The World of Experience in Intralogistics

showcased at IFOY Test Camp Intralogistics

The response was surprisingly positive. 960 media in 79 countries reported on us. After all, the Test Camp is not a trade fair, but a test event for the industry with limited access. Therefore: Don’t call it a trade fair. but you’ve got booths, exhibitors, visitors. why do you say “don’t call it a trade fair”?

The Test Camp is an interactive event of selected innovations for decision-makers. A trade fair is designed for a mass audience, with a goal of filling halls and aisles and the widest possible range of exhibitors. At a trade show, anyone can exhibit, with us it’s preselected. At a trade show one has to find their own way around, at the Test Camp, we guide visitors through the hall in highlight tours.

Not everyone can exhibit, not everyone gets in? how do you make the selection?

Besides a limited ticket contingent, we and the exhibitors invite top-level was the test camp was born out of the ifoy award?

B2B guests with a strong innovation and investment interest for hands-on testing. The target group is decision-makers who not only want to look at the best innovations, but experience them live, test them themselves, drive them and try them out. Those who want to know what’s next. We pay particular attention on an interesting mix and match. On the one hand, the finalists of the IFOY Awards already represent the best innovations of the year. In addition, we take care that only new and innovative products are shown and we research and approach companies worldwide that have innovations and new products to offer.

Correct, but the Test Camp is now an independent event. The IFOY audit of the finalists, the so-called IFOY Test days, remain as part of the Test Camp. For some time, only finalists, jurors, testers and IFOY partners had access to the IFOY Test Days, all in all no more than which industries do the visitors come from? the test camp positions itself as a sustainable event. what makes it different?

150 people. During IFOY Test Days in 2017/18, some jurors invited contacts from their readership (the IFOY jury consists of editors-in-chief from leading logistics magazines worldwide, including Fleet Transport/Handling Network). A few logistics service providers were there, an automotive supplier and manufacturer, a DIY store manager, a furniture retailer from the region, and all were excited about the opportunity to test the IFOY finalists themselves. So why not allow a limited number of B2B guests? Then, in early 2020, we invited 50 guests as a test run, and by 2022 there were almost 1,000 participants.

The strongest group is logistics service providers, especially contract logisticians. The automotive OEMs are also well represented. E-commerce and stationary retail, but also the consumer goods and beverage industry, mechanical engineering, chemicals and pharmaceuticals are well represented. This year, we also expect numerous employee representatives, which is due to our special test area - exoskeletons and ergonomics.

We didn’t want to claim sustainability as our motto and at the same time leave behind gigantic mountains of garbage after the event. That’s why, for example, the question arose as to whether and how much stand construction was necessary at all. We could also have invented a test fair with individual stand construction and show elements. That would have been more lucrative, but certainly not sustainable. The hall or the test areas don’t have to sparkle, they have to be functional. All stands are therefore centrally planned, set up and dismantled. The branding is standardised and simple. Custom booth construction is not permitted, nor are shows or superfluous decorations that are not necessary for the functionality of the exhibit. Almost all materials are reusable. We use aluminium trusses, Mannesmann fencing, and rental furniture from nearby service providers. Carpet is shredded after the camp and reprocessed into carpet, and central catering saves water and resources. The hotel is 100 meters from the hall, and we use green electricity. It boils down to minimalism, but true innovation doesn’t need decoration. humanoid robot, operate a horizontal order picker, try out an exoskeleton, drive a forklift or just look at it all. self-testing. how does that work? in march, the next round of the test camp intralogistics at messe dortmund takes place. what innovations are on the agenda?

We take visitors on highlight tours of all the exhibitors to give them an overview of the innovations. Each exhibitor presents its innovations in two or three minutes and then visitors can test drive or test individually. The test areas are cordoned off, and we also hand out high-visibility vests. And safety shoes are mandatory on the test areas.

Up to 100 selected innovations and new products from ten countries will be there. They include warehouse technology equipment, forklifts, software, robot solutions, AGV and AMR, interesting special solutions and, of course, the finalists of the IFOY AWARD. Spectacular settings are also promised by the new edition of the AGV Mesh-Up of the VDMA Association for Materials Handling and Intralogistics, will exhibitors and visitors settle for less?

What is most important and at the same time most difficult for success in logistics? It’s technology. If you rely on the incorrect software and hardware, if you miss the crucial innovation, you’re out. That’s why many companies are open to new ways of doing things, and our focus on innovation and new products and the all-inclusive approach offers many advantages. And it makes a difference whether you work with a the Exoskeleton & Co. Arena and the Order Picker Safari. It will definitely be an experience. The congress program also includes a whole series of talk panels on the subject of innovation. what’s next? what are the plans for the future?

We will emphasise the self-testing character even more and expand the talk panels. We also want to show more visions of the future in addition to the new developments already available on the market.