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CeMAT Singapore – 2025’s Leading Destination

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CeMAT Australia is one of the first dates circled on the calendar by manufacturers in the intralogistics, robotics and automation, warehousing, supply chain management and materials handling sectors. Their sister event, CeMAT Southeast Asia, has also become a fast favourite with businesses that deal extensively with our near neighbours to the north, with 2024’s edition the most popular yet among those that travelled to Singapore. The good news is that the event is returning for 2025 in the same location, going for a second year straight in Singapore after previously using Mumbai and Jakarta as locations. The event will be held at Singapore EXPO from 19-21 May 2025, with registration for exhibitor stands now open.

According to Mike Nissen, Commercial Director at organisers Hannover Fairs Australia, Singapore is the obvious place for such an important manufacturing meet-up to be held. “Singapore is the hub of logistics in Southeast Asia,” he explained to Industry Update. “It’s the benchmark in automation in intralogistics and supply chain for that region, and while you do have emerging markets like Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam they generally look to Singapore. You’ll find a lot of the APAC headquarters for the large integrators and supply chain suppliers in Singapore.” Singapore is one of Australia’s major trading partners, a nation known for its ease of doing business and, crucially, a favourite with our steel fabrication Australia sector going back decades. “Australia generally has very good trade relations with a lot of those Southeast Asian countries,” said Nissen.

For Singapore, in particular, Australia has a long history of free trade agreements. CeMAT Singapore was very well received in 2024 at our first show there. “We had about 7000 visitors, but it was the quality of visitor that attended the event that stood out – we had a lot of what we call our tier one exhibitors. They were suitably impressed; they supported the event and so it’s here to stay.” CeMAT Singapore presents a chance for Australian manufacturers to interact with the huge Chinese sector that is increasingly making things in Southeast Asia and to learn about the huge advances in AI adoption in supply chain management that are taking place in the region. “You’ve got this burgeoning trend where China is looking to manufacture outside of their borders, and Southeast Asia is one of their key markets,” said Nissen.

“The whole supply chain and logistics side is also upskilling to go with that, with automation coming in. Where once that would have been factory or warehouse workers, now it is automation and robotics. The critical point, particularly with Southeast Asia and especially Singapore, is space. Whether it be manufacturing, warehousing or mining plant and equipment Australia, space is a considerable issue. Australia, for example, is rather urbanized, but Southeast Asian countries and cities are incredibly densely populated and require maximum space utilisation. That’s where I think the automation side in this tighter space is really coming into fruition. It’s an opportunity to use space to the maximum. There’s AI-backed technology that will get into every centimetre of a facility space and make sure that efficiency is 100%. Another aspect is the cold chain. Being Equatorial countries, there are goods like in pharmaceuticals and Food & Beverage that need temperature-controlled environments.” said Nissen.

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Minimising Warehouse Costs Using Density and Robotics

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Just like any other property, the cost of warehousing is subject to the whims of supply and demand. AutoStore Business Development Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Julian Brancaccio said vacancy rates across commercial and industrial warehousing in Sydney are down to 0.04%. What makes that figure scarier is that it refers to stock that has already been built and the majority already leased. “We’re seeing rate rises of between $200 per square meter all the way up to almost $400 per square meter,” he said. “Customers are asking, ‘How can we get denser? Can we use conveyor systems to increase efficiency? How can we lower the price per square meter by making everything denser?’ That is one of the biggest trends we have seen. “Labor costs for processes like pipe fabrication Australia  is another huge trend that’s forcing organisations to automate and reduce footprint at the same time.” One of the options for denser warehousing is cube storage. “Some solutions currently in the market are dense, however their racking only goes up to two and a half meters, so anything above is a wasted opportunity,” Brancaccio said.

When it comes to automation in intralogistics, robotics is the way forward. “Automation is known, but robotics is new. It is a wave that has come in the last five years to disrupt the market and provide a cheaper alternative,” says Julian. “There’s a lot of moving parts to this solution. For example, there are a lot of vendors that do not have a significant partner network to be able to support the structural steel fabrication products they have in the region. That is where a lot of these kinds of vendors and solutions fall short. They are not able to get their solution into the market and set up a reference site. “It’s one thing announcing a partnership with an integrator, but it’s another thing to have a reference site people can see. There is a lot of interest in terms of what the solutions are and how they work, but the customer wants to know who’s the edge?” Brancaccio believes an AutoStore solution can deliver ROI in just a few years. “If you fulfill 3000 Bins per day as an example, it takes around 15 people. For us in an AutoStore system you’re probably looking at two people to pick 3000 Bins because everything becomes automated,” he said.

AutoStore is addressing the local market needs through Bin presentation. “There’s two things you’ve got to look for in a solution. There’s Bin density, how many Bins can fit on one square meter, and robot density,” Brancaccio said. “We’re denser and lower, which helps with fire compliance as well. AutoStore’s Bin density is 40 Bins per square meter which makes it the densest solution on the market. “The robot density of other solutions is usually around one robot per 50 square meters. On 1000 square meters, there are around 20 robots to fit that space and they can present around 30 Bins (plastic tubs) per hour. Comparatively the AutoStore system, on 1000 square meters we can have around 166 Robots and present 30 Bins per hour. Because a warehouse footprint is so expensive, AutoStore can help scale using that to get more out of it. Robot density is key.”

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The Role of Conveyor Systems

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Warehouses are the lynchpin of the logistics industry where efficiency, productivity and safety intertwine. However, in many warehouses there is still a reliance on manual labour and heavy lifting which can put workers at risk, especially for large weight products such as pressure vessels. This is where conveyor systems can completely revolutionise a warehouse operation, alleviating the strain on staff and improving productivity and efficiency. With the right powertrain, a manufacturer will not have to worry about maintenance and repairs for a long time. This blog delves into this topic in more detail.

Applications of Conveyor Systems

There are various roles conveyor systems hold within the warehouse logistic space and therefore numerous reasons that they are considered a vital part of any automation project. These roles include:

  • Material movement – The most obvious role is the movement of goods within the warehouse without the need for manual labour. This can reduce the amount of time spent meaning the processes become more productive
  • Continuous operations – Conveyor systems, unlike their human counterparts, can work continually 24/7 without getting tired, slowing down or risking injury. This enables a smooth, organised, and consistent movement of inventory, minimising bottlenecks in the workflow and reducing manufacturing cycle times.
  • Space optimisation – Conveyor systems are able to utilise both vertical and horizontal space effectively, therefore maximising warehouse capacity. This allows for better organisation and storage by optimising the layout for improved accessibility.
  • Automation integration – Conveyor systems integrate seamlessly with other automation technology. They can be synchronized with other machinery (such as mining plant and equipment) and sorting systems, contributing to a fully automated warehouse environment with minimum inconvenience.

Benefits of Conveyor Systems

Incorporating conveyor systems into warehouse operations can be a complete game changer for any business with several quick-win benefits including:

  • Increased efficiency – Conveyor systems streamline warehouse logistics by optimising material flow, reducing manual labour, and minimising handling time. This efficiency translates into faster order fulfilment and reduced operational costs.
  • Enhanced accuracy – Automation in intralogistics brings benefits by minimising errors and improving accuracy in inventory management and order processing.
  • Improved staff safety – Reducing the number of manual handling tasks decreases the risk of workplace injuries. Introducing conveyor systems can additionally free up workers to use their skills on more complex tasks.
  • Scalability – Conveyor systems are scalable and adaptable to evolving warehouse needs. As businesses grow or change, conveyor systems with geared motors can be modified or expanded to accommodate increased demands.
  • Greater Adaptability – When configuring a unique conveyor system, it is important to find the right geared motor for the precise project requirements. It is important to use a range of electric motors that are specifically designed to meet the robust demands of various industrial environments.

Final Thoughts

It can thus be observed that conveyor systems play an important role in warehouse operations by increasing efficiency and reducing manual labour. An ideal conveyor system should have a high torque output, making it ideal for powering conveyor systems handling heavy loads or those requiring a significant amount of force for movement. With the rise of Industry 4.0 technologies and AI, conveyor systems are likely to get integrated into smart factory operations. Thus, whether it is warehouse automation or supply chain streamlining, conveyor systems are here to stay!

Automatic Logistics Delivery Isometric Background

DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore Expand Global Warehousing Automation

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DHL Supply Chain, global leader in contract logistics, and AutoStore, a pioneering robotic technology company specialising in automated storage and retrieval systems, are expanding their partnership in a move set to further automate warehouse operations on a global scale. DHL Supply Chain, already involved in nine operational AutoStore warehouse projects with four more in the planning stage, is poised to become one of AutoStore’s largest 3PL clients, reinforcing their commitment to digitalisation and automation in the metal fabrication industry. The nine existing systems effectively operate 800,000 AutoStore bins, with the forthcoming four systems increasing the total number of bins to a remarkable 1.2 million. In the future, DHL intends to construct five more facilities in addition to those already in operation or planning. The innovative automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) technology has been developed to efficiently manage and optimise mining plant and equipment inventory using vastly reduced space within warehouses. Its highly modular and scalable design makes it a preferred solution for e-commerce and businesses handling smaller products such as fashion and tech items.

The strategic aim of DHL and AutoStore through this partnership is to accelerate the implementation of this ground-breaking technology that enhances abilities to meet diverse client needs. Markus Voss, COO and CIO at DHL Supply Chain, emphasised the importance of this collaboration stating “We are pleased to expand our existing relationship with AutoStore as we continue to implement our digitalisation and automation strategy in a growing number of warehouses, allowing us to serve our customers better and faster. AutoStore’s standardised and modular technology perfectly aligns with our aim to make our steel fabrication operations more efficient, enabling swift scalability and adaptability across various use cases and end-markets – a crucial factor for us as a third-party logistics provider. Through a standardised approach and dedicated stock availability we will be able to significantly drive down implementation times. Additionally, the AutoStore network of partners is invaluable in supporting our growth strategy across multiple geographies.”

Since 2012, DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore have partnered to implement cutting-edge solutions across sites in Singapore, Poland, Germany, Australia, and the US. The ongoing collaboration has already led to implementation of augmented reality solutions at all operational sites, resulting in a fleet of more than 1,000 robots worldwide that significantly increase operational efficiency and throughput. “Our longstanding collaboration with DHL Supply Chain has showcased the strength, reliability, and efficiency of AutoStore technology,” said Mats Hovland Vikse, CEO of AutoStore. “We are excited about the significant growth opportunity that this represents for AutoStore, as we continue to drive innovation in the world of logistics.” This expanded partnership between DHL Supply Chain and AutoStore promises to redefine the future of warehousing, offering scalable, adaptable, and efficient solutions that cater to the ever-evolving needs of customers worldwide.

© K999 Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. 2023