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Once a year, the combined transport world meets in the heart of Berlin at the TerminalTag organized by the Study Society for Combined Transport e.V. (SGKV). As a networking platform, SGKV provides the actors of the intermodal chain with the opportunity to engage in intensive exchange and to jointly advance the strengthening of the potentials of combined transport.
(Berlin) The record participation at this year’s 7th TerminalTag highlights the relevance of the topic and the necessity for exchange, as well as the high importance of networking opportunities for combined transport.
The disruption of supply chains, insufficient network capacities, and open questions regarding the targeted development of combined transport locations dominate the current discussion. Accordingly, this year’s event focused on the urgent topic of how to increase the efficiency of existing resources in infrastructure and among the actors through targeted digitalization and automation measures.
Michail Stahlhut, Managing Director of HUPAC Intermodal AG and board member of SGKV, shed light on the requirements and potential measures to counteract the current disruptions in the intermodal transport chain in his keynote. It became clear what is already possible in the area of terminal digitalization and cooperative planning and how these measures can help mitigate the effects of existing disruptions in supply chains. The development of future-proof structures with highly motivated actors is essential to address the ambitious climate goals of the transport sector.
Successful Notification of the Combined Transport Funding Guidelines
Dr. Rolf Bammerlin, head of the department for freight transport and logistics at the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMDV), mentioned the enormous potential of combined transport as an environmentally friendly transport system that will continue to grow in the coming years. The federal government is significantly supporting this development, especially regarding efficiency improvements through digitalization and automation of handling facilities. Just in time for this year’s TerminalTag, Dr. Bammerlin announced the successful notification of the new combined transport funding guidelines by the EU. The guidelines will come into effect later this year. Dr. Bammerlin encouraged the industry to actively utilize and shape the new funding for the further development of terminal locations to remain competitive in the future. He also thanked SGKV and its members for their commitment and targeted supportive arguments during the amendment process.
Lively Panel Discussion
The lively panel discussion following the two keynotes, with additional participation from Torben Weck (P&G), David Moosbrugger (Künz), and Michael Breuer (Railwatch/IBS), highlighted the necessity of transparent communication among the participants in the intermodal transport chain. On one hand, the logistical challenges have changed significantly in recent years; on the other hand, the challenge of creating more transparency and thus planning security in the complex transport chains of combined transport remains a constant topic for the participants. Significant productivity gains can be achieved through digitalization measures for more planning security and more efficient processes, as long as the implementation is done cooperatively. Future challenges can be better addressed by making better use of existing data. All panel participants emphasized this and equally expressed their self-motivation to further strengthen environmentally friendly transport solutions with combined transport.
Implemented Digitalization Measures
In the second part of the conference, Siemens, catkin, and the Fraunhofer IML, in collaboration with Contargo, presented already implemented digitalization measures along the intermodal transport chain and in the terminal environment. From more efficient crane control to pattern recognition and person detection to automated data networking along changing transport routes and actor constellations, the speakers showcased pragmatic tools for efficiency improvements.
The examples presented clearly showed that with motivation, system understanding, and passion for combined transport, a variety of optimization opportunities can be utilized immediately.
With an overview and insight into the challenges and design possibilities of the European eFTI regulation and the DTLF, Heinrich Kerstgens (Rhenus) also outlined future framework conditions for the upcoming electronic B2A communication.
Plenty of Innovation Potential
The participants of the concluding innovation pitch once again demonstrated plenty of innovation potential. Six start-ups presented their solutions for more efficient and transparent processes. In an extremely close race at a very high level, Aaron Spandehra with his solution driveMybox from Hamburg ultimately prevailed. DriveMybox focuses on the platform-based integration of truck pre- and post-haulage in combined transport, regardless of the location in which country, thereby significantly simplifying the effort for the involved actors.
Photo: © SGKV / Image Caption: The 7th TerminalTag took place in the turbine hall of the Berlin Moabit power plant. In addition to exciting presentations, there was also plenty of time for networking.
