Integrated logistics: SSI Schäfer opens own technology center

Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor -- Logistics Management, 9/19/2008

FRANFURT, GERMANY—In what may signal a trend for integrated logistics providers, SSI Schäfer opened its new technology center in Giebelstadt, Germany last week. The announcement was made in conjunction with the company’s “Retail Forum08,” which attracted 130 logistics management professionals.  

“This company has made an effort to be holistic in its approach to logistics,” said Alexander Heubes, retail market officer for Prologis in Dusseldorf, Germany. “The idea of staging a conference where market intelligence is presented with a high-tech background shows imagination on their part.”

 Indeed, some of the presentations on packaging and distribution resembled those usually given at premium user-group events for the personal computer industry. Most of the invited speakers adhered to the theme, “Think Globally, Act Locallly.”

In keeping with Schaefer’s “less is more” warehousing systems culture, Niggemeirer was suggesting that clean, spare and efficient packaging reflects similar values.

 SSI Schäfer – an “intralogistics” specialist – began groundbreaking on the 4,500-square meter technology center eight months ago. Spokesmen said that the company will use it in the future ot stage SSI-Automation Conventions in the future designed to showcase the “Schäfer Case Picking” installed for live demonstrations. A high bay warehouse with a compact storage and retrieval machine is also set up at the center.