Intralogistics - vdma.org

The automatica showcase "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up" is all about the automation of production logistics with mobile robots. The team from the M2X research project will be presenting the first interim results of its interface development.

Revision of EN 617, Continuous handling equipment and systems - Safety requirements for equipment for the storage of bulk materials in silos, bunkers, pre-storage bins and hoppers.

Weakening demand and uncertain markets – the German intralogistics industry is being slowed down.

Information on production volume, employment development and foreign trade data, as of March 2025

The draft of ISO/DIS 20607 "Safety of machinery - Instruction handbook - General drafting principles" is available for comment. The document specifies requirements for machine manufacturers when designing operating instructions.

At automatica 2025, various mobile robots connected to one master control system via VDA 5050 will show the automation potential in production and logistics.

Did you miss the first Regul8 of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the two presentations on digital instructions again here.

After the successful premiere in Delhi 2024, LogiMAT India invited Indian intralogistics enthusiasts to Mumbai this year. A follow-up report.

Uniform and transparent methods for calculating the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) are currently being developed for intralogistics products. A description of the work for a VDMA Specification is published here.

It's not just the weather that is uncomfortable in February, but also the political and economic climate. The trade association's board meeting was dominated by the geopolitical impact on the intralogistics industry.

With currently 290 member companies, the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association is the most important intralogistics trade association in Europe.

In addition to the two associations VDA e.V. and VDMA, the Institute of Materials Handling and Logistics Systems (IFL) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) supports the development work surrounding VDA 5050.

Mobile robots are a prime example of networked systems. For them, as for other products in intralogistics, it is imperative to deal with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Non-compliance will result in the CE marking being refused.

The Intralogistics-2X working group networks providers and users in order to discuss and develop interface topics in intralogistics.

Different mobile robots, connected to one master control system via VDA 5050, show the automation potential in production and logistics. Your chance to be part of the Mesh-Up at automatica 2025!

Open interface definitions are also becoming increasingly important in intralogistics. The models developed in the M2X research project are an example of this. What is their focus compared to other specifications on the market?

A VDMA member puts a storage system on the market that conforms to standards. The operators‘ employers’ liability insurance association (EL) makes additional demands. Confidence in the presumption of conformity of harmonised standards is at stake.

This year's plenary week of ISO/TC 110 "Industrial trucks" took place from October 14 to 18, 2024 in Courbevoie, France. Delegates and experts from nine countries took part.

Anyone thinking about an automation project with mobile robots may also be concerned with the VDA 5050 communication interface. All relevant questions for users and operators are answered here.

The demand for robots for transport and logistics is increasing. The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association presents the annual global market data for the mobile robot sector.

The poor mood in the mechanical and plant engineering sector is also reflected in the VDMA economic survey for the materials handling and intralogistics sector.

The Industrial Trucks Division of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association has elected two new board members. In addition to Ken Dufford, Nadine Despineux and Dr. Florian Heydenreich are joining the board.

It's never intentional, it can't always be avoided and sometimes the damage is extensive: damage and disruption to other trades can occur during construction or commissioning.

Under the project management of VDA and VDMA: The new version of the VDA 5050 communication interface implements important enhancements for mobile robots with a higher degree of autonomy as well as feedback from the public GitHub.

A clear overview of the standards jungle - the standards ticker for power operated warehouse equipment provides interested VDMA members with an overview of current standardization activities.

The trade association has published a supplementary format for the VDA 5050 communication interface (version 2.0.0), which can be used to transfer a course layout from the vehicle to a third-party control system in an automated and standardized manner.

The services of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association - compact and clearly arranged.

As intralogistics systems become increasingly networked, the complexity of IT structures also increases. Open interface standards can be an approach to simplify projects.

A new brochure is designed to give manufacturers, dealers and operators more certainty about placing automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and transport systems on the market and the associated responsibilities.

Floor flatness is critical to the performance of industrial trucks in narrow aisle warehouses.

Finding their way through the jungle of standards - the new standards ticker for the lifting equipment sector provides interested VDMA members with an overview of current standardization activities.

As a communication interface, VDA 5050 enables the integration of mobile robots from different manufacturers under one control system in a heterogeneous fleet.

Finding their way through the jungle of standards - the standards ticker for the continuous handling equipment sector provides interested VDMA members with an overview of current standardization activities.

VDA 5050 is not the only interface being developed for automated guided vehicles. KIT has created a comparison with the MassRobotics Interoperability Standard for us.

News from the department

End of March in an exhibition hall in Dortmund: six automated guided vehicles from different manufacturers set off on a test area. The highlight: they operate together in one control system and have completed the first live test of the VDA 5050.

A current project of the Technical University of Darmstadt, together with the RWTH Aachen, Deutsche Post Chair for Optimization of Distribution Networks, shows which exciting topics the Research Association for Intralogistics IFL is dealing with.

The COVID 19 crisis has presented the economy with major challenges. In addition to some significant declines in orders, supply chains have collapsed in many places.

The facts: By 2050, 66 percent of the world's population will live in cities. That is more than 6 billion people. At the same time, 80 percent of the world's arable land is already in agricultural use. This means that the possibilities are almost exhausted.

Interim conclusion sees intralogistics continuing on the road to self-optimization.

Revision of machinery directive

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are available for indoor or outdoor use. Suitable localisation systems are installed for both applications, adapted to the respective environment. For this reason, an uninterrupted change from indoor to outdoor or vice versa is currently a major technical obstacle, especially when using cost-efficient sensors. The Research Association for Intralogistics IFL has dedicated a project to this issue.

One result of the COVID 19 pandemic will be the further automation of logistics processes. Intralogistics providers are increasingly offering networked solutions for this. In this context, the question of data security of intralogistics systems is becoming increasingly important. A conversation with Steffen Zimmermann, VDMA Competence Center Industrial Security, about cyber security for intralogistics systems.

At HANNOVER MESSE - Digital Days on 15 July, the guide and descriptions of nine use cases on 5G in mechanical and plant engineering will be published. The occasion is the VDMA panel discussion "5G in mechanical engineering: from technology push to market pull". The guide and the use cases have been available exclusively to VDMA members since April 2020.

Use Cases for the Guide - a practice-oriented tool for 5G applications.

Information and overview of suitable industrial trucks, "early warning" tool for the detection of non-conforming industrial trucks

Industrial trucks are also required to have winter tyres if, in addition to transport tasks on private company premises, they occasionally use public traffic areas. However, the market does not offer winter tyres for forklift trucks.