Win-win situation for students and businesses

Prof Dr Dieter Heimann opened the university block of the conference with a moderation and an introductory lecture. He took the attendees on a short journey into the physical background of shock, humidity and temperature loads in the transport industry. He drew attention to the use of so-called data loggers, which not only record these loads, but also provide them with a time stamp and GPS tracking. These measuring instruments are small boxes that have their own coordinate system and are attached to the transported goods or container. The recorded data can be used to determine which transport stresses occurred when and where within a transport chain and may have led to transport damage. This led him on to the practical research results of his students.

Data logger as a technical aid

Bennet Krause spoke about the impact load during container handling using a reach stacker. This is a mobile handling device with which containers can be transported and stacked. The cargo is attached to a large gripper arm in an almost free-floating position. If the reachstacker brakes or unloads a container, impact loads can occur. Bennet Krause measured and analysed these loads on real containers using data loggers in collaboration with the Bremerhaven-based logistics service provider Friedrich Tiemann. In addition to the university's own equipment, he was also able to use data loggers provided for research purposes by the Dresden-based company Cicor Deutschland GmbH. The student used a technically monitored voyage of a container from Bremerhaven to Busan in South Korea to show what data the small measuring devices record in practice and what conclusions researchers and companies can draw from them: The accelerations specified in existing packing guidelines for stowing containers were significantly exceeded for load securing. Bennet Krause also explained to the expert audience that data loggers should not be attached to the side walls of a container, as they then produce inaccurate data due to vibrations.Another important result: the level of acceleration varies greatly for different means of transport.

"When it rains, we close the door - it's not that simple!"

In his presentation, Jamo Randhahn, who is also studying transport and logistics at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, shed light on the indoor climate in the open-air storage of a smart ISO container. He explained the reciprocal relationship between temperature and humidity inside the container and emphasised how important it is to know the indoor climate: "If it rains, we close the door - unfortunately, it's not that simple!" In order to prevent damage caused by moisture and mould, you have to inspect your cargo thoroughly before loading. In his practical test, Jamo Randhahn transported 30 wooden beams that had been stored outside before loading. As a result, Randhahn explained, the wood had absorbed a lot of water, four and a half kilos per beam. He placed two measuring devices, so-called data loggers, between and on top of the beams. This data logger placed at the top recorded higher temperature fluctuations than the measuring device placed between the beams. "This shows that wood is a good heat accumulator," concluded the student, emphasising: "You have to be aware of the water content of the load." Jamo Randhahn's recommendation for timber transport: "Kiln-dried timber is more suitable than timber stored outdoors because the natural material can store a lot of water."

Parallel tests in container and laboratory

Student Nelio Rauen, who, like his fellow students, is studying transport and logistics at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, demonstrated what protection against moisture damage climate-controlled packaging - consisting of a heavy goods crate, a barrier film and desiccants - offers the transported goods. He analysed the weaknesses of the desiccant method. Desiccants, which are known as granulate packets for example, are used in transport to prevent mould growth. In his presentation, he discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the desiccant method. He carried out two experiments: One in a real container provided by the company Hapag Lloyd, which he was allowed to load at the Bremerhaven-based company Friedrich Tiemann, and one in the university's own packaging laboratory, supported by the packaging laboratory's technical employee Frank Strasdeit. The set-up for both tests looked like this: He wrapped the goods to be protected - equipped with data loggers and desiccants - in a protective layer and placed them in a heavy goods crate. He cut a hole in the protective layer, known as a leak. It turned out that the desiccant can only absorb a certain amount of water and that moisture-related damage to the transported goods can be caused during customs inspections, for example, when the barrier film that protects against water vapour entering the barrier layer from the outside has to be opened for visual inspection. "As an additional safeguard, a protective wooden crate ensures that the desiccant has more time to work - even if the protective layer has a leak."

Thanks to Bremerhaven expertise, 2,200 kilograms of carbon dioxide are saved per year

Tim Stadtlander gave the audience a practical example of packaging optimisation at his employer SIKO GmbH. The company produces measurement technology and ships the devices. In the packaging laboratory at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, the graduate of the Transport and Logistics degree programme found out in various experiments that he was able to improve the quality of the packaging and reduce the unnecessary variety of packaging sizes within the company he now works for by adjusting the thickness of the cardboard and specially punching the inside of the packaging. The company offers around 300 different product groups, including many in the medical technology sector. "There was a wide variety of packaging that was not coordinated with each other," explained the logistics expert. The company was using over 40 different fan variants alone to support the products in the carton before Tim Stadtlander's trial. He categorised all product groups according to their shape - round, square, rectangular - and thus reduced the box sizes to a few models that now fit on EU pallets. "No more Tetris!" As a result, and with the help of special die-cutting, he was also able to reduce the variety of inner packaging by 62 per cent. "My packaging is also reusable and lighter." This is also good for the planet: The company saves 2,900 kilograms of packaging waste and 2,200 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.

Regional companies support Bremerhaven's logistics students and benefit from their application-orientated research

With their findings, the four young logistics experts have impressively demonstrated that excellent theoretical and practical training during their studies lays the foundation for application-oriented, customised solutions in later professional life, which benefit both companies and the environment. Their accompanying Professor Dieter Heimann from Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences took the opportunity to advertise further exciting collaborations to the conference audience: "You have just seen an example of a final thesis here. My heartfelt invitation to you: Do you or your customers have special requirements? Then get in touch with us and involve our students in solving your problems." He was particularly impressed by the fact that the students carried out the experiments outside of the curriculum. "I thought the students did really well, they were very well prepared." He expressed special thanks to Bremerhaven logistics service provider Friedrich Tiemann: "You can only wish for this kind of cooperation. If we want to test something in practice, Dieter Kanning and his colleagues here in Bremerhaven always support us. That's something special that you don't find at every university location." Tiemann is happy to do this - and not least out of its own interest: "We all need young talent. If we don't promote young talent, we won't have any," says board member Dieter Kanning, explaining the win-win situation for the university and the regional economy. And the team at the port-related logistics service provider does indeed include a number of graduates from Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences.

(Text: Jurina Kleemeyer und Isabelle Epplé)

Translated with DeepL