Looking ahead to LogiChem

NEXT BIG THING

PREVIEW • LOGICHEM 2019 IS SET TO FOCUS HEAVILY ON DIGITISATION, WITH AN ARRAY OF EXPERTS HELPING LOGISTICS PROFESSIONALS IDENTIFY THE INNOVATIONS THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON

ACCORDING TO A white paper published by WBR in 2017, the global market for chemicals is expected to more than double by 2035, growing to a value of €5.6tr. Within that, the chemical logistics function is seen as a business enabler, to drive performance and maximise growth.

At the same time, advances in digitised technology are opening up new ways of connecting, new ways of doing business, and new opportunities to identify and remove inefficiencies in the supply chain.

As Europe’s leading annual chemical supply chain forum, LogiChem will this year address those trends, while offering a platform for discussion and opportunities for those on all sides of the logistics chain to get together and meet their peers and counterparts. The three-day event kicks off on 19 March at the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam and will feature more than 50 presentations by industry experts.

TACKLING CONCERNS Among those speakers will be Jens-Mario Burggraf, supply chain, logistics and client service leader at Braskem, who will talk about how to implement a blockchain solution within logistics to provide more transparency on product shipments. Blockchain technology is beginning to emerge as a driving force in the chemicals industry and its benefits are becoming increasingly more obvious. The interactive case study presentation will look at where the real advantage is coming from and what impact blockchain technology will have on the entire supply chain.

On a similar theme, Heinz-Günter Lux, sensor digital strategist at Evonik, will be addressing the topic of how to turn market disruption into a competitive advantage. Lux will speak about the five biggest digital trends that companies should look out for in order to stay ahead of the curve, as well as ways to initiate and accelerate the implementation of blockchain technology to optimise the flow of trade documentation.

Global chemical production and demand are running at record levels, which is good news for industry but places significant strains on logistics providers, who sometimes struggle to keep up. Day two of LogiChem will highlight methods of overcoming capacity constraints, with presentations from leading logistics players. Lars Koppelmann, vice-president of supply chain management and logistics procurement EMEA at Ineos Styrolution, will discuss how to reduce the negative impact of operating constraints such as restricted logistics capacities and the limited and ageing workforce in a highly dynamic market impacted by trade wars and digitisation.

Matthias Ulrich, chassis systems control, senior project manager at Robert Bosch, will be examining how to use driver assistance systems and automated driving vehicles to increase the efficiency of logistics operations.

Francois Zehr, global transportation and logistics director at Cabot Corp, will address the best options for incentivising carriers to increase their performance and transport capacity in the tendering process.

AHEAD OF THE GAME Day three of the conference will look at the future of the chemical logistics sector and how it can make positive changes to supply chains through the use of a digital, customer-centric approach, drawing on lessons learned from major crises in recent history to plan for the next disruption. Lanny Duvall, chief supply chain officer at Nouryon, will paint a picture of how he thinks supply chains will look in ten years’ time, against a backdrop of rapid advances in digital technology and rising customer expectations.

Sustainability, a topic that goes handin-hand with digitisation, also plays a key role in the way we approach topics such as automation and the digital supply chain. Steven Beddegenoodts, global EHS and sustainability lead for the petrochemical supply chain at Sabic, will concentrate on the importance of implementing a sustainable supply chain strategy to meet stakeholders’ increasing expectation and that offers more than just ‘greenwashing’.

With a changing landscape of stakeholders and emerging technologies with the digital space, which technologies offer the best prospects for increasing endto-end supply chain visibility? Delegates will get the opportunity to join Florian Kache, head of supply chain innovation management at BASF, Guillermo Fumero, former global business services leader Clariant and founder at Extheria, and Marc van der Veen, associate director for supply chain innovation at Dow Dupont, who make up the ‘Dragons’ Den’ panel that will assess the latest innovations from start-up companies who will be pitching their tech in a bid to win first place. This exciting change to the regular panel discussions will give delegates the power to vote for their favourite pieces of tech and discover new and potential benefits to future business practices. WHAT’S ON OFFER? Alongside the conference, LogiChem also hosts an exhibition where companies can showcase solutions and run product demos. LogiChem 2019 will play host to more than 350 chemical supply chain professionals, all of whom will have the opportunity to take part in 12 hours of networking opportunities.

One of this year’s exhibitors, Ion Group, will be showcasing WAM’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. The WAM supply chain planning (SCP) solution provides global visibility to inventories, trades, orders, distribution, production schedules and demand forecasts, and allows users to plan performance across a given enterprise. The aim of its new ERP solution is to enhance the supply chain by providing integrated business planning, sales and operation planning, demand planning, production and distribution scheduling, and inventory optimisation.

Globalisation, intensifying competition, industry consolidation, and deteriorating margins create unique, ongoing challenges. Companies active in the process industries need support systems that enhance supply chain decision making and deliver a competitive advantage through improved profitability, market share and customer responsiveness. The WAM SCP solution closes the loop between planning, scheduling and execution to enable increased agility and opportunity for profit maximisation, according to the company.

Odyssey, a global leader in chemical logistics solutions, will be previewing its range of intermodal, trucking and webintegrated network (WIN) solutions, as well as services from its subsidiary companies CMC and LLC. Trucking costs often consume the largest portion of transportation budgets, according to the company. Odyssey’s trucking solutions include less-than-truckload, truckload, bulk tank truck and flatbed and warehousing, all of which make use of the company’s client selfserviced transport management system. In addition, Odyssey offers intermodal solutions for clients seeking a cost-effective mode of transport for all types of commodities. Odyssey can manage all aspects of transport from cargo planning to freight audit and payment, and management reports, bolstering its position within the industry as a one-stop shop for chemical logistics.

With its impressive list of speakers and array of sponsors, it is expected that LogiChem will, as key industry influencers, once again lead the way through inciting change and innovation. Full information on the event can be found at logichem.wbresearch.com. HCB