BrauBeviale live: Logipack initiates “logistics lounge” to tackle supply chain challenges
30 Nov 2023 --- Logipack is participating in an expert meeting forum for beverage supply chain optimization named “logistics lounge” at BrauBeviale in Nuremberg, Germany, November 28-30.
The logistics launch is a new feature for the BrauBeviale trade show initiated by the beverage system intelligence company Logipack. It is designed for various discussions and debates about supply chain issues for returnable beverage systems.
On the show floor, Packaging Insights speaks to Logipack’s sales manager, Pit Alexander Klepatz, who tells us more about the logistics lounge and the solutions exhibited by the company.
Pit Alexander Klepatz, sales manager at Logipack.“We have many exhibitors here in the logistic lounge, including Logipack for tray solutions, and experts for digitalization or empty sorting.”
“Visitors have the chance to meet not only one exhibitor at a spot but can meet ten to 15 experts from different areas and talk about optimizing supply chain processes in the beverage industry,” says Klepatz.
Optimizing beverage supply chains
Germany has a well-functioning beverage bottle return system, and other European countries are interested in learning from Germany about how to work with returnable packaging solutions, says Klepatz.
“There’s always the possibility to do it [returnable bottle systems] more efficiently and better. And that is why we have the logistics lounge — to talk about solutions for the next steps in digitization and to offer a neutral platform to discuss how to best distribute goods into retail.”
“We always have to talk about sustainability, but we must also address cost efficiency. From our point of view, that means process standardization and not individualization.”
Display-ready packaging
Logipack’s display-ready packaging.
At the ongoing BrauBeviale trade show, Logipack has two different systems on display: A crate system, common in Germany and Europe, and a tray solution.
Klepatz explains that the tray solution enables customers to directly place multipacks onto trays like layers and allows customers to distribute their packs directly to the point-of-sale so that the consumer can buy packs from the display.
“After the goods are sold, customers can use the trays to return the empty bottles on the tray, enabling a closed cycle and avoiding one-way packaging like carton layers. Furthermore, customers don’t need any additional crates to get their empty bottles back out of the retail store.”
“We in Germany supply solutions for glass returnable beverage bottles as these are the most common beverage packs in Germany. But other European companies are making PET bottles for 1 L and 1.5 L — providing other returnable beverage solutions for the returnable tray system.”
The solution is becoming increasingly common in Germany, but Klepatz highlights that Logipack learned about the tray solution from Scandinavia, which introduced a well-functioning system for all beverage sections like beer, wine and spirits.
By Natalie Schwertheim
