Cargo Bike Congress: Traditional Logistics Meets New Mobility

The first German Cargo Bike Congress is creating a new event format as part of the “Sustainable Days Dortmund.” A sustainable supply infrastructure cannot do without cargo bikes, especially in urban metropolitan areas. The German Cargo Bike Congress, taking place on August 24, 2022, under the umbrella of Sustainable Days Dortmund 2022, establishes a high-profile information and communication platform for visitors and representatives from logistics, industry, craft, services, science, administration, and politics.

(Dortmund) The cargo bike has secured a firm place in the arsenal of sustainable logistics strategies. Particularly within the framework of modern inner-city logistics and last-mile concepts, these versatile vehicles are playing an increasingly important role. Technological innovations are enhancing their performance and thus their future potential. Meanwhile, a powerful industry is developing in this sector, complete with its own ecosystem of manufacturers, developers, users, and service providers.

“Given the maturity of the market, interest is growing in traditional logistics and among public logistics officials. As in other technology sectors, it is a logical step to network stakeholders at leading trade fairs and congresses. I am pleased that the Dortmund Economic Development and the Dortmund Chamber of Commerce have taken the initiative for this,” explains Prof. Dr. Alex Vastag, Head of Transport Logistics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, assessing the need for the new format. The first German Cargo Bike Congress on August 24 will be integrated into the Sustainable Days 2022.

High-Profile Networking Platform

The aim and purpose of the congress is to connect cargo bike manufacturers, best practice users, research and development teams, public administration, and service providers interested in sustainability. The focus is on exchanging ideas among all participants, as well as a joint inventory and perspective development for the cargo bike industry. Specifically, the congress serves to present developments and trends in the cargo bike sector, establish contacts, test and compare cargo bikes, explore application possibilities, identify synergies, share technical and practical know-how, and collaboratively develop sustainable logistics strategies for the future. Attendees can expect an attractive program consisting of impulses, panel discussions, pitches, expert presentations, and discussions, taking place on the large main stage and in the congress rooms at the North Entrance of the Dortmund Exhibition Center. Numerous renowned experts from various fields of expertise will be present to impart knowledge and discuss future perspectives together. This includes well-known logistics specialists such as Dr. Tom Assmann, Chairman of the German Cargo Logistics Association, Claus Hoffmann, Head of the Promotion of eCargo Bikes at the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), Arnold Schroven, Chairman of the Club of Logistics, and Prof. Dr. Alex Vastag, Head of the Transport Logistics Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML). The conception and implementation of the congress program is handled by the well-established initiative “CargoBike Dortmund, Competence Network for Sustainable Logistics,” which has been promoting the commercial use of cargo bikes for nearly 10 years. “For individual elements such as networking meetings or practical tests for businesses, we can already draw on extensive experience. The innovation and challenge lie in bundling all elements for visitors at one point,” describes Stefan Peltzer, Co-Project Manager for CargoBike Dortmund at the Dortmund Chamber of Commerce, the current preparations.

Creative Congress Format in the Heart of the German Logistics Industry

Ralf Finger, responsible for organizing the congress at the Dortmund Economic Development, highlights the key advantages of the program in this context: “At the DLK, leading knowledge carriers from logistics, industry, craft, services, science, administration, and politics meet. Nowhere else can one gain such a compact overview of the current state of technology as well as research and development in cargo bikes for commercial use. Best practice examples concretely demonstrate how cargo bikes can be successfully integrated into companies’ business models and which new solutions for existing logistical challenges are promising. The broad range of expertise of the attending professionals allows for a comprehensive view of the application possibilities along the entire value chain. Last but not least, numerous business ideas related to commercial cargo bike usage will be discussed at the congress – for some companies, a motivation to embark on a sustainable future strategy.”

Looking Beyond One’s Own Plate

The Dortmund Exhibition Center, as a professional trade fair organizer, has firmly in mind the added value for exhibitors. An appearance at the congress increases the national reach of customer advertising and enables the positioning of products in new customer groups. “The logistics industry faces various significant challenges. New partners and suppliers are becoming more important in a world of significantly changed goods flows. A lack of skilled workers is hindering the development of many companies. More sustainability is being actively demanded by customers. The German Cargo Bike Congress provides exactly these contacts, especially the integration into the Sustainable Days Dortmund,” believes Peter Abelmann from the Logistics Competence Network.NRW, the leading logistics network in NRW. “It is still difficult for many representatives of municipalities to get in touch with logistics officials for the goods flows into cities or providers of sustainable and new concepts. Municipalities are sought-after contacts both as potential customers and for the approval of innovative concepts. The German Cargo Bike Congress also offers our municipal members contact, information, and networking opportunities,” explains Michael Zyweck, Future Network Mobility NRW, the added value from the perspective of the public sector.

Photo: © Loginfo24 / Adobe Stock