• Efforts made in last mile textile logistics in Europe (also Asia, USA ...)
• Innovative means of transport in inner-city areas

• Market analysis: Share of employed raw materials in the textile and clothing industry and their origins
• Recycling concepts for used textiles

• Alternative systems for packaging (substitutes for polybags)
• Optimisation of shipping packaging

• Comparison of passive (textile) systems for humidity control
• Comparison of active and passive climate control during textile transport
• Specifications for non-securing textile aids in a container

On Wednesday, 9 October 2019, 45 representatives of textile and clothing companies and industry associations attended the second Textile Logistics Forum at the Mönchengladbach campus of the Hochschule Niederrhein. The forum provided a platform for the exchange of know-how and sharing information on current developments, innovations and challenges in the field of logistics and textiles. The topics were presented under the slogan “Logistics for Textiles – Textiles for Logistics”.

The diverse programme featured keynotes on textile logistics, research projects of the scientific staff working at the Center Textile Logistics as well as technical and incentive lectures.

Prof. Dr. Vossebein, Dean of the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology at the Hochschule Niederrhein and Head of the Public Textile Testing Institute, welcomed all attendees at the campus. The main focus of the technical lectures was on digitisation and automation trends and sustainability in textile logistics. Detlef Spee, Head of the Department of Intralogistics and IT Planning at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), talked about the digital infrastructure for artificial intelligence and the future of intralogistics systems. Some insights into the results of the Fraunhofer study about returns in fashion e-commerce were given by Lea Isfort (Fraunhofer IML). Christel Habig, Head of Zalando SE in Mönchengladbach, introduced attendees to the efficiency-enhancing bag sorter from her warehouse. The incentive lectures also included the presentation of two Master students of the university who established their start-up “Marilis” on a sustainable basis and now develop innovative chains for smartphones and accessories. Cooperation with social organisations and transparent sourcing of materials are particularly important to the founders Liliane Suda and Elise Esser.

During the final highlight, a tour through some of the research laboratories of the university in Mönchengladbach, attendees were given an insight into the current research topics at the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology. These are, for example, research in the field of smart textiles, projects researching the problems of microplastics in household laundry, technical textiles and finishing, yarn production by ring spinning and textile printing.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Muschkiet, Head of the Center Textile Logistics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics and the Hochschule Niederrhein, summarised the event as follows: “The second Textile Logistics Forum was a great success with a balanced mix of research and practical developments. This time the research focus was on the activities of the team in Mönchengladbach. Practical insights were given by the start-up “Marilis” as well as into the logistics of Zalando in Mönchengladbach. We look forward to the third Textile Logistics Forum.”

The transfer of know-how, the combination of research and practical concepts and the opportunity to experience innovative and logistic developments close up were of great benefit to the attendees, a fact which was reflected in their positive feedback. From now on the Forum will be held annually and the next event is planned for 18 July 2020 at the Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund.

On 14 March 2019, 40 attendees from the textile and logistics sector met at the first Textile Logistics Forum at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML in Dortmund. Under the slogan “Logistics for Textiles – Textiles for Logistics”, they were informed about current trends and innovative developments in the areas of logistics and textiles.

During a diverse programme featuring lectures, discussions, innovation pitches and a tour of the research laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, the attendees were able to find new inspiration for their businesses. The attendees particularly appreciated the opportunity to exchange information about specific topics from the sector. In addition to an overview of current topics from the different fields of the Center Textile Logistics during the innovation pitches, the main focus was placed on the topic of machine learning.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Muschkiet, Head of the Center Textile Logistics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, emphasised the communication between the industry and the scientific sector: “It delights me that the first Textile Logistics Forum was received so positively. Networking and the combination of the lectures were of great benefit to the textile industry and make this event unique in the industry.”

In addition to the presentations of the employees of the Center Textile Logistics, two guest speakers gave valuable insights: Uwe Schöbel from Dolezych GmbH & Co. KG gave the attendees an overview of how textiles can be integrated into logistic processes, and Dr. Sascha Feldhorst from MotionMiners GmbH enhanced the research-oriented programme with the presentation of software which enables companies to analyse and optimise manual work processes themselves to improve efficiency and ergonomics.

The know-how transfer, the combination of research and practical concepts and the opportunity to experience innovative and logistic developments close up made the first Textile Logistics Forum a complete success. It will be organised on a regular basis from now on. The next Textile Logistics Forum will be held in the autumn of 2019 at the Hochschule Niederrhein in Mönchengladbach.

Mönchengladbach, 22 October. The new Center Textile Logistics (CTL) was opened today at the new Textile Academy on the Mönchengladbach campus of the Hochschule Niederrhein. The CTL was created as a driver of innovation for the local textile industry. It was founded last year as a cooperation project by the Hochschule Niederrhein and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML.

The President of the University, Prof. Dr. Hans-Henning von Grünberg, opened the inauguration event saying: “It is our declared goal to be perceived as the nationwide educational partner and innovation driver of the textile industry. With the foundation of the Fraunhofer Center Textile Logistics we have taken one step closer to achieving this aim. It is already almost unimaginable today that a textile company has not heard of us.”

The new Center is part of a textile portfolio of the Hochschule Niederrhein that is unique on a nationwide scale. Alongside the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology, the largest of its kind in Europe, the following are also included; the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB), the Deutsches Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West (DTNW) research centre, operated in cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen, education and training within the framework of the Textile Academy in cooperation with two textile associations, two public testing facilities for testing textile materials as well as the emerging Innovatorium as part of the framework of the “Innovative Hochschule” excellence initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

“Globalisation was already a part of the textile and clothing industry before there was even a name for it”, commented Dr Wilfried Holtgrave, President of the Verband der Nordwestdeutschen Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie. “Today, logistics is a critical factor for success of the textile and clothing industry. High performance textiles are seen as a key technology for future logistics and mobility.” Fast seasonal changes, a high import quota, returns in online retailing as well as a number of other related issues mean the ever growing importance of logistics for textile companies. The new Center was created to support companies on a scientific level.

Rolf Königs, President of the Verband der Rheinischen Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie, explained the inseparable unity of research, production and logistics along the whole value chain. “Textile logistics in particular have undergone a massive transformation in Germany and the region specifically, and have gained in importance. The timing, partners and location for opening the Center Textile Logistics (CTL) are perfect.”

When the Center was opened, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen, Director of the Fraunhofer IML, commented: “The textile industry is very fascinating for logistics specialists like us due to its special requirements and own dynamics. In Mönchengladbach with the CTL we want to take this opportunity to combine our ideas and the textile know-how available here to benefit our customers.”

During the setup phase, at least eleven employees from student assistants to scientific staff will carry out research and work on industrial projects at the CTL. The Hochschule Niederrhein receives estimated funding of around one million euros for the CTL from the Federal Ministry of Culture and Science of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia into the year 2021.

The Fraunhofer IML receives funding within the framework of the Fraunhofer cooperation program with universities of applied sciences of one million euros into the year 2022. After this the Center Textile Logistics will have to finance itself by acquiring industrial and research funding and become a permanent part of Fraunhofer, the university, city and region.

Head of the newly founded Center is Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Muschkiet, Professor of Textile Logistics at the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology at the Hochschule Niederrhein. He sees it as his mission to combine the variety of topics from the fields of logistics and textiles. To accomplish this aim, the newly founded Center Textile Logistics uses the competence of the Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund in the field of logistics, and the competence of the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology at the Hochschule Niederrhein in the field of textiles.