This year's Logistik & Transport fair brought together a record number of exhibitors and visitors, focusing on solutions for smarter logistics and supply chains. Researchers from Northern LEAD were on site, showcasing current projects that address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
The annual fair attracted more than 135 exhibitors and 4,530 visitors – a 13.5 percent increase compared to last year. For Northern LEAD, the well-attended event is an opportunity to connect with industry stakeholders and potential partners, as well as to present cutting-edge research on the next generation of logistics.
Charging infrastructure, digitalization, AI, resilience, and smoother supply chains are among the topics that are more relevant than ever, according to Elisabeth Karlsson, Mats Johansson, Rickard Bergqvist, and Patricia van Loon, four researchers from Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg who met with visitors at the Northern LEAD booth.
“And of course automation! It’s a ball that never stops rolling”, says Mats Johansson.
Automation on the move in the SCALE Project
One recently completed project in automation is SCALE, where Northern LEAD researchers collaborated with, among others, SKF and Einride. Led by Robin Hanson, the project explored the possibilities and potential effects of automating the loading and unloading of autonomous trucks. The goal was to accelerate the transition toward autonomous and electric supply chains – but the researchers also identified many challenges that must be overcome.
“It’s about much more than the core loading and unloading processes themselves, as many questions regarding the surrounding system must be considered. For example, if activities can no longer be performed by a truck driver, issues arise regarding responsibilities and load securing,” says Mats Johansson.
Giving batteries a second life
Another important question, highlighted in an ongoing project led by researcher Patricia van Loon, concerns how to achieve high-performing circular battery flows. Demand for batteries for vehicle and stationary applications is growing rapidly, but there has so far been limited focus on the battery supply chain for batteries retired from the vehicles.
“We are examining how actors along the battery supply chain can make the best possible use of end-of-life batteries from the vehicles. Some may be repurposed for energy storage, others reused as replacement batteries. It’s important to find supply chain configurations that match supply and demand, so that each battery is used in the most efficient way throughout its lifetime,” says Patricia van Loon.
Tackling the charging challenge
Northern LEAD also runs several ongoing projects related to charging infrastructure. Researcher Rickard Bergqvist has, among other things, examined the price of public charging. He notes that there are still many challenges in the transition of the transport system.
“The market for public charging is still quite immature, as many players are trying to find the right business models and pricing structures. The main problem today is that public charging is simply too expensive – with current prices, the transition will not happen,” he says.
Navigating the future of logistics
Patricia van Loon, who together with Elisabeth Karlsson is director of Northern LEAD, believes that this year's fair highlighted both opportunities and challenges in the logistics and transport sector of the future.
“The fair showed clearly increasing opportunities and innovations from digitalization. I also believe that the rise in logistical uncertainty highlights the pressing need for greater adaptive and resilient strategies and foresight in supply chain management, says Patricia van Loon.
- Associate Professor, Supply and Operations Management, Technology Management and Economics
- Professor Emeritus, Supply and Operations Management, Technology Management and Economics
- Associate Professor, Supply and Operations Management, Technology Management and Economics