The Städtische Werke Magdeburg GmbH & Co. KG reports in the autumn edition 2019 of its in-house magazine »kontakt« on the issue of digitalization and the port of the future. The magazine is published quarterly and primarily serves to inform the SWM staff but also the SWM Magdeburg group of companies. Since 2003, the Transportwerk Magdeburger Hafen GmbH belongs to the SWM Magdeburg group of companies. Please read below the English version of the text.
PORT OF THE FUTURE
Digititalization concerns the entire German economy. Innovative technologies are also an important issue for TRANSPORTWERK Magdeburger Hafen GmbH. As part of national and international projects, the company is setting digital anchors.
»We are working intensively to promote the digitalization in production and logistics. It is self-evident, that we can implement it in a meaningful manner only when we integrate all business segments«, says Dr. Heiko Maly, Managing Director of Magdeburger Hafen GmbH. »In order to remain a competitive company in the future, we cooperate with local scientific institutions such as METOP or the Fraunhofer Institute. We are involved in three national and international projects and continue to develop the digitalization holistically.«
DIGITAL TWIN
The port manager is currently working together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF) on a 3-D image of the port and its properties. »We are developing a digital twin, so to speak,« says Dr. Heiko Maly proudly. For example, a smart warehouse management for containers, bulk goods or general cargo is connected to the true-to-scale image. The presentation at trade fairs, such as the transport logistic Munich in June this year, was very well received. Dr. Heiko Maly reports: »Already our pre-release version was received with great interest. Many visitors were fascinated and interested. For some, this immediately set in motion considerations where they would use it themselves.«
IMPROVING THE CYBER SECURITY
In order to increase safety in digitized controls and processes, the port is working on a forward-looking concept with the Funding Programme for Innovative Port Technologies (IHATEC) of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). The managing director counts on collaboration with the specialists from the research association AUTOSEC.
PORT OF THE FUTURE
The aim of the EU project »port of future« is to integrate sensor and positioning systems in the handling of goods and the flow of goods in the port. The basis for this is the Galileo Test Field, which has been built by the Fraunhofer Institute for several years, in the Hanseatic port of Magdeburg. Under real-life conditions, experts are testing satellite-based location technologies in order to optimize handling processes at logistics hubs.
