A cool topic – The logistics of temperature-controlled transports at transport logistic 2007

Easter is approaching and in Germany consumers are looking forward to buying bunches of tulips from Holland, fresh asparagus from Greece and chocolate eggs from Switzerland for their seasonal celebrations. If these products are to reach the shops in tip-top condition, refrigerated transport all the way is essential. The latest trends in temperature-controlled transport and logistics will be one of the themes at transport logistic 2007 which takes place from 12 to 15 June in Munich.

In Germany consumption of fresh vegetables, citrus fruits and frozen food has risen steadily in recent years. The customers of supermarkets, discount stores and weekly markets have high standards when it comes to quality, however far the products might have travelled, be it from Argentina or the neighbouring region. The quality of the foodstuffs reaching the consumer is not solely a factor of the harvest, it is also influenced considerably by the conditions of transport from the field to the retailers. Fresh or frozen foods like fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, but also cut flowers, plants, medicines, cosmetics, paints and varnishes need a constant environment en route if they are to remain fresh. Not just constant temperatures, whether heated or refrigerated, but also constant moisture levels, light and hygiene conditions. All these factors play a role in the quality of the goods that arrive in the shops.

Transporting these sensitive goods is a big challenge to all those involved in the supply chain. All the vehicles, packaging, warehouses and personnel have to be geared to meeting the special requirements. It´s hardly surprising then that the temperature-controlled transport chain is one of the most complex areas of logistics.

In addition, service companies in this sector have to observe a wide range of statutory regulations concerned with consumer protection. In 2005, for example, the laws on foodstuffs, personal products and animal feed were changed so that all market participants now have to ensure gap-free monitoring of all processes, quality and conditions. Companies like Dachser, whose Food Logistics division specialises in temperature-controlled (non-frozen) food transports, are controlling all the processes in procurement, warehousing and distribution by means of intelligent IT and innovative technology.

“This is essential nowadays, given the complexity of the logistical processes involved,” says Gerhard Riester, Managing Director of Dachser Food Logistics. “If you want to produce efficiently, but also comply with rigorous food standards and give customers up-to-date detailed information, you just have to have standardised IT-supported processes.” Barcodes, for example, when used extensively, are currently the best and most economic way of rapid tracking of the entire process chain. This would increase the transparency in the flow of goods and ensure traceability all along the chain. For all those involved and at any time.

Who is offering logistics for food transport? What new processes are available on the market for assessing quality? What new developments are there in warehousing and commissioning systems? How can temperature-controlled transports be optimised in aircraft, containers and on trucks? These and many other questions will be answered by experts in temperature-controlled logistics – companies like Dachser, Thermo King and SSI Schäfer, at transport logistic 2007 between 12 and 15 June 2007 in Munich.

In a forum being organised at transport logistic by the trade journal Lebensmittel Zeitung, representatives from Dachser GmbH, Fiege Deutschland GmbH, Pfenning Logistik GmbH and Fritz Schäfer GmbH (SSI Schäfer) will be talking about ‘New concepts in the supply chain in food logistics’. The event takes place on 14 June between 10 a.m. and 12 midday in Forum II, Hall A3 (further details are available from April 2007 from www.lz-net.de/logistik).

Further information: www.transportlogistic.de

About transport logistic
The 11th international trade fair for logistics, telematics and transport (12 to 15 June 2007 in Munich) presents the whole spectrum of the transport and logistics industry – telematics, in-company transport and material flow, logistics and freight transport. The fair aims to be a practical forum for information gathering and exchange in the diversely structured field of transporting freight – by road, rail, water and air. The visitor target groups of the fair are service-providers and decision-makers from the transport business, from industry, trade associations and freight logistics. In 2005 transport logistic attracted 1,333 exhibitors and around 40,000 visitors from a total of 103 countries. The statistics for the fair are independently audited on behalf of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (FKM), a society for the voluntary control of fair and exhibition statistics.

Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair organisations. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and new technology. Over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part each year in the trade fairs in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and in South America. With four subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and 66 foreign representatives covering 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.

Press contact:
Petra Gagel
Tel.: 49 89 / 9 49-20244
Fax: 49 89 / 9 49-20249
E-mail: petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de

This release was published on openPR.