News / Virtual warehouses and 3D printing: Schenker's 'supply chain of the future'

DB Schenker's Digital Warehouse. Credit DB Schenker

Virtual warehousing and 3D printing has put DB Schenker firmly on the road to futuristic logistics, it said, launching its new system using its parent, Deutsche Bahn (DB), as its guinea pig.

DB said currently maintenance and repair stocks, worth up to $600m, involved thousands of spare parts for rail and locomotives having to be stored for when they are needed. However, with DB Schenker’s virtual system the company could cut some 10% from these storage costs, it said.

Some parts can ...