“Material handling by itself is not really a vertical. It goes across a lot of different horizontal industries. We have products and components that can really fit into just about every single niche of this market.”
Bhaskar Chopra met us at the booth for Siemens Digital Factory at Promat 2019 in Chicago for another interview! We first met at Modex last year, and then Bhaskar actually joined us on our weekly show to discuss some practical tips for sales presentations.
Their booth this year showcased many of their products for material handling facilities. A broad display wall in constant motion showcased their simulation software, hardware components, and networking components at work. Each item can help optimize the distribution centers for OEMs, system integrators, and end users.
Each component can fit into almost any niche within the material handling vertical. (Which, as Bhaskar pointed out, is pretty far-reaching). From cold storage to fulfillment centers to large-scale distribution centers to even tire-handling, solutions could be found at the booth for Siemens Digital at Promat 2019. And thanks to ten years of hard work, Siemens has also acquired an impressive portfolio of software to offer their clients as well.
Bhaskar’s Favorite Case Study
One of Bhaskar’s favorite stories to share is about a German CPG company. Siemens received a from-scratch commission from this client. They then designed and modeled a distribution center from the ground up. The company had five smaller centers around Europe at the time. However, they wanted to consolidate everything into one mega distribution hub.
Siemens Digital used their software to simulate the center’s operations within virtual reality. The simulation helped them to determine the ideal hardware for the facility’s needs. After confirming the optimization, then construction on the facility was able to begin with total confidence. That ability to create a valid digital simulation is pretty unique to Siemens.
Another major focus for Siemens Digital is the longevity and ease-of-use of their products. After installation, the products and components within these distribution centers may be in use for multiple decades. They must function properly, and they should be easy to use. And even if repair is needed, that repair should be minimal and easy: not something that requires extensive brand training.
Fortunately, Siemens has focused on making sure all of their products do just that. The operator panels for each item are in plain English, and their installation is meant to be easy so that the average layman can handle them comfortably.
Bhaskar and Siemens’ full team of material handling specialists are always available to chat further about what Siemens Digital has to offer.
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