Program
Current topics, inspiring presentations, top speakers...Registration
Joint morning program
Opening words
The Slovak Economy and Its Impact on the Business Environment
The economy is changing – and so are the conditions in which companies plan their investments, production, inventory, and logistics capacity. What looks like economic uncertainty today may become the new normal tomorrow. Miroslav Gavura from the National Bank of Slovakia will take a look at the Slovak economy without a crystal ball: Where is it heading, what pressures will businesses face, and where might new opportunities emerge? How will Slovak industry and the country’s competitiveness develop? What can companies expect in terms of costs, demand, and investment? And why will the ability to adapt quickly to economic changes become an increasingly important competitive advantage? For logistics, economic developments are more than just a number on a chart – they directly influence how we will plan, invest, and shape the supply chains of the future.
Faster Than Growth: How GymBeam Is Building the Logistics of the Future
GymBeam has grown from a company based in Košice into one of Europe’s most prominent sports nutrition brands. Behind this growth lies not only a strong product portfolio and e-commerce, but also strategic investments in in-house manufacturing, automation, and technology. Logistics is a key part of this transformation. GymBeam has implemented the AutoStore robotic system in Košice and built an automated distribution hub near Milan, spanning more than 15,000 m² and featuring 85 robots and 74,000 storage locations.Anna Spišáková will share practical insights into building a logistics system that must keep pace with the company’s rapid growth. How can you tell when an existing operating model is no longer sufficient? When does automation become a strategic necessity, and how can companies ensure that technology delivers genuine operational and business value? This keynote will offer an inside look at GymBeam’s logistics transformation, from decisions on automation and robotics to the integration of data, IT, and processes, as well as the role of people in implementing change. It will also explore the results, challenges, and lessons learned, offering inspiration to companies seeking their own path towards more flexible, efficient, and scalable logistics.
Morning coffee break
Joint morning program
Panel Discussion: Resilience Is Not Enough. The Era of Elastic Logistics Is Coming
Supply chains will be disrupted by another pandemic. Or a war. Or a dry winter on the Rhine. Or a tariff decision made at midnight on a Sunday. The question is not whether it will happen — but how quickly your supply chain can adapt. Resilience was the right answer to the challenges of the past decade. Today, it is no longer enough. The market does not want systems that simply survive a crisis — it wants systems that continue moving forward through it. Elastic logistics is not a buzzword. It is a concrete set of decisions: about the level of automation, real-time data visibility, relationships with carriers, and where it makes sense to have a warehouse — and where it does not. Above all, it is about an organization’s ability to change its parameters faster than the environment around it changes. What does an “elastic” supply chain actually mean today? Which risks will pose the greatest threats in the coming years? How are AI, digitalization, and automation changing decision-making in supply chains — and is it even possible to predict crises and demand fluctuations? How can capacity in transport, warehousing, and production be scaled flexibly while balancing cost, resilience, and sustainability? What role will people play, and what role will technology? And what should companies start doing today to be ready for 2030?
The panel discussion will be moderated by Tatiana Koššová, Country Manager Slovakia.
Lunch & BizLOG
BizLOG speed-dating meetings
BizLOG meetings allow you to make contact with new suppliers or clients within ten minutes.
More information: BizLOG
Afternoon sections
Afternoon section: intralogistics
Intralogistics is one of the areas where new technologies – including artificial intelligence – are bringing the fastest and most visible progress. That is why we have dedicated a separate afternoon session to it. You can look forward to a series of inspiring case studies from companies that have already successfully implemented innovative solutions. You will learn first-hand how they were implemented, what obstacles had to be overcome, and what specific results they achieved. The topics will focus on automation, robotization, and digitization of processes.
Afternoon section: transport and SCM
Parallel to the Intralogistics section, there will also be a block focused on events outside the company – transport and supply chain management. In times of climate change, geopolitical upheavals, and disrupted flows, resilience is key alongside sustainability. In presentations and panel discussions, we will focus on which measures – from electromobility, bioCNG, multimodal transport to route optimization – actually reduce CO₂ while strengthening resilience, and which remain merely for show. We will also present the current conditions in the road transport market and show how digitalization and artificial intelligence can help create logistics that are sustainable, robust, and ready to cope with crisis situations.
LIFE MENTORING: Mental Agility for a World of Constant Change
In an era of agile logistics, it is not enough for processes and technologies to be flexible. People need to be adaptable too. In this practical and inspiring life mentoring session, Juraj Surma will show you how to maintain performance, perspective, and inner stability in an environment of constant change. How can you handle pressure, adapt quickly, make good decisions in uncertainty, and still preserve your energy and sense of purpose? Participants will gain practical tools for building mental resilience and flexibility, as well as for navigating challenging situations – both at work and in their personal lives. Because agile logistics starts with an agile mind.
Afternoon coffee break
Joint afternoon program
LOGISTICS RING: Logistics Box Match
Two players. Two sides. No diplomatic answers. A logistics solutions provider and a user go head-to-head in a dynamic format where each has exactly 60 seconds to answer – and the opponent can immediately counter. What is truly worth automating today? When does technology become an expensive toy? What should the payback period for an investment be? And where can humans still outperform robots? Logistics Ring will tackle topics that are often discussed too cautiously in traditional panel discussions – from ROI and automation to the shared responsibility of suppliers and customers for the success or failure of an implementation. Five rounds, rapid-fire YES/NO decisions, counterattacks, and a final knockout question await: what should every logistics manager stop doing immediately in 2027 – and what should they start doing instead? The format ties in with the congress’s main theme, The Era of Elastic Logistics, exploring how technology, AI, and automation are transforming traditional processes into flexible systems. No long answers. No PR phrases. Just opinions, numbers, arguments, and counterattacks.
The discussion will be moderated by Tamara Lištiaková, news presenter and journalist at STVR.
Staying at the Top in Times of Constant Change
In a world that is changing faster than ever before, simply enduring is no longer enough. True success belongs to those who know when to change direction, adapt to new circumstances, and remain committed to their goals. Olympic champion Matej Tóth offers the perspective of someone who spent years pushing the limits of human performance. His journey demonstrates that extraordinary achievements are built not only on talent and hard work, but above all on the ability to learn from setbacks, adapt to change, and perform under pressure when it matters most. This inspiring keynote explores resilience, discipline, mental strength, and why, in today’s world, success belongs not to those who simply endure the longest, but to those who respond most effectively to new challenges.
Evening program
Logistický business mixer
The evening Logistics Business Mixer will bring together hundreds of experts in an informal atmosphere.
More information: Logistics Business Mixer
Automation of the IKEA Components Malacky Dispatch Warehouse
This case study presents the automation of the existing IKEA Components warehouse in Malacky, implemented without interrupting its day-to-day operations. The MECALUX solution combines three-sided stacker cranes, automated pallet conveyors, and the Easy WMS warehouse management system. Implementation was carried out in four stages, with minimal impact on warehouse capacity. The Easy M simulation software made it possible to verify the layout, material flows, and required performance levels before implementation. The automated solution connects production, storage, and dispatch operations and contributes significantly to a 99% order fulfillment success rate for IKEA Components, both in terms of quantity and delivery deadlines.
From Multiple Warehouses to One Solution: The Logistics Transformation of Peek & Cloppenburg
How do you transfer logistics volumes from multiple countries to a single central hub without disrupting ongoing operations? Peek & Cloppenburg, in cooperation with DHL Supply Chain, centralized its warehouse operations in Slovakia. This case study will take you through the process step by step, exploring how the transition was managed, what it has brought to day-to-day operations, and what needed to be addressed to ensure the new model was fully operational from day on. It will also highlight the key implementation challenges, lessons learned, and the collaboration between the two teams, which was crucial to a successful go-live. The transformation does not end there. Peek & Cloppenburg and DHL Supply Chain are already exploring further opportunities to turn the centralized solution into a platform for growth, including Cross-Dock and ALG initiatives.
From Automation to Intelligent Intralogistics
How to transform warehouse processes into a more efficient, flexible, and powerful system? The case study by SAMSUNG SDS and Systech Group demonstrates how modern logistics technologies and automation optimize warehouse operations and address demands for speed, accuracy, and efficiency. You can read the full case study at Systech Group.
When Data Moves as Fast as Goods
How can you reduce errors, speed up information flow, and ensure accurate data is available right where it is generated? This case study will demonstrate how mobile terminals connect warehouse and production operations with the information system, transforming day-to-day work from record-keeping into real-time management. We will explore their use in warehouse operations, inventory counts, and directly on the production floor – for example, recording production output at individual machines. What changes when information is captured directly at the point where a process takes place, rather than on paper or through subsequent manual data entry?
How Alza Is Automating Its Largest Warehouse in Slovakia
On May 15, 2026, Alza launched its automated AutoStore storage system into full operation at its warehouse in Bernolákovo, in cooperation with Element Logic, an official AutoStore system integrator. The aim was to develop a solution for storing and handling small products at the new logistics center, ensuring the required performance levels while enabling the necessary operational processes. It is one of the largest AutoStore implementations in the region, featuring a 10,800 m² grid, a capacity of 388,824 bins, and 650 robots. Automation is a key step towards increasing storage efficiency and optimizing workforce utilization in a warehouse that serves the entire Region 2 — Moravia, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. The solution enables Alza to handle growing order volumes without compromising delivery quality or speed (“Order by Midnight”), while creating a foundation for sustainable growth across the entire service area.
Robots Without Downtime: How to Take Control of a Fleet During Live Operations
How can you take control of a robotic fleet without shutting down an operation that is already running? The K&V Elektro case shows that even a complex robotic system can be fundamentally transformed while “on the fly.” The project, which was the company’s first robotic implementation three years ago, was transferred to its own VertiNode WCS during this year’s Easter holidays — without interrupting full operations. What does such a change involve? Where were the biggest risks, what went wrong during the migration, and how was the robotic fleet kept running throughout the process? This practical case study explores how technology, software and a well-prepared system can make automation more flexible and resilient.
Adaptive Warehouses in the Era of Elastic Logistics
Traditional logistics centers designed around average, constant throughput are failing in an era of permanent uncertainty. Today’s intralogistics management faces a critical challenge: how to eliminate the rigidity of internal processes and transform static warehouse capacities into highly flexible systems capable of responding instantly to extreme demand volatility and unpredictable supply fluctuations. The future belongs to elastic intralogistics, based on the dynamic, real-time scalability of both workforce and technological capacities without disproportionately increasing fixed costs. This expert session will focus on deconstructing modern intralogistics systems and implementing advanced technologies that are changing the rules of the game inside warehouses and production facilities. We will go into extensive technical detail and real-world operational practice. We will demonstrate that predictability and flexibility of internal flows are not a matter of chance, but the result of precisely engineered architecture in which predictive analytics, generative artificial intelligence (AI), and intelligent automation work together as one integrated ecosystem.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Martina Ďarmeková.
The Pulse of Slovak Road Transport
Road freight transport is a key part of the Slovak economy and, at the same time, a sector that has faced significant changes and new challenges in recent years. How has the structure of the Slovak market changed over the past five years? What transport capacity is available in Slovakia, and how is it evolving? The presentation will provide an up-to-date overview of the state of road freight transport in Slovakia, the development of the sector, the number and structure of transport operators, and available data on transport capacity. It will also focus on trends affecting the sector from a road transport regulation perspective – from the development of transport capacity and business conditions to the challenges brought about by a changing transport environment. The aim is to provide data, facts and insight into where Slovak road freight transport stands today – and where it is heading.
Less Complexity, Greater Efficiency: The Benefits of Pallet Pooling for Smurfit Westrock Slovakia
How can a well-designed pallet pooling system deliver not only operational efficiency but also measurable sustainability results? In this case study, we will present more than 10 years of successful cooperation between Smurfit Westrock Slovakia and CHEP, which has helped simplify logistics processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and support the circular economy since 2014. We will showcase the specific benefits of a solution that helps Smurfit Westrock Slovakia save almost 500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, 14 tonnes of waste, and more than 150,000 dm³ of wood every year.
€35,000 Saved Annually on Transport Procurement: How PEBAL Digitalized Its Logistics
How can transport procurement be moved from emails and Excel into one transparent, streamlined process — while saving tens of thousands of euros every year? The PEBAL case study will present concrete results from digitalizing logistics processes using the 4Shipper platform. Thanks to digitalization, carrier selection time was reduced by 67%, email communication decreased by 21%, and annual transport savings exceeded €35,000. PEBAL also gained better visibility into data, simpler reporting, and freed up logistics team capacity for more strategic tasks. Concrete figures, a real-life example, and proven results from practice.
When Logistics Must Work as One: The Baumit and Geis Partnership
Efficient logistics is not just about transportation itself. What matters most is how processes, capacities, people, and the individual links of the supply chain work together. Baumit and Geis will present a joint logistics solution that integrates transportation from manufacturing plants, logistics services, and subsequent customer distribution into one coordinated system. The case study will show how such a partnership is implemented in practice, what operational and organizational challenges both companies encountered, and what was crucial to successfully launching the entire solution. The presentation will also share specific operational experience and practical recommendations that can serve as inspiration for companies working on similar logistics projects.
The Power of Shared Experience: How Protherm Production Transformed Logistics Flow Management
How can the experience of one manufacturing plant help drive change in another? Protherm Production in Skalica was looking for a solution to make loading and unloading planning more efficient. In search of inspiration, the company drew on the experience of other plants within the Vaillant Group. By sharing experiences and proven best practices, Protherm decided to implement its own time slot management system. In this case study, we explore why Protherm decided to make the change, how the implementation process unfolded, and what the new approach has brought to day-to-day operations. We will also look at how sharing experience across a manufacturing group can accelerate decision-making and facilitate the transfer of effective solutions to other plants.
Panel Discussion: Elastic Transport and SCM
In the era of elastic logistics, traditional transport planning is facing a harsh reality. Time windows set weeks in advance and fixed carrier capacities are unable to absorb market anomalies or sudden fluctuations in demand. If the supply chain is to become truly elastic, transport must evolve into a cyber-physical system capable of allocating and rerouting capacity within hours.This panel discussion will focus on the executive practice of moving from reactive crisis management to proactive risk mitigation in transport. Leading experts from the shipper, logistics provider, and technology visionary perspectives will discuss how predictive algorithms can be effectively connected to real trucks, warehouses, and onboard computers, enabling the network to absorb the kinetic energy of disruptions without collapse or disproportionate cost increases.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Vladimír Maťo, Editor-in-Chief of Systémy Logistiky magazine.
Seelog
Experience real-life operation
The second day of the congress will offer an exclusive excursion to logistics facilities.
Registration for excursions is conditional on participation in the congress.
IKEA Components Malacky: Logistics Supplying IKEA
IKEA Components in Malacky is responsible for the procurement, storage, industrial packaging, and distribution of furniture components and accessories for IKEA. The Malacky facility is part of IKEA’s global supply chain and serves markets across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Visitors will get an insight into a highly automated warehouse, where technology connects production, storage, and shipping. The approximately 31-metre-high warehouse uses automated storage and retrieval systems, conveyors, and a WMS (Warehouse Management System). The automation was implemented gradually without interrupting operations. IKEA Components Malacky will demonstrate what flexible and scalable intralogistics looks like in a real-life operation – from production and packaging through automated storage to order picking and dispatch.
Visit details:
- The visit is intended for 2 groups of 15 people.
- The tour will be conducted in Slovak.
- Sturdy work shoes are recommended.
- Photography and filming are permitted only with prior approval.
- Own transportation is required; please arrive no later than 10 minutes before the start.
- Map
A Warehouse That Can Grow Flexibly: Muziker in the Era of Elastic Intralogistics
Muziker, a Slovak company and one of the leading European players in the musical instruments market, currently handles shipments to 35 countries as well as its own retail network. Across two warehouses in Lozorno, with a total area of almost 15,000 m², the company handles more than 100,000 SKUs and thousands of orders every day. However, growing order volumes, seasonal peaks, and a shortage of available labor raise the question of how to increase capacity without proportionally increasing the number of employees. In cooperation with Toyota Material Handling, Muziker has therefore taken another step towards elastic logistics by implementing robotic AGV reach trucks for pallet handling. The automated vehicles enable the company to respond more flexibly to fluctuations in workload, absorb growing order volumes during seasonal peaks, and at the same time improve the safety and accuracy of warehouse operations. Muziker’s story shows that warehouse elasticity is not just about technology. It is about the ability to adapt capacity to current demand, eliminate bottlenecks, and create a system that can grow without compromising efficiency. Automation thus becomes a tool not only for managing today’s operations, but also for preparing for future growth.
Visit details:
- The visit is intended for 2 groups of 15 participants.
- The presentation will be held in Slovak.
- Safety footwear and a safety vest are mandatory.
- Photography and filming are permitted only with prior consent.
- Own transportation; arrival no later than 10 minutes before the start.
- Map
From Production to the Comfort of Home: Vaillant Group’s Logistics in Senica in Action
How does logistics work in a modern manufacturing plant where material flows must be aligned with production requirements? We invite you to an exclusive tour of Vaillant Group’s plant in Senica, where heat pumps are manufactured and modern logistics management plays a key role. Vaillant Group decided to digitalise the management of loading and unloading operations using the Time Slot Control system to gain access to transparent data, improve visibility into capacity, and manage logistics processes based on real data rather than estimates. The results speak for themselves: before the system was introduced, the plant handled approximately 500 pallets per day. Today, that figure has increased to around 700 pallets. During the visit, you will explore the EXPO Centre, attend a short presentation on the Time Slot Control solution at Vaillant Group, and then get a first-hand look inside the manufacturing plant, with a particular focus on its logistics operations. This exclusive tour offers an opportunity to see how digital time slot management translates into everyday practice and how available data helps improve capacity planning, coordinate transport, and align logistics with production.
Visit details:
- The maximum number of participants is 20.
- Safety footwear is mandatory.
- Photography and filming are not permitted.
- Participants must arrange their own transport.
- Arrival: no later than 15 minutes before the tour starts (9.45 a.m.).
- Map
VERMONT Services Slovakia: Logistics Centre in Bratislava
VERMONT’s central warehouse is located in the Presskam logistics park in Devínska Nová Ves, a district of Bratislava. It serves as the company’s main logistics and distribution centre for its e-commerce business with premium fashion brands on the Slovak market. VERMONT is part of the international fashion group VERMONT Holding. The company provides logistics services for the group across the Slovak, Czech and Hungarian markets. In response to the growth of e-commerce and changing customer expectations in the premium retail segment, the company fundamentally transformed its logistics model in 2021. Its previous system of leased warehouse capacity and outsourced logistics was replaced by an investment in its own logistics infrastructure and warehouse automation technologies. In Bratislava, VERMONT acquired its own 11,000 m² warehouse facility. As part of the modernisation project, the warehouse underwent a comprehensive technological upgrade. In cooperation with the system integrator Element Logic, the facility was equipped with the AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system. The automation is designed to increase the efficiency of warehouse operations and accelerate order fulfilment for e-commerce. At the same time, the new logistics centre provides the capacity needed to support the further expansion of the group’s logistics operations across Central European markets.
Visit details:
- The visit is intended for 2 groups of 10 people.
- The tour is conducted in Czech and Slovak.
- Sturdy work footwear is recommended.
- Photography and filming are permitted only with prior consent.
- Visitors are responsible for their own transportation and should arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start.
- Map
