Design

Hydrogen fuel cells promise to be a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel or battery-electric material handling equipment (MHE) in various production or warehouse contexts. Short refuelling times, an absence of carbon emissions, and constant power input put fuel cell-powered MHE at an advantage in high-intensity work environments. However, various barriers to the adoption of fuel cells remain, including considerations surrounding cost and efficiency.

This study examines the contribution of natural building materials, in particular loam and wood, to the sustainable development of logistics infrastructure, assessing ecological, economic, and technical dimensions across the entire life cycle. Potentials, restrictions, and supportive framework conditions are identified based on literature analyses and expert interviews. Wood proves to be technically mature and ecologically advantageous, especially in high rack construction, while loam offers high potential for energy- and resource-efficient construction. The study concludes with recommendations for research, policy, and practice to establish circular construction methods in logistics.

Manufacturing is leaving Earth: what was once science fiction is becoming a strategic field for the future. Falling launch costs and new space industry players are enabling production and services under conditions that are impossible on Earth—from in-orbit maintenance to novel manufacturing processes in microgravity. This issue highlights opportunities, business models, and technological hurdles on the path to value chains in space.

Production in space, of semiconductors for example, offers many advantages for companies. At the same time, high transport costs mean that careful consideration must be given to the production materials being transported. The use of Kalman filters enables (real-time) control from Earth, making space production a cost-efficient option. Machine learning could make it a viable approach even for highly complex production systems.

Learning and skill-enhancing work designs are essential for new work and organizational concepts such as “learning organizations” and “Industry 4.0.” Developing and applying criteria for promoting learning and skills development in digitally transformed work environments enables more effective and efficient work processes, makes work more people-centered, and the AI-based future of work more manageable. Digitalization is also introducing work-integrated learning formats such as online communities, learning platforms, and digital cognitive assistance systems that already meet many of these criteria. In the future, designing work environments that promote learning and skills development will become a central task of corporate training and personnel and organizational development.