(Ismaning/Dortmund, December 18, 2025) The program for the 33rd German Material Flow Congress (MFK) has been published. On April 15 and 16 in Dortmund, 25 speakers will discuss the trends for 2026 in technical logistics under the theme “Next Stop: Beyond Automation.” Speakers on stage at the Westfalenhalle will include Kevin Kron (Boston Dynamics), Oliver Bilstein (BMW Group), Dr. Stephan Peters (Rhenus), and Dominik Eicke (Roche Diagnostics).

The program committee has grouped the presentations and discussion formats into six sessions. They are entitled: Humanoid Robots, Limits of Automation – Airports as the Final Opponent?, Planning, Making Locations Future-Proof, AI in Logistics, and Best Practice.

The sessions will be moderated by renowned German researchers, including Prof. Dr. Johannes Fottner (Technical University of Munich), Prof. Dr. Alice Kirchheim (Technical University of Dortmund/Fraunhofer IML), and Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schmidt (Technical University of Dresden). "The speakers at the congress come from both research and practice. Science meets reality. That's what makes the exchange at this congress so valuable," emphasizes congress director Prof. Dr. Johannes Fottner.

The event for suppliers, users, planners, consultants, and researchers is taking place for the first time as part of TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS in Dortmund. Previously, it was held for more than two decades at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Garching. The technical sponsor is the VDI Society for Production and Logistics. The Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, and Logistics (fml) at TUM supports the congress.

As the congress is taking place as part of TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS, participants can also use their ticket to test around 100 technical innovations at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. "The new setting offers congress visitors great added value. At this curated event, they can, for example, drive forklifts themselves or take a close look at how mobile robots from different manufacturers are controlled via the AnyFleet automation platform from idealworks. They can also put the finalists of the global IFOY AWARD 2026 competition through their paces," explains Thilo Jörgl from TEST CAMP management. Congress participants, exhibitors, and visitors to the test event will meet for intensive networking at the joint Networking Night on April 15 with dinner, drinks, and a DJ.

The program for the German Material Flow Congress can be found at www.testcamp-intralogistics.com.
Press photos are available for download here.

German Material Flow Congress (MFK)

The German Material Flow Congress (MFK) has become the central meeting place for intralogistics. The technical sponsor is the VDI Society for Production and Logistics. The two-day event is Germany's leading platform for exchange, knowledge transfer, and networking among manufacturers, users, planners, and scientists in this economic sector. Each year, the congress highlights a current key topic, which is brought to life through presentations and discussion panels with experts from research and industry. Presentations from the field are an integral part of the program – for example, on topics such as digitalization, automation, and sustainability.

Under the theme “Next Stop: Beyond Automation,” MFK @TEST CAMP 2026 will focus on technologies and strategies that go beyond traditional automation. Among other things, the focus will be on artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and networked systems that not only automate processes but also control them intelligently, learn, act autonomously, and reintegrate humans. The congress will highlight how these developments can be translated into practical and economically viable solutions – with concrete application examples, the latest research results, and room for controversial discussions.

TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS

TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS is a test event with an accompanying congress for innovations in logistics and intralogistics. Test drive forklifts, work with exoskeletons, operate all kinds of warehouse technology yourself, interact with mobile robots and logistics robots, try out software – TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS is all about hands-on testing of selected innovations and new developments in logistics and intralogistics. Decision-makers from industry, trade, and services with a concrete interest in innovation and investment will have the opportunity to test the exhibits themselves and find out about the relevant trends.

The TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS also provides the exclusive setting for the IFOY Audit, during which the finalists of the IFOY AWARD undergo various test series. TEST CAMP is a registered trademark of impact media projects GmbH. Its headquarters are in Ismaning near Munich.

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