TGW solves its customers’ supply chain challenges with highly automated, efficient and future-proof intralogistics systems. Every day, the vision of the autonomous fulfilment centre gives us a renewed sense of motivation to give our best. In our core markets of Fashion & Apparel, Grocery and Industrial & Consumer Goods, we build on strong partnerships that include everything from planning to implementation to lifetime services.
Head of Business Development at TGW Northern Europe
As a foundation company, TGW have an owner that enables long-term thinking on behalf of their customers and the more than 4,400 employees worldwide. Entrepreneurial action and social responsibility are inseparably linked at TGW. This is entirely in accord with their philosophy of “Focusing on People – Learning and Growing”.
In the 2023/2024 business year, TGW increased its global turnover by 12 percent to 1.07 billion euros.
Jan-Willem Klinkenberg, Head of Business Development Northern Europe at TGW Logistics Group spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
TGW is a leading provider of automated order fulfilment solutions, revolutionising intralogistics with cutting-edge technology and a robust product lineup that significantly improves storage efficiency and retrieval speed. We design end-to-end solutions in close cooperation with our customers, all driven by our in-house developed software to ensure high accuracy and operational efficiency. TGW has all the expertise and know-how to develop, build and service automated fulfilment centres that meet our customers’ needs for their future operations.
How do you think your industry sector is performing at the moment?
There is still a growing demand for automated warehouse solutions in Northwest Europe. TGW is in an excellent position to participate in the growing future ambitions of the companies we are currently working with in a consulting and design phase or in realisation and lifetime services.
How many markets are you in and what is your biggest market?
TGW has a clear focus on Fashion, Groceries and Industrial and Consumer Goods. This sector brings a wide variety of products: automotive aftermarket parts, industrial equipment/components, electronics, personal healthcare and cosmetics, books and library, DIY, etc.
TGW is a dominant leader in the Fashion market with order fulfilment solutions. This market remains good. The grocery market for both retail and on-line brings both a continuous solid basis and a growing dynamic with new food concepts.
In what ways does your company stand out from its competitors?
As a foundation-owned business, the majority of our profits are reinvested back into the company. This allows us to focus on enhancing our employees’ growth and development, as well as investing in cutting-edge technologies of the future. We are committed to operational excellence and uphold the highest quality standards in everything we do. Our team consists of highly qualified, service-orientated employees, and we continually optimize our processes to ensure ongoing product improvements. Furthermore, we prioritise long-term partnerships with our clients, fostering relationships built on trust and collaboration.
What are your most recent product innovations?
TGW LivePick
The scalable and easy-to-implement order fulfilment system, based on the combination of fixed storage and mobile robots for picking and packing. It’s the ideal solution for low- to mid-performance order processing and is engineered for ultimate flexibility in omnichannel operations.
TGW SmartPocket
The advantages of applying AMR technology to pocket sorters. This essential pocket sorter system for e-commerce fulfilment centres features self-driven pockets and streamlined sortation steps, ensuring faster processing time and easier scalability.
TGW One-Touch Receiving
With One-Touch Receiving, TGW has automated the entire goods receipt process. Instead of eight, only one manual touch is required for the receipt and storage of cartons.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
TGW Ltd. has been in warehouse automation for almost 20 years. In recent years, we’ve observed a rise in new warehouse automation players entering the market with new technologies, such as cubic goods-to-person systems and an increasing use of mobile robots.
Innovation therefore remains a top priority for TGW. Last year, we invested a record 54 million euros in R&D. To date, the company has applied for a total of over 600 patents for its products and solutions. In the coming years, a particular focus will be placed on advancements in artificial intelligence, digitalisation and robotics.
Can you tell us about any recent customer contract wins or projects and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?
A major sports retailer and a leading book publisher have placed their trust in our technology and the team behind it. Our strong local presence, combined with our expertise and extensive experience, were crucial in gaining their confidence in our capabilities and solutions.
How do your business levels in 2024 compare to previous years?
TGW Logistics’ 2023/2024 business year (July 1st, 2023 to June 30th, 2024) came to a successful conclusion. Our turnover increased by twelve percent and has surpassed the billion-euro mark for the first time in the 55-year history of the company.
Given the current economic conditions, many companies remain hesitant to invest in new intralogistics systems. However, TGW is optimistic and anticipates that the market will rebound in 2025.
What is your strategy for growth and success in 2025?
TGW continues to invest in its future. There is the strong focus on research and development and thanks to a recent acquisition, we have access to a disruptive hanging goods conveyor technology that represents a gamechanger for e-commerce. Furthermore, we are also investing in the expansion of our headquarters.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development and can you give examples?
One of TGW’s challenges is finding and retaining the right people. We are competing for engineering-based labour, in a large variety of areas. We have a graduate scheme for people coming from universities and colleges so they can gain the necessary work experience. With our apprenticeship programme, we offer people that have finished school and are not going to university the chance to learn a skill and the guarantee of having a job with TGW when they finish the apprenticeship.
What work are you doing in the area of sustainability?
Economic, social and ecological sustainability are essential to a company’s future viability. An integral part of TGW’s business responsibility is to act with foresight and care. The rating agency EcoVadis honoured us with a silver sustainability rating in 2024 for our outstanding commitment. In fact, the commitment to act sustainably becomes more and more important in the TGW world, no matter if it is in relation to the ecological footprint of products and systems, the selection of suppliers or the social business of TGW Future Wings which initiates, promotes and supports charity projects.
Will you be investing in your premises over the next 12 months?
TGW Logistics is investing up to 100 million euros in the expansion of its headquarters in Marchtrenk Austria. By the summer of 2026, there will be a new production hall, a highly automated storage system and a parking garage. The highly automated warehouse will consist of a shuttle warehouse for totes, in which robots will handle the storage and retrieval of components at lightning speed, as well as a high-bay warehouse with 11,000 storage locations for pallets. After retrieval, mobile TGW robots will transport the components to the assembly workstations completely autonomously. In the new production hall, shuttle robots, storage and retrieval machines, unit load conveyors and more will be manufactured and exported worldwide.
How future-proof and flexible are your solutions?
TGW are heavily focused on the areas of digitalisation, software, automation and robotics. In development, we strive to make our solutions zero-touch. This is the basis for making future fulfilment centres a reality. We develop new technologies that set the standard for high performance in the industry.
What exhibitions can we expect to see your company exhibiting at in 2025?
LogiMAT, 11-13 March (Stuttgart)
Intralogistex, 25-26 March (Birmingham)
IMHX 2025, 9-11 September (Birmingham)
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Focus on people (Learning, Innovation, Responsibility)
TGW
01858 468855
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