Dematic EMEA Newsletter - May 2026
When it is hip to be human again
What happened to the focus on the knowledge worker? Some years ago the importance of human capital was the trend in companies and corporate life. Knowledge workers were employees whose primary value was in their expertise, analytical skills and ability to generate, process, and apply knowledge to solve complex problems and drive innovation. The focus moved into the recruiting campaigns as the “best and the brightest”. As the importance of software platforms and data grew in the 2000s, the story or buzz backed off on the workforce messaging and suddenly business transformation and the use of data to drive business strategies gradually moved the industry focus away from talent toward business transformation and data‑driven strategies.
And now all the industry talk has been around AI, “smart” solutions and all kinds of automation, “digital twins”. Where are today’s knowledge workers now?
Not long ago, Dematic realised that while it is important to focus on the technologies that help customers reach their goals, it was time put the human element back in the brand equation. After all, solutions always start with people: from the concept and development, for the sales and finally the customisation and integration as well as the lifecycle management. Thus, behind every solution we deliver, there are teams of humans involved in its evolution. It became clear to articulate this fact and announce to the logistics and supply chain industries that a collaboration with Dematic, you are not only getting a customised solution but lots of individuals’ knowledge and expertise behind these solutions. This past March LogiMAT and SITL were seen as the perfect places to unveil a change in our brand and our belief that for every great piece of technology, you need to consider the minds behind the solution from start to finish. Knowledge workers never went anywhere, they simply had new life breathed into them and have become “The Mind behind the Machine”!
Your Dematic team
Ensuring spare parts supply during relocation
Almost a year ago, the KION Regional Distribution Center Central Europe was launched in Kahl, near Aschaffenburg, Germany. Now it is Dematic’s turn to relocate its spare parts operations to the new facility. We would like to share the transition timeline and our recommendations to help ensure a smooth transition.
The last outbound shipments from our previous site in Offenbach left on 20 May. Since then, no routine shipments have been processed for several business days as part of the relocation. Deliveries are planned to resume on Friday, 29 May, beginning with a gradual ramp-up phase expected to last around two weeks. Full operations are anticipated from Monday, 15 June.
To reduce the risk of supply delays, we recommend reviewing upcoming spare parts requirements, placing orders for critical components in advance, and ensuring sufficient stock coverage during the transition.
For urgent requests during this period, please contact our team directly.
Dematic Tech & Trends - Benefits of flexible automation in end-to-end solutions
Market dynamics, fluctuating demand and increasing cost pressure s require logistics operations to become more flexible and scalable.
Join us Thursday, 11 June for Dematic’s Flexible Automation Day at our Tech Center in Heusenstamm outside Frankfurt. During this event, Dematic experts and technology partners will share practical insights on modular and scalable automation solutions designed to help you optimise processes, increase throughput and be more efficient in the use of available warehouse space.
Participants can learn more how our end-to-end solutions offering flexible automation can support both new logistics facilities as well as the upgrading and expansion of existing operations.
Visit our Flexible Automation Day on 11 June 2026
in Heusenstamm
Live demonstrations in the Dematic Tech Center will showcase current AMR and robotics solutions in action. In addition, guided tours through the Tech Center and the Imagination Center will give visitors a direct impression of how these technologies can be applied in real logistics operations.
Along with expert presentations and technology demonstrations, the event provides ample opportunity for discussions and networking opportunities with industry peers and Dematic specialists.
Participation is free, but spaces are limited.
Secure your place and discover the benefits of flexible automation no matter where your facility is on the automation journey.
Highlights from LogiMAT & SITL
LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart and SITL in Paris were busy times this year as Dematic had a few new solutions to launch and introduce to the crowds
Visitors had their first views of the Dematic Multishuttle FD. Launched in the Asia Pacific markets a few months ago, the new ASRS has been designed to support high throughput order fulfillment with maximum storage density and scalability. It is anticipated to be fully commercial to European markets in Q4 of this year Another highlight was the debut of the Dematic Command Center, which provides real time operational visibility and performance insights across automated systems, enabling faster decision-making and improved system reliability. The solution is available immediately across Europe.
These new solutions bring software, data and automation together to facilitate operations that are more efficient, resilient and ready for tomorrow.
Brand News: The Mind Behind The Machine
Dematic has recently launched its new brand positioning, The Mind Behind The Machine, during the annual trade show seasons at LogiMAT in Stuttgart, SITL in Paris and Modex in Atlanta.
The statement reflects how Dematic professionals think, design, and create outcomes based on customer needs. It places insight and operational understanding at the forefront, backed by years of expertise in delivering solutions that align with customer strategies. Successful automation does not begin with machines. It begins with understanding the realities of your operation..
Watch the video to learn more.
Customer Day at Velilla Group - Exploring Smart Logistics
The Velilla Group and Dematic recently welcomed customers and industry professionals to a “Customer Day” at the Spanish company’s logistics center in Albacete.
Dematic events co-hosted with the customer bring together logistics and supply chain leaders to exchange ideas and explore how automation and operational intelligence are shaping modern distribution. A goal is for participants to gain perspectives from both hosts on Velilla’s automated warehouse operations and experience and to witness in person how advanced logistics solutions support efficiency, scalability and reliable order fulfillment.
“This has been a unique project and we wanted participants to experience how pallet warehouses have become a ‘must have’ for customers in the warehouse and storage facilities market in Iberia,” notes Pablo Garcia, a senior director and the country manager for Dematic Iberia adding, “by integrating automated storage, transport systems and advanced warehouse control technologies, the new facility can support higher throughput while maintaining efficiency and reliability across operations.”
Five questions for Nathalie Bolland
With over 12 years of experience overseeing operations and engineering projects in complex, multi-site, and international environments, Nathalie Bolland has had different management roles and is now a resident site manager at Dematic.
Throughout her career, she has developed a strong understanding of Dematic’s complex intralogistics solutions and product portfolio. With this broad expertise, she can move seamlessly between a hands-on operational approach and a more strategic, global actions. She leads high-impact projects focused on improving performance and optimising operations through various continuous improvement initiatives.
Nathalie likes history and her personal travel tip in France is Rocamadour, a commune in the Lot department in southwestern France. It is a member of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association”. She believes the area is still a tourist “secret” but with its medieval monastic buildings, delicious food and a location along the French route of the famous Saint James pilgrimage trail and proximity to the famous Lascaux caves with prehistoric drawings, it makes for an ideal holiday destination.
Can you briefly explain what a resident service offer is for customers?
Our goal is to act as the on-site technical expert for the installation, ensuring long-term availability & reliability of the equipment. We can offer a range of services to our customers from preventive & corrective maintenance, continuous improvement and spare parts management.
What is the greatest advantage for a customer to have a service expert on-site?
Expertise and responsiveness are the two key factors in troubleshooting an installation and ensuring its performance. Our contracts with customers state that Dematic will maintain the systems so that they operate at their optimal levels, and both Dematic and the customer agree on what that means. We identify system optimisations that help achieve this performance. and it is this daily collaborative work that enables us to deliver the results the customer expects.
How can you ensure that the system remains reliable and continues to improve over time for a customer?
Quite simply, we can guarantee our customers' delivery by analysing production and availability data, routines and by truly aligning production teams and maintenance teams and their objectives. We work with a customer to speak the same language and share the same objectives.
What does collaboration mean to you in this daily relationship you share with the customer?
First of all, it is all about the people. It is about constant human interactions and sharing a team spirit in our work. As part of this collaboration, we also try to clarify communication so that we have a clear and transparent information flow and then build a relationship of trust through transparency and consistency. It is very important for us when the customer offers constructive feedback on a regular basis as it helps to identify our weaknesses so we can turn them into strengths and remain agile.
How do you identify opportunities to optimise or modernise on-site systems?
Sometimes there are small simple improvements that generate greater process fluidity. Dematic’s strength also lies in our ability to build on “inter-site” and cross-organizational knowledge and offering innovations that respond to new services and new customer needs in relation to the market. We go beyond France and capitalise on experience at the European level and even beyond.
We also propose modernising the system, completely overhauling it, expanding it and planning IT upgrades. This is done through a dedicated IT team at Dematic but we can also rely on our R&D teams. Sometimes I think you need to ask who is actually proposing and envisioning the logistics of tomorrow? I think this can come from customer service and life cycle solution management in terms of finding tomorrow’s logistics solutions. By examining the current sites and supporting customers as they transition their sites and expectations, Dematic always remains at the forefront of market solutions and, ideally, we remain the industry leader!
From Automation to Intelligence: CubeVerse, AutoStore Intelligence, and Dematic
Static automation is designed for stable, repeatable processes. In a dynamic world where demand fluctuates, labour becomes scarce and disruptions put pressure on operations, that alone is no longer sufficient.
With CubeVerse and AutoStore Intelligence™, AutoStore takes a decisive step forward. CubeVerse connects the entire lifecycle of an automation solution within a single unified platform. AutoStore Intelligence adds a learning AI layer, trained on decades of real operational data, transforming automation into a self-optimising system.
Dematic ensures that these technologies are deployed in the right operational context, from system integration and operational design through to long-term lifecycle partnership. The result is not a static system, but an intelligent intralogistics solution that continuously adapts and delivers lasting performance.
Discover how CubeVerse and AutoStore Intelligence, together with Dematic, can transform your fulfilment operations.
Assorted News
Expanding flexible automation with AI driven orchestration
Dematic expands flexible automation through a strategic partnering relationship with GreyOrange. By integrating the AI powered GreyMatter® platform, customers can better coordinate robots, systems and people in one unified environment, improving visibility, throughput and operational flexibility.