en.Wedoany.com Reported - Jan-Willem Klinkenberg, Head of Business Development for Northern Europe (including the UK, Scandinavia, and the Benelux region) at TGW Logistics, stated at the LogiMAT trade fair that consumers' spoiled expectations—such as wanting ordered goods delivered the same evening or the next morning—are driving demand for warehouse automation, particularly in operations requiring overnight work or extreme temperature environments.

This Austrian-founded logistics hardware manufacturer and integrator, with 55 years of experience, focuses on automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), bin stacker cranes, shuttles, and conveyor technology, offering end-to-end solutions from receiving to shipping. Klinkenberg emphasized that the company's automation solutions are not one-size-fits-all; each customer's needs have subtle differences, and the decision to introduce automation must be based on return on investment (ROI).

At LogiMAT, TGW Logistics showcased several solutions designed for market demands, including the easily scalable bag sorter SmartPocket, the flexible "goods-to-person" order picking solution LivePick, and the AI-driven fully automated piece picking system RovoFlex. Klinkenberg believes that automation does not replace people but takes over repetitive tasks, helping companies address core challenges such as labor, productivity, and operational costs. When considering warehouse automation, customers are increasingly focusing on total cost of ownership (TCO) and asking suppliers to look ahead at technological evolution over the next 5 to 15 years.

Facing aggressive market entrants from other regions, Klinkenberg stated that the company prefers to stay true to its identity, focusing on its own goals while remaining open. For example, LivePick is produced in collaboration with AMR expert Safelog, and TGW Logistics has also established partnerships with companies such as Hai Robotics and Opex Corporation. The company's products are widely used in the food, grocery, and fashion sectors, with clients including Urban Outfitters, Puma, and Zara.

Discussing future automation trends, Klinkenberg pointed out that product add-on combinations are becoming important, with RovoFlex and the SmartPocket sorter falling into this category. He cited an example where, at a food client, RovoFlex handles 30% of product types, while at a fashion client, this proportion can reach 50%. Meanwhile, equipment such as case packers, operating 16 hours a day, can recoup their investment within a year and are becoming smarter.

Klinkenberg advises automation newcomers to start small, think big but try small-scale applications first, and gradually expand if they see value. He concluded that the company does not sell boxed paper clips but strives to be a trusted advisor, understanding customers' pain points in labor and productivity, and reviewing its own solution portfolio to provide help. He noted that for a project-based company, the process from consultation to signing a contract can take one year or sometimes five years—it is an ongoing journey.

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