Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Wednesday, 21.10.2026

11:15 - 12:15

Flag of Germany

Geopolitics & Defense in SCM

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Kaleidoscope Stage

China as a Tech Superpower: What Does This Mean for Europe’s Supply Chains, and What Can We Do?

China is shifting costs, availability, and power structures in global supply chains—faster than many companies can react. The forces driving this dynamic are no coincidence: They are the result of targeted industrial policy, massive scale, and a pace of commercialization that Western companies often underestimate.
In this session, we’ll provide an objective and strategic overview of technological developments, including where China leads today and why; which sectors are particularly influenced by China’s technological momentum and industrial policy; what this means for Europe; and which strategy makes sense for your company—whether it’s cooperation, competition, coexistence, or targeted diversification.
Your takeaway: No scaremongering, no blind optimism—but clear guidance and concrete criteria for sourcing, risk, and investment decisions.

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Moderation

Dr. Kerstin Höfle

CTO | Syncore

Board | BVL

Speaker

Ulrike Tagscherer

Managing Director | China Innovation Consulting

11:15 - 12:15

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

LogTech Stage

Automation 2026 – A Superior Approach or an Overrated One? A Debate

In many areas of logistics, automation is considered a key driver of competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. This panel discussion examines whether everything will or can actually be automated by 2026, and explores the opportunities, limitations, and appropriate applications of various automation approaches. The focus is on how companies can make the right decisions for their supply chains while balancing technological progress, economic feasibility, and operational realities.

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Moderation

Dr. Martin Böhmer

VP Global Technology | SSI SCHÄFER

Speaker

André Remy

Head of Global Group Customer Solutions & Innovation | Rhenus Group

12:00 - 12:20

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Expo Center Stage

Automate Today. Scale Flexibly Tomorrow.Future-Proof Your Operations with Scalable Warehouse Automation

How can warehouse processes be automated in a way that allows them to grow with increasing demands? This presentation shows how scalable warehouse automation brings together different technologies in one integrated solution, from AutoStore and shuttle systems to conveyor technology and software. Using a real-world example, it demonstrates how companies can secure long-term capacity, flexibility, and process reliability.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Patrick Zimmermann

Sales Manager | Syncore warehouse integrators

13:30 - 14:00

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Expo Center Stage

Trust at the Speed of Freight: An Industry in Constant Motion

In transportation everything is moving, quickly. Your assets, the regulations, vehicles, customer expectations, crises, people and the world at large. Automation is no longer a nice to have, it’s a core necessity. Regulatory compliance looms large for all parties. Relationships are more important than ever before. And right at the heart of this conundrum is trust and speed. This session gives you insight into how to get on top and take control of your freight manoeuvres. Because when trust is built into execution, everything moves better.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Christian Mayer

Chief Operations Officer, COO | Alpega

13:30 - 14:15

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

LogTech Stage

Automatic Truck Unloading – A Field Report

The automatic unloading of trucks is still considered a particularly challenging task in many logistics processes. In this case study, a user describes the technical, organizational, and procedural requirements that must be met for automated solutions to function reliably in this environment. The focus is on how handling processes can be made more efficient and what insights companies can draw from specific use cases to inform their own automation strategies.

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14:15 - 15:00

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Expo Center Stage

Quantum Optimization for Supply Chain and Logistics: Turning Challenges into Operational Advantage

Supply chain and logistics operations are under increasing strain as networks grow more complex and expectations for speed and efficiency continue to rise. From managing dynamic demand and ongoing disruptions to coordinating resources across distributed systems, teams are facing challenges that push traditional optimization methods to their limits. Attend this session to learn how quantum optimization is emerging as a practical tool to address logistics challenges, from routing and scheduling to inventory and supply chain coordination.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Murray Thom

Vice President Quantum Technology Evangelism | D-Wave Quantum Inc.

14:45 - 15:15

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Workshops

From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: Right-Sizing Packaging in the Age of PPWR and Warehouse Automation

New EU packaging regulations (PPWR) are forcing a rethink — but companies that act now won't just meet the 50% void limit, they'll unlock real operational gains. In this workshop, Ranpak walks you through a data-driven, three-step journey: analyzing your SKU mix, implementing right-sizing technology, and continuously evaluating void ratios. You'll see how integrating box rightsizing into your Goods-to-Person system can dramatically boost throughput, cut labor costs, and future-proof your end-of-line operations — all while staying ahead of regulatory deadlines.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Torben Schultze

Sales Director Automation | Ranpak

14:45 - 15:30

Flag of Germany

Digitalization of Supply Chains

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

LogTech Stage

Co-Creation in the Supply Chain: Solving Chaotic Problems Together.

The more diffuse the problem and the more stakeholders are involved in the solution, the more chaotic the problem becomes. However, this is inherent in supply chain challenges. Open innovation and co-creation can be used to tackle these challenges in a targeted manner. This session demonstrates how this works in practice.

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Moderation

Julian Kakarott

CEO | Digital Hub Logistics & Commerce

16:00 - 18:00

Flag of Germany

AI & Machine Learning

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Vibe-Coding-Space

Knut's Vibe Coding Camp – How to Solve Your Most Challenging Supply Chain and Logistics Problems with Vibe Coding

Everyone is using ChatGPT / Claude or similar models in their daily life - why not leveraging the power of the new models to solve your real business problems. The models are so powerful that you have a group of 10 smart developers around you to work with you. In the workshop we will experience vibe coding hands on - as a result you will take home a dashboard / small app. 

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Moderation

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Knut Alicke

Senior Advisor | McKinsey

16:00 - 16:45

Flag of Germany

Digitalization of Supply Chains

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Kaleidoscope Stage

Turning Risk Into Opportunity – Crisis as Driving Force for Digital Transformation – Investing in the Digital Future Despite Crisis

The crises of recent years and the sheer scale of the changes have, in some cases, come as a shock to many companies (particularly those in Germany), leading to a hesitant approach to investing in the digital future. For many companies, this period is now over, and they are driving forward their digital supply chain transformations as a top priority, even though these companies face major economic challenges (for example, the automotive, chemical and large parts of the mechanical engineering sectors). How can this balancing act be successfully managed, and what do successful strategies look like?

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Moderation

Swapnil S. Nimbalkar

Leiter CT Supply Chain Execution Advisory | PwC DE

Speaker

Dr. Tobias Harzer

Member of the Board of Management, Automation & Warehouse Equipment | Jungheinrich

Speaker

Andreas Koetz

Leiter Zentrales Supply Chain Management | ZF

16:00 - 16:30

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Logistics Service Providers

Expo Center Stage

Can Logistics Service Providers Still Afford Innovation Today?

How much innovation can day-to-day operations absorb—and how much is required to remain competitive? In a pointed debate, theoretical and practical perspectives collide. What do automation, emerging technologies and their actual maturity levels mean for logistics in day-to-day operations? Short contract durations clash with the need to build know-how and ensure system reliability. Look forward to a controversial, well-founded and engaging discussion that seeks to answer how much future logistics must be prepared to invest in today.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Müller-Steinfahrt

Leiter Institut für Angewandte Logistiklösungen (IAL) | Technische Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt (thws)

Speaker

Erik Lassen

Chairman Managing Director Contract Logistics | Geis Gruppe

16:00 - 16:45

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

LogTech Stage

Automation in Logistics – Trends and Strategies for Logistics Real Estate

Automation is profoundly transforming logistics and presenting companies with new strategic decisions. In this context, logistics real estate is increasingly coming into focus alongside processes and technologies: What requirements will arise for locations, space, and infrastructure? And how must logistics real estate be designed to effectively support future automation solutions?

In his keynote address, Sebastian Bögel of JLL will provide an overview of current trends and strategic developments in the field of automation in logistics. The focus will be on the role that logistics real estate plays as an enabler of efficient, scalable, and future-proof logistics processes, and the resulting requirements for companies and their location decisions."

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With the kind support of

Moderation

Prof. Dr. Martin Schwemmer

Professor of International Transport Economics and Logistics | Hochschule Heilbronn / Institut LogWert

Speaker

Sebastian Bögel

Head of Industrial & Logistics Agency Germany | JLL

17:00 - 17:30

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Workshops

Rethinking Automation Investments: Flexible and Scalable Solutions for Volatile Supply Chains

Volatile markets, fluctuating volumes, and increasing cost pressure are putting traditional automation strategies to the test. Many systems are designed for today’s requirements—yet quickly become too rigid for tomorrow’s challenges.In this workshop, we explore how to rethink automation investments by shifting from fixed systems to flexible, scalable solutions. Learn how to dynamically adjust capacity, reduce risk, and future-proof your supply chain in an increasingly uncertain environment.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Malte Guske

Sales Manager for Western and Central Europe | Locus Robotics

17:00 - 18:00

Organizations & People

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Main Stage

Automation Requires the Perfect Orchestration Between Hardware, Software, AND People: Why We Need to Invest in Our People to Make Automation Happen!

Investment in automation often concentrates on hardware and software spend. We invest time and energy in perfect testing and project execution. Yet we need the people on the shopfloor to eventually make it happen. So how do we extend our focus to integrating our people into making a change and creating the impact we foresee through automation?

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Moderation

Christine Mezger-Behan

Senior Vice President Supply Chain Operations | KION

Speaker

Bart Meers

Global Executive Head of Logistics, Warehousing BSH Home Appliances Group | BSH Home Appliances Group

Speaker

Ronny Sassen

CEO Rhenus Contract Logistics | Rhenus Logistics

Speaker

Nina Moeller

Managing Partner | Implement Consulting Group

Thursday, 22.10.2026

09:00 - 09:45

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

AI & Machine Learning

Main Stage

Executive Talk

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Moderation

Kai Althoff

CEO | 4flow

Chairman | BVL

Speaker

Kay Schiebur

Executive Board Member, Services | Otto Group

Board Member | BVL

Speaker

N. N.

tbd | NVIDIA

10:00 - 12:30

Flag of Germany

AI & Machine Learning

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Vibe-Coding-Space

Knut's Vibe Coding Camp – How to Solve Your Most Challenging Supply Chain and Logistics Problems with Vibe Coding

Everyone is using ChatGPT / Claude or similar models in their daily life - why not leveraging the power of the new models to solve your real business problems. The models are so powerful that you have a group of 10 smart developers around you to work with you. In the workshop we will experience vibe coding hands on - as a result you will take home a dashboard / small app. 

Read more

Moderation

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Knut Alicke

Senior Advisor | McKinsey

10:00 - 10:30

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Workshops

Not More Data. But Better Decisions. How Intelligent Decision Logic Makes Complex Plant Logistics Manageable.

Modern plant logistics today has access to a wealth of data on orders, inventories, resources, transport requirements, disruptions, and production priorities. But the real challenge is not a lack of information, but the large number of decisions that must be made simultaneously: ensuring supply, using resources efficiently, and reducing costs and emissions. This workshop shows why transparency alone is not enough and how intelligent decision logic helps make complexity manageable, stabilize processes, and relieve people in their daily work.

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With the kind support of

Moderation

Erk Ewringmann-Dörr

Head of Growth | INFORM GmbH

10:15 - 10:35

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Expo Center Stage

Powering eTrucks: Operations and Energy Strategies for Distribution Centers

This presentation delivers a blueprint on how to seamlessly integrate electric vehicles, battery energy storage, and solar into distribution centers and logistic warehouses. It perfectly bridges the gap between fleet operations and energy management, offering real-world use cases and examples of some of the largest electric trucking sites in Europe.

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Joachim Lohse

CEO | Ampcontrol

11:45 - 12:30

Digitalization of Supply Chains

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Main Stage

Transformation Into the Autonomous Era of Supply Chain Management

A comprehensive overview of the digitalisation and automation of supply chains, with a particular focus on planning and control. This is driven by the technical capabilities of IT systems, including AI agents, which take on autonomous planning and control functions. This session aims to provide an insight into the implementation of such systems and to share initial experiences. It will also offer an outlook on the impact on supply chain organisations of the future.

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With the kind support of

Moderation

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alice Kirchheim

Managing Director | Fraunhofer IML

Speaker

Dr. Dominic Erdtmann

VP Sales EMEA | project44

Speaker

Matthias Hülsmann

Senior Vice President Logistics | Bosch

11:45 - 12:30

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

LogTech Stage

Will Every Shipping Box Require a Machine in the Future? A Field Report

In e-commerce and omnichannel logistics, the demands placed on packaging processes are constantly increasing due to factors such as regulatory requirements and cost pressures. In this case study, IKEA provides insights into the role that automation and machine-supported processes can play in the precise packaging of shipments and where their use creates real added value. The focus is on how companies can make their packaging processes future-proof, conserve resources, and at the same time meet rising customer expectations.

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Moderation

Patrick Mense

Managing Director Contract Logistics, Operations and Business Development | Geis Group

Speaker

Julien Weiß

Automation & Design Leader | IKEA Intralogistics Development

Speaker

Caner Can

Intralogistics Developer | IKEA

12:00 - 12:30

Flag of Germany

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Expo Center Stage

FutuREady: Exotec and Renault Deutschland Transform Spare Parts Logistics

Renault Deutschland transformed its central spare parts warehouse in Brühl, replacing a 60-year-old manual operation with a highly automated logistics center built together with Exotec. Representatives from both companies share how the partnership was built, what challenges they solved, and the results: doubled picking throughput, 35% higher inventory coverage, 30% fewer complaints, and 68% less packaging volume — a hands-on look at how Exotec's Goods-to-Person robotics integrates seamlessly into an existing supply chain, a key pillar of Renault Deutschland's "FutuREady" strategy.Renault Deuts

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With the kind support of

Speaker

Andreas Stöckl

EVP Sales Central Europe | Exotec Deutschland GmbH