content such as the CNA Innovation Award. To ensure that these innovations find their way into practice as quickly as possible, we, as a ministry, are in close contact with all relevant stakeholders in the industry through the Logistics Initiative Bavaria to specifically develop framework conditions and promote promising projects. Together, we ensure that Bavaria is sustainably and resiliently integrated into global supply chains. Together, we secure prosperity for our citizens.”

Innovation Award for Pioneering Achievements in Emission-Free Mobility

In e-mobility, the transport and logistics sector in Bavaria is expected to grow by seven percent in the coming year alone. To make this possible for heavy commercial vehicles like trucks, State Minister Bernreiter presented this year’s CNA | Innovation Award 2024 to technology pioneers in the context of “emission-free mobility”:
In the “Innovation” category, the award went to Trailer Dynamics GmbH from Eschweiler. The eTrailer developed by the startup offloads the electric drive train into the trailer, thereby supporting the primary drive of the tractor unit independently of the manufacturer. The award in the “Science” category was received by the Institute for Power Electronic Systems | ELSYS of the Technical University of Nuremberg Georg-Simon-Ohm for the project “AI-Power.” This developed the flexible, modular, and high-performance control platform “UltraZohm” for the regulation and control of power electronic systems. The municipal company Stadtwerke Pfaffenhofen a. d. Ilm was pleased to receive the IP2024 | SUSTAINABILITY award. With the project “Please Turn!” it developed an agile and demand-oriented mobility concept for the city of Pfaffenhofen. In addition, 21 other finalists received special recognition for their forward-looking projects.

Sustainable Integration of Transport Modes

The current status of emission-free truck drives was presented in talks by MAN Truck & Bus SE, Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, and the user Kaufland: Dominik Renner | Head of Product Strategy & Management Battery/Hydrogen, MAN Truck & Bus | pointed out that a growth of 50% in battery-electric trucks is expected by 2030, with the lack of green energy to meet the expected demand of about 36 terawatt-hours for the European transport sector and the high acquisition costs of the vehicles remaining challenges.

Transformation in Truck Transport

Thus, alongside the transformation in truck transport, a sensible integration of the transport modes rail, road, and waterways is also necessary, as highlighted by the track “InterModalUnlocked”: In a panel discussion organized in collaboration with the German Waterways and Shipping Association Rhein-Main-Danube e.V., it became clear that during route closures, the individual transport modes are often viewed in isolation. Given the general renovation of the railway in Bavaria starting in 2026, many shippers and transport service providers are unaware that, for example, between Nuremberg and Regensburg, in addition to the up to 320 km longer detour options by rail, the inland ship has available capacities to reliably and punctually transport loads via the Main-Danube Canal.
“Both the Bavarian port of Nuremberg and the transport mode inland waterways have sufficient capacities to offer replacement transport during the corridor renovation. This is also a showcase for the waterways,” summarized Ingmar Schellhas | Managing Director of Hafen Nürnberg-Roth GmbH | the opportunities to manage route closures in freight transport.

There was also plenty of time for networking and visiting the accompanying exhibition

Smart Integration of Data

Opportunities for more efficient transport are also offered by the cross-company and cross-transport mode integration of data. The winner of this year’s Technology for Future Award | Logistics 2024 also impressed the audience with a data-driven tool: Andreas Canel | Founder & CEO Northbound | won the pitch session with his platform. With the help of his transparency tool for the interim storage of containers, demurrage and detention costs can be made visible or avoided.

Using the example of searching for truck parking spaces along the highways, Anton Brucker | Head of Sales, Map and Route, a brand of IT2media GmbH & Co. KG | also demonstrated how existing data from various sources can be meaningfully integrated. The platform “Happy Trucker” makes parking options visible and bookable, saving each truck driver an average of 60 minutes of search traffic daily, along with costs such as emissions.
Further panels addressed the use of cargo bikes on the last mile, the recruitment of skilled workers, as well as the management of supply chains and the planning of logistics locations.

Optimal Use of All Transport Modes

“Integration – overcoming boundaries – is the key to a more efficient and sustainable transport and logistics industry,” summarized Dr. Rudolf Aunkofer | Managing Director | CNA e.V. | the results of the congress. “If we learn to optimally use all transport modes, if we overcome silo thinking and tap into new potential for skilled workers in transport and logistics, the industry has the opportunity to become a driving force for the entire Bavarian economy. As the Logistics Initiative Bavaria, we will accompany you on this path.”
Next year, the Logistics Congress | Bavaria will take place on November 20, 2025, in Nuremberg.

Photos: © CNA / Caption for the cover image: In the pitch session for the Technology for Future Award | Logistics 2024, Andreas Canel | founder of the startup Northbound | took the lead