Level 2 minimal - vdma.eu

New guide for operators and users of mobile robots provides important information on maintenance and periodic inspections of the devices.

A new brochure from the Mobile Robots department provides operators and users of mobile robots with important information and sample checklists for the maintenance and recurring inspections of the devices.

The Research association IFL (Intralogistik / Fördertechnik und Logistiksysteme e.V.) has made important personnel changes for the future at its 22nd general meeting.

LogiMAT India 2026 - from February 5 to 7 in Mumbai - is once again part of the German government's official foreign trade fair program. The German Pavilion offers discounted conditions for interested companies.

When exporting cranes, industrial trucks, continuous conveyors and storage and retrieval machines to the USA, 50 percent duty will be levied on the steel content. Members are advised to check whether they are affected.

The new BGHW study examines how THC affects driving and steering activities in intralogistics. On this basis, it is possible for the first time to make validated recommendations on the use of cannabis in an operational setting.

A US proposal for an interoperability standard for mobile robots at ISO level is causing many question marks and criticism among European providers of mobile robots.

We are looking for the best new intralogistics products and system solutions of the year. The applicant portal at www.ifoy.org is open until October 30, 2025

The new Indian Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety Order (OTR 2024) requires certain products to be labeled as of August 28, 2025. Manufacturers of cranes are affected in the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association.

Did you miss the last Regul8 of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the presentation and talk on the NIS2 Directive again here.

The showcase "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up" demonstrates how mobile robots can be used flexibly for different tasks. The demand for automated solutions is growing.

For the showcase "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up" and for the "Service Robotics Arena" there will be daily moderated live demonstrations for the trade fair audience. Details and dates can be found here.

Automation projects with multiple suppliers need to be well prepared. The showcase "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up" provides an example. But how do you actually plan and organize a project with a total of 12 project partners?

At "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up", VDMA members and technology partners will demonstrate how a heterogeneous fleet of mobile robots, centrally controlled by software, can take on various tasks in the production and warehouse environment.

The "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up" showcase is all about the automation of production logistics. SAFELOG GmbH will be there with two mobile robots and will show how the devices can be used effectively in the production environment.

Did you miss the last Regul8 of the Conveyor Technology and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the two presentations on CSRD again here.

The automatica showcase "Mobile Robots in Production: Mesh-Up" is all about the automation of production logistics with mobile robots. The team from the M2X research project will be presenting the first interim results of its interface development.

Revision of EN 617, Continuous handling equipment and systems - Safety requirements for equipment for the storage of bulk materials in silos, bunkers, pre-storage bins and hoppers.

Weakening demand and uncertain markets – the German intralogistics industry is being slowed down.

The draft of ISO/DIS 20607 "Safety of machinery - Instruction handbook - General drafting principles" is available for comment. The document specifies requirements for machine manufacturers when designing operating instructions.

Did you miss the first Regul8 of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the two presentations on digital instructions again here.

After the successful premiere in Delhi 2024, LogiMAT India invited Indian intralogistics enthusiasts to Mumbai this year. A follow-up report.

Uniform and transparent methods for calculating the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) are currently being developed for intralogistics products. A description of the work for a VDMA Specification is published here.

It's not just the weather that is uncomfortable in February, but also the political and economic climate. The trade association's board meeting was dominated by the geopolitical impact on the intralogistics industry.

With currently 290 member companies, the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association is the most important intralogistics trade association in Europe.

In addition to the two associations VDA e.V. and VDMA, the Institute of Materials Handling and Logistics Systems (IFL) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) supports the development work surrounding VDA 5050.

Mobile robots are a prime example of networked systems. For them, as for other products in intralogistics, it is imperative to deal with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Non-compliance will result in the CE marking being refused.

The Intralogistics-2X working group networks providers and users in order to discuss and develop interface topics in intralogistics.

Open interface definitions are also becoming increasingly important in intralogistics. The models developed in the M2X research project are an example of this. What is their focus compared to other specifications on the market?

A VDMA member puts a storage system on the market that conforms to standards. The operators‘ employers’ liability insurance association (EL) makes additional demands. Confidence in the presumption of conformity of harmonised standards is at stake.

This year's plenary week of ISO/TC 110 "Industrial trucks" took place from October 14 to 18, 2024 in Courbevoie, France. Delegates and experts from nine countries took part.

Anyone thinking about an automation project with mobile robots may also be concerned with the VDA 5050 communication interface. All relevant questions for users and operators are answered here.

The demand for robots for transport and logistics is increasing. The VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association presents the annual global market data for the mobile robot sector.

The poor mood in the mechanical and plant engineering sector is also reflected in the VDMA economic survey for the materials handling and intralogistics sector.

A clear overview of the standards jungle - the standards ticker for power operated warehouse equipment provides interested VDMA members with an overview of current standardization activities.

The trade association has published a supplementary format for the VDA 5050 communication interface (version 2.0.0), which can be used to transfer a course layout from the vehicle to a third-party control system in an automated and standardized manner.

The services of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association - compact and clearly arranged.

A new brochure is designed to give manufacturers, dealers and operators more certainty about placing automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and transport systems on the market and the associated responsibilities.

Finding their way through the jungle of standards - the new standards ticker for the lifting equipment sector provides interested VDMA members with an overview of current standardization activities.

As a communication interface, VDA 5050 enables the integration of mobile robots from different manufacturers under one control system in a heterogeneous fleet.

Finding their way through the jungle of standards - the standards ticker for the continuous handling equipment sector provides interested VDMA members with an overview of current standardization activities.

VDA 5050 is not the only interface being developed for automated guided vehicles. KIT has created a comparison with the MassRobotics Interoperability Standard for us.

News from the department

Revision of machinery directive

Industrial trucks are also required to have winter tyres if, in addition to transport tasks on private company premises, they occasionally use public traffic areas. However, the market does not offer winter tyres for forklift trucks.