What began modestly in 1972 has grown into one of Germany’s leading logistics institutions. This is the Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW.
Founded within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TU Dortmund, the Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW stands as one of Germany’s first dedicated logistics departments. Imagine scientists from logistics, IT, robotics, and other fields collaborating. They shape the future of logistics.
Since 2013, the Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW has resided on the LogistikCampus. Here, an interdisciplinary team of around 20 staff members researches, teaches, and innovates. Their work spans the areas of logistics planning, technology, and control. This includes both general and intralogistics.
The PhyNetLab is a highlight. It features hundreds of intelligent containers. Smart devices, like the Coaster, add to this. It is currently the largest testbed for cyber-physical systems in logistics.
A significant milestone includes advancements in the Internet of Things. This became the basis for the fourth industrial revolution. The first Spring Meeting on AutoID took place in Dortmund back in 1999. It focused on the automatic identification of goods. This covered logistics and other fields.
In August 2022, the Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW celebrated its 50th anniversary. What Professor Jünemann started has evolved. It is now a leading logistics institution with many employees.
The Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW has always been active in intralogistics research. Its collaborative innovation lab with the Fraunhofer IML allows experimental and application-oriented research in dedicated halls.
Consider the project Pal2Rec. This project equipped pallets with sensors to track movements. It also recorded shocks and tilts. Researchers use this data to train AI. The AI can then recognize complex movement patterns. It relates them to activities in daily logistics. This creates an activity profile for each pallet. Julian Brandt from Fraunhofer IML says the data helps companies. It supports them to identify weaknesses and improve efficiency. Predictive maintenance is another benefit. It allows early detection of potential damage.
The Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW partners with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML. Together, they work on solutions in intralogistics. They test and validate 6G-based hardware and software under realistic conditions in the FLW research hall.
The AI24 Lamarr Conference took place in Dortmund in September 2024. It covered industrial AI and logistics. The Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW actively contributes to the advancement of logistics. It combines tradition with cutting-edge research. The Lehrstuhl für Förder- und Lagerwesen FLW continues to shape the future of logistics.