An efficient logistics solution translates into profitability

• The 7th Basque Country Logistics Conference focuses on digitalisation and automation as essential factors for efficient logistics.
• During the conference, the first edition of the Logistics & Automation Fair, to be held at the BEC in Bilbao on 1 and 2 March 2023, was presented.

11 May 2022

The 7th Euskadi Logistics Conference, organised by the Euskadi Mobility and Logistics Cluster, in collaboration with the Easyfairs group, was held this morning at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao. Both entities have reached an agreement to incorporate it as a congress event within the Empack Logistics & Automation Fair, to be held on 1 and 2 March 2023 at the Bilbao Exhibition Center. The different presentations of the conference have been developed around the themes of digitisation and automation, presenting different solutions and success stories, with the common denominator of efficiency, profitability and sustainability that the management of the integrated supply chain means for the industry.

The sessions opened with the presentation of the agreement between the Cluster and Easyfairs. Fernando Zubillaga, manager of the Cluster, expressed the opportunity of having a fair of these characteristics in the Basque Country, which allows the industrial logistics network of the Basque Country to present its range of products and solutions, in many cases pioneers and market leaders. For his part, Oscar Barranco, director of the Fair, expressed the opportunity to incorporate a day of dissemination into the exhibition space, complementing the on-site exhibition with highly innovative conferences. “The collaboration between the Cluster and the Empack Logistics & Automation Fair contributes to adding strengths and facilitating the transfer of knowledge and logistics solutions to the Basque industrial fabric”, both agreed.

The technical conferences started with the intervention of Xabier de la Rica, sales representative for the Northern Area of AR Racking. The storage systems company presented its solutions for obtaining high-density storage in small spaces by means of racking systems and motorised satellite carriages. With the company Ibili as a success story, and with the help of Yolanda Ocio, logistics manager of this leading household goods brand, the work carried out in their warehouses was presented, incorporating racking of more than 11 metres in height, 2 shuttles and capacity for 18,000 pallets.

Next, Eñaut Sarriegi, commercial director of Ulma Handling Systems, presented the details of a logistics automation process based on gradualness. Under this premise, the company provides automated intralogistics solutions of an initial, medium or high level, depending on the customer’s needs, and for projects of any size. Automation is a process that helps in the logistics management of businesses, from the reception of goods from production and external suppliers, to their dispatch.

One of the success stories presented by Ulma was that of Eroski. Arantza Laskurain, head of continuous improvement and projects at the distribution company, explained how data is at the heart of the company’s decision-making, with technologies such as IoT, machine learning and robotics, contributing to the efficient execution of high-volume repetitive tasks. In this way, he said, “we dedicate people to value-added tasks”.

After the break, the speeches continued with a presentation by Iñaki Iturrioz, Head of Contract Logistics at the multinational Dachser. Iturrioz explained that information logistics has become an essential part of any logistics operator’s service offering. Applications facilitate the registration of orders, the tracking of shipments and the integrated management of the supply chain.

Aitor Lizarralde, professor and researcher at Mondragon Unibertsitatea, presented the Demand Driven Model (DDMRP), which helps to solve traditional planning, achieving an inventory distribution aligned with demand and planning production according to the flow. This reduces inventory and production overruns, extra costs due to unplanned emergencies and improves service.

In addition, the session incorporated the circular economy into logistics by Iñigo Alonso, CEO of the company CLCircular. Alonso explained how traditionally, only high-value products can use IoT technology because of its high costs. Until now, the sensors used have been discarded. This company proposes the recovery and reuse of these sensors to facilitate the digitisation of basic products that, with other costs, would not be able to use them. In this way, the circular economy brings digitisation to all types of supply chains, regardless of the final value of the product being managed, making it easier to know when, how and where they are at all times and also to make predictions.

Fran Manzano, president of the Igarle Group, insisted on the digitisation of the supply chain, who presented the “analogue zero” for the physical and digital synchronisation of value chains, eliminating any analogue gesture in the interaction between its different parts.

The sessions were brought to a close by two presentations managed in collaboration with the Port of Bilbao and Uniport. Ion Alberdi, managing director of Embalan 3, and Juan Carlos Maurer, manager of the company T. Titán, presented the technological and safety keys in the packaging of large loads.

The next edition of the Euskadi Logistics Conference will be held within the framework of the Logistics & Automation Bilbao Fair, which will take place on 1 and 2 March at the BEC.

About Easyfairs

Easyfairs organises events as meeting points for communities wishing to visit the future. We currently organise 200 face-to-face events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) and manage eight exhibition venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-North Brussels, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö and Stockholm).

“We are passionate about making our clients’ lives easier and increasing the return on their investment and time through our all-in formulas, advanced technology and customer-centric strategy. Our digital offering also provides these communities with excellent opportunities for effective networking and year-round business. We are in constant contact with our community to create engaging and customised online formats that suit all of our industries’ needs”.

The Easyfairs Group employs 600 highly committed talents, implements the best marketing and technology tools and develops brands with a strong appeal to its stakeholders. In 2018, Easyfairs was named “Entrepreneur of the Year®” in Belgium and was recognised as “BestManaged Company” by Deloitte and “Great Place to Work”. For the third consecutive year, in 2021, Deloitte again awarded Easyfairs the status of “BestManaged Company”. The company is ranked 17th in the list of the world’s leading trade fair organisers.

Visit the future with Easyfairs and find out more at www.easyfairsgroup.com.

About the Mobility and Logistics Cluster of the Basque Country

The Mobility and Logistics Cluster of the Basque Country is a private non-profit association. Its objective is to promote the competitiveness of the business and industrial sector that develops its activity around the mobility of people and goods, through cooperation, innovation and internationalisation. The Cluster brings together 114 associates representing 14% of the Basque Country’s GDP.