Globalisation is driving growth in the
intralogistics industry, which benefits
more than almost any other sector
from the increasing integration of world
trade. An important international showcase
for the industry, CeMAT takes place every
three years at the Exhibition Grounds in
Hannover. For 2011, the event runs from 2nd
to 6th May and the focus of attention will be
on sustainable and innovative products and
integrated systems solutions for materials
handling and logistics.

About 1100 exhibitors are expected at
CeMAT 2011 on approximately 80,000m2 of
display area.Wolfgang Pech, senior vice
president at Deutsche Messe, comments:
“The industry suffered a sharp drop in sales
last year as a result of the economic crisis.

Despite this setback, we are very optimistic
about CeMAT 2011. The global economy is
gradually getting back on its feet again – and
the logistics and intralogistics industry will
be among the first to benefit.”

Exhibits
The range of exhibits at CeMAT comprises
complete plant installations, systems and
accessories, continuous handling systems,
robot logistics, cranes, lifting platforms,
access platforms, hoisting gear, logistics
management, auto ID systems, software,
warehousing systems and equipment,
industrial trucks and accessories, port
handling equipment, order picking and
packaging systems, loading equipment,
telematics, financing and logistics real estate.

An international showcase, almost half the
exhibitors at CeMAT come from outside
Germany, while the figure for visitors is 35%.

The tagline for this year’s event is
‘Sustainability in Intralogistics’. The issue of
sustainability poses a special challenge for
intralogistics, given the continuing rise in
energy and raw material costs and the
ongoing climate debate.

Pech continues: “We don’t want people to
see sustainability as just a fashionable
buzzword, but to focus on what it really
means. It’s all about maintaining a balance
between the claims of the environment,
economic success and social responsibility.”

Forum
One of the highlights of the supporting
programme for CeMAT will be the
International CeMAT Forum (ICF). Larger
than in previous years, the ICF is being
organised for the first time by the Federal
Logistics Association. Over the five days of
the show, experts from all over the world will
be discussing sustainable logistics concepts.