TAL 2026 once again confirmed the status of this key conference for logistics, manufacturing, IT and industrial digitalisation experts. “These sectors are currently facing new challenges – from a growing need for supply chain resilience to decarbonisation to digitalisation. That’s why sharing experience across regions is so important. Cooperation between Czechia and Bavaria is showing just how important it is to harness synergies and join forces. Only by working together can we prepare our supply chains for the future,” said Richard Brunner from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Regensburg. Brunner opened this conference together with Roman Žák from Aimtec and Bernard Bauer from the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Aimtec is the main conference organiser, with the two chambers of commerce also helping to organise it.
Companies aren’t hesitant to digitalise anymore. But there’s still the question of how to turn process digitalisation into a foundation for faster, more precise decision-making that is truly dependable. Aimtec’s Rostislav Schwob pointed out that digitalisation and automation pilot projects are merely the first step. The real challenge lies in a successful roll-out and standardisation across plants. What’s the right path to take? Schwob says the key aspects are clean data, open integration and an architecture that will not block future growth.
Pavel Maryško from Škoda Auto illustrated the practical impact of this approach using digital management for bolted joints, which this automaker sees as a key element in its products’ safety. He presented a real-world example from an operation where 300 tighteners perform roughly 500,000 tightenings a day. Each one is given a precise digital record, including its tightening curve, enabling detailed traceability and quality control, along with faster reactions to non-standard circumstances.
Hana Součková from SAP ČR followed up with the theme of people’s role in the digital environment. She reminded us that today, artificial intelligence connects not just departments, but the company as a whole, enabling it to take an end-to-end view of its processes. She also mentioned the importance of motivating people to educate themselves and adapt to new technologies, especially AI.
Markus Speiser from Autodesk focused on the specific benefits of artificial intelligence in manufacturing logistics. He remarked that digitalisation itself doesn’t bring any value to a company if the data stays in siloed systems and doesn’t help with decision-making throughout the product life cycle. “AI is not some final truth; it is an indicator that helps us move ahead in the most suitable way. To use its potential, we must first connect the data and tear down system silos,” Speiser said.
A panel discussion moderated by Aimtec’s Pavel Boháč likewise touched on the topic of measurable value from AI. Haresh Solanki from Inteva Products showed that when processing thousands of customer contracts a month, AI can bring companies time savings of up to 99.72%. Robert Cameron from VDA pointed out that exception management has become a part of supply chains’ daily reality. AI is helping with quick production analysis and stabilisation, while fully autonomous “dark factories” are not yet a reality in automotive. Bindioa Ouali from Safran Aircraft Engines added that AI is here not to replace human responsibility, but to strengthen human decision-making ability.
Jan Vavřík from Amazon showed the fundamental role autonomous technology plays in logistics operations today. Amazon uses over one million robots in its warehouses, where digital technologies are making their mark on planning, order sorting, route optimisation and controlling the movement of goods. This combination of robotics, data and AI makes it possible to scale operations that must respond to demand several months in advance.
Karel Kepka from Shape Corp. and Markus Schmermund from Idealworks talked about the real-world deployment of autonomous mobile robots. Using an intralogistics project as an example, they showed that smart automation can be deployed quickly, run reliably and pay for itself: project implementation took just a few weeks, the system now runs 24/7 and the investment will be returned in nine months.
Christoph Scheufler from Magna Exteriors and Marco Prüglmeier from Noyes Technologies confirmed that flexibility is a precondition for successful automation. They presented a bumper-picking solution using a goods-to-person system with mobile robots, which shortened walking distance by 97% and reduced warehouse-surface demands by 70%. This project confirmed that modular solutions can be expanded without fundamental changes to existing processes.
A panel discussion with Jan Vavřík from Amazon Logistic Prague, Libor Mihalka from LogTech, Roman Černohous from Logio and Rostislav Schwob from Aimtec continued the theme of preparing automation projects. The speakers all agreed that rather than automating to follow trends, companies should do so to solve some clearly defined problem. Team readiness, training and post-implementation support are also important, because automation is meant to serve an operation in the long term.
At the end of the programme, aerobatic pilot and former Czech Air Force fighter jet pilot Martin Šonka gave his own perspective on the importance of preparation and making decisions under pressure, thus expanding the topic of quick responses under changing conditions beyond the world of logistics.
The Experience Zone brought a hands-on element to the conference, with technology demonstrations and a space for meeting up with event partners, such as Zebra Technologies, the main partner of TAL 2026. In the daytime, participants could also check out #AimtecLab – Aimtec Digital Factory Showcase in the main hall, showing visitors how a digital factory operates.
The informal evening social programme mainly celebrated Aimtec’s 30th anniversary. Aimtec founders Roman Žák and Jaroslav Follprecht kicked off the evening along with CEO Pavel Boháč. “If I had to name just one thing that’s led Aimtec to such success, it’s our team of fantastic people who care about a job well done,” said Žák.
Next year’s Trends in Automotive Logistics will take place on 15 June 2027.
Main partner: Zebra Technologies
Conference partners: 24 VISION, ABB Robotics Czech Republic, Asprova, Bayern Innovativ, Beratungsbüro Oberpfalz, BITO skladovací technika CZ, European Region Danube-Vltava – Lower Bavaria Consultancy Office, GALAXIS TECHNOLOGY, Happenee, Idealworks, Körber, Logio, LogTech, Noyes Technologies, the Pilsen Region with the support of the European Union and the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, SAP, the SKLAD association, VertiFlex.
Media partners: Aimtec Insights, Automa, CIOtrends, Dopravní noviny, IT Systems, Logistika.Tv, Packaging Herald, Praktická LOGISTIKA, Reliant Group, Svět průmyslu, Systémy logistiky, The Best of Logistics, TRANSPORT a LOGISTIKA, Vše o průmyslu.
Organisers: Aimtec, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Regensburg for Upper Palatinate and Kelheim (IHK Regensburg), the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DTIHK).
Aimtec
For almost 30 years, Aimtec has supported industrial companies worldwide in digitalising their manufacturing and logistics. It focuses on connecting the worlds of IT and business – from warehouse, production and supply chain management to simulation, automation and integration of complex systems. Aimtec’s customers include Škoda Auto, Panasonic, DENSO, Magna and GZ Media. You can find more information at www.aimtecglobal.com.
Media contact:
Petra Troblová
Key Account Marketing Manager
petra.troblova@aimtecglobal.com
+420 724 284 141