Issue 35, February 2013
bulletLogistics - Securing Supply Efficiently and Sustainably
bulletUpcoming Event: Global Logistics: Challenges and Solutions
bulletInterview: Logistics & Efficiency - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen
bulletAlways on the Move - Germany's EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr
bulletInnovation: inBin - The Intelligent Bin
bulletFrankfurt Airport - A Logistics Giant in the Heart of Europe
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Logistics - Securing Supply Efficiently and Sustainably
In today's globalized world, the distribution and transport of materials is the backbone of international economics. According to the World Bank's 2012 Logistics Performance Index, Germany ranks fourth in global logistics; its top three areas include a world-class infrastructure, punctuality, and cutting-edge material flow services. Conveniently located in the center of Europe, Germany is the continent's largest economy and most important logistics hub. In 2012, the German logistics industry's revenue accounted for nearly 228 billion euros, making it the third strongest industrial branch, after the automotive industry and trade.

Today, logistics faces complex challenges: International trade and urbanization are constantly increasing, while the utilization of existing infrastructure capacity is approaching its limits. Energy adeptness has become a considerable factor for global logistics, since transportation accounts for more than 60% of oil usage worldwide. Dwindling resources, unpredictable fossil fuel prices, and the growing impact of climate change are reshaping the logistics industry. Thus, current trends in logistics strive for the mitigation of resource consumption and emissions while maintaining high-performance efficiency.  

With nearly 28 million people working in logistics-related fields, Germany is not only home to the world's leading providers such as Deutsche Post World Net and DHL, but is also a frontrunner in logistics training and higher education: Over 100 universities, universities of applied sciences, research initiatives and clusters such as the TU Dortmund University, RWTH Aachen University, Fraunhofer IML, EffizenzCluster LogistikRuhr or Frankfurt HOLM - House of Logistics and Mobility produce a highly skilled workforce to develop innovative technologies that shape and advance tomorrow's logistics.

Logistics
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Upcoming Event: Global Logistics: Challenges and Solutions

In the current economic environment with corporations expanding their supply chains worldwide, logistics has become an indispensable component of the global economy. Disruptions in the transportation network have a far-reaching impact on both suppliers and individual consumers. Some of the issues logistics providers face include efficiency, flexibility, quality, security, and sustainability. On Thursday, March 14, 2013, join our expert panelists from Germany and the United States as they address the latest trends in developing efficient, sustainable, and secure transportation networks.

The speakers include Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, Chairman, Fraunhofer Transport Alliance & Managing Director, Institute of Transport and Logistics,TU Dortmund University; Dr. John-Paul Clarke, Associate Professor, The Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering and H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Director, Air Transportation Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology; James LoBello, Head of Security, The Americas, Lufthansa Cargo; and Jan Hinz, Director, Transatlantic Trade Lane, Ocean Freight - Region Americas, Schenker, Inc.

For speaker biographies and additional event information, click here; to register by March 12, here.

Uwe Clausen
article3Interview: Logistics & Efficiency -
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen

In this GCRI interview, one of the speakers in our upcoming Global Logistics: Challenges and Solutions event, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen discusses developments and challenges that have shaped Germany's position as a leading logistics hub. Read the interview, here.

Prof. Clausen has been Managing Director of the Institute of Transport Logistics at TU Dortmund University as well as Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (Fraunhofer IML) in Dortmund since 2001. He has been Chairman of the Fraunhofer Traffic and Transportation Alliance since 2003. From July 2002 to July 2005, Prof. Clausen served as Dean of the Engineering Faculty at TU Dortmund University. His research focuses on commercial traffic modeling, intermodal transportation, mathematical optimization, network optimization and distribution systems, and green logistics.

He also served as European Operations Director at Amazon.com and Logistics Manager at Deutsche Post DHL. From 2004 to 2012, he was a member of the German Research Foundation (DFG) review panel "Traffic and transportation systems, logistics, quality management." In 2012, he became a member of the Board of the European Conference of Transport Research Institutes.

EffiizienzCluster LogistikRuhr
article4Always on the Move - Germany's EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr

In 2007, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research launched the Leading-Edge Cluster competition with the goal of making Germany a global technology leader. Due to their regional concentration of pioneering performers, clusters set the perfect stage for long-term research, advancement of international partnerships as well as rapid innovation and knowledge transfer. Additionally, they foster a positive climate for start-ups and entrepreneurship by establishing a competitive venture environment.

The EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr, a winner of the 2010 Leading-Edge Cluster competition, intends to optimize future logistical services while mitigating the use of resources and energy. Directly aligned with the logistics industry's needs, the cluster not only conducts research on economic efficiency in the flow of materials and goods, but also strongly emphasizes environmental and social sustainability. The EffizienzCluster develops logistics solutions that use 25% less resources, thus contributing to the government's Mobility and Fuel Strategy of reducing transport-related energy consumption by 40% by 2050.

This leading logistics cluster is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and consists of 160 companies and 12 research institutes, as well as large and medium-sized enterprises such as Lufthansa Cargo, Volkswagen or Siemens. As part of its overall goal, the EffizienzCluster plans to create more than 4,000 jobs by developing and improving more than 100 logistics- and mobility-related innovations, products, and practices.
 
The EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr is also featured in the Centers of Innovation section on the GCRI's website, where a selection of institutions and portals that represent core strengths and services of Germany's dynamic innovation landscape are presented.

inBin
article5Innovation: inBin - The Intelligent Bin

The Internet of Things is a becoming reality. inBin, the first real intelligent bin developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow (Fraunhofer IML) and the Chair of Materials Handling and Warehousing at TU Dortmund University, communicates with people and machines, makes decisions independently, supervises its environmental conditions, and controls logistics processes. From article announcements to confirmation and error messages, inBin manages and oversees every step of the selection process. Equipped with cutting-edge data processing and sensor technology as well as highly efficient memory and energy storage capacities, inBin is able to govern its actions and provide maintenance-free operations.
 
Thanks to innovative power storage, the container is energy self-sufficient. Special solar cells are activated at 400 lux while the bin also converts vibrations or strong fluctuation of the surrounding temperature into power. Since inBin is linked to several interfaces, it adapts to a variety of logistics processes and ensures seamless integration into almost every existing communication infrastructure, such as common radio frequencies and IT protocols. Depending on the level of required process decentralization, the bin's memory and computing capacity can be matched to the nearby logistics facility.

In addition, the ability to interconnect with other devices provides safety in transportation and helps prevent lost articles. A missing package can be recognized and reported immediately since each bin has a unique identification number, making it identifiable and traceable worldwide. For more information, click here.

Frankfurt Airport
article6Frankfurt Airport - A Logistics Giant in the Heart of Europe
 
Located in the German state of Hessen, Frankfurt Airport is Germany's leading airport for freight and passengers. Nearly 4,000 direct passenger flights depart here weekly to more than 250 destinations worldwide and 220 cargo-only flights travel to 85 destinations in 47 countries. Among the world's top ten airports, Frankfurt Airport also serves as the central hub for the Lufthansa Group's cargo business, where Lufthansa will replace its existing cargo center with a new, state-of-the-art logistics center in 2018.

"Frankfurt Airport is one of the top ten airports in the world. With 57.5 million passengers, and handling 2.3 million tons of cargo in 2012, it claimed a central role as a hub for the European market with 500 million consumers. Frankfurt Airport is optimally linked to the intermodal transport modes road, rail and ship - differentiating it from all of its European competitors. Travelers and goods reach their destinations quickly and reliably in Hessen, in Germany, and in Europe."
-    Florian Rentsch, Hessian Minister of Economics, Transport, Urban and Regional Development

As one of Germany's top business locations, Hessen also serves as one of Europe's key logistics, mobility, and innovation centers - and was ranked 15th of "Top 100 of Logistics" regions worldwide. Frankfurt Airport's Cargo City, which is located in Southern Hessen, is Europe's largest airfreight center with 250 logistic companies. Northern Hessen with Kassel's Freight Village (GVZ) is another major cluster offering the best cut-off-time for next day deliveries in Germany. Click here to learn more about Hessen's infrastructure - or visit www.invest-in-hessen.com

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