Munich’s new dimensions
Our review of this year’s Transport Logistic and Air Cargo Europe. With a record result in terms of exhibitors, visitor numbers and internationality, Transport Logistic (TL) confirmed its role as the world’s leading trade fair for the logistics industry. Digitalisation, AI and sustainability dominated the trade fair activities – supplemented by specialist forums on topics such as air freight, energy supply and 3D printing.
The transport and logistics industry once again gathered at the Munich Exhibition Centre from 2-5 June this year. 2,722 exhibitors from 73 nations, more than 77,000 visitors from 130 countries and a compound expanded to 150,000 m2 made this year’s edition the largest TL of all time.
The proportion of international exhibitors climbed to 65%. The 2025 trade fair was opened by federal transport minister Patrick Schnieder – a clear signal for the political relevance of the topic.
Messe München managing director Stefan Rummel emphasised the fact that “Transport Logistic 2025 has impressively demonstrated the central role logistics plays in our networked world.” Panels, product presentations and expert forums focused on topics such as digital platforms, AI-supported control systems, autonomous vehicles and resilient supply chains. Sustainability and cybersecurity formed further thematic brackets.
A focus on additive strategies
An expert’s forum under the title “3D printing and the effects on global transport”, organised by Logismedia, the publisher of the ITJ, set its own accent. The interdisciplinary session impressively demonstrated how ‘additive manufacturing’ is already changing traditional logistics concepts – and opening up new business models.
Dr Max Siebert, co-founder of Replique, explained how its digital spare parts warehouses and its global network of more than 250 certified printing partners are increasingly replacing physical warehousing with data-driven production processes.
“We enable production where it is needed – with 100% variable costs,” says Siebert. Application examples from the shipping and automotive industries showed how flexibility and speed can be increased.
Engineer Fabian Frommer of the Seifert Logistics Group shed light on the role of logistics services providers in this change. “We’re not only transport service providers, but also partners in the implementation of decentralised production processes.” Seifert has successfully integrated 3D printing into its own processes – both internally and in customer projects.
Dr Katrin Oettmeier of the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland OST added to the scientific perspective. “Additive manufacturing is changing procurement, production structures and transport logistics.”
She showed how classic supply chains can be replaced, or supplemented, by local print networks, and what challenges this poses for quality assurance and data security. It’s particularly exciting that 3D printing can reduce shipment weights, whilst individual transport volumes can become more tailored and local distribution more precise in future.
Air Cargo Europe with its own dynamic
Air Cargo Europe, which was an integral part of TL, as usual, also recorded strong growth, occupying two complete halls for the first time. The airfreight sector presented itself with an international bent, thematically broad and highly topical in terms of content. It looked at e-commerce (see also pages 27-28), temperature-controlled logistics, pharmaceutical transports and global network integration.
Markus Heinelt (Munich airport) and Arthur Reijnhart (Schiphol airport) both emphasised the growing importance of airfreight for resilient trade and supply systems – and the role of the TL trade fair as a central cooperation platform.
Strong networks, high-quality contacts
Transport Logistic 2025 impressed participants with its diversity as well as with the depth of the discussions. Many companies praised the high density of decision-makers and the quality of meetings.
Once again, the event in the Bavarian capital showed how very dynamic, international and future-oriented the logistics industry is. Digitalisation, AI, airfreight and new production methods, including industrial 3D printing, are no longer mere trends today – they’re central drivers of comprehensive change.
The trade fair offered the space to exchange, orient and cooperate at eye level. It is the place where the industry helps to shape its future. The next Transport Logistic trade fair will take place in Munich from 26-29 April 2027.