Chemical industry trends & insights
Chemistry plays a key role in almost all value chains
Commodity and speciality chemicals are found in lightweight automotive components, semiconductors, agricultural fertilisers, pharmaceutical ingredients, and cosmetics. No industry can function without chemistry. At the same time, trends such as individualisation and bio-based formulations are leading to ever shorter innovation cycles and smaller batch sizes.
Sustainability and circular economy are drivers of innovation
Green energy, CO₂ reduction targets, and chemical recycling are shifting investments toward modular, automated systems. The demand for real-time transparency opens up additional opportunities for track-&-and trace technologies and climate-neutral logistics concepts.
Trends in the chemical industry
Blockchain-based supply chain transparency
Regulatory pressure from REACH revision, SSbD, and the EU Green Deal requires every batch to be completely documented back to the raw material supplier. With blockchain-based hazardous substance tracking in chemical warehouses, it is possible to connect tamper-proof data batches with RFID tags on IBC containers and drums. This creates a continuous audit trail that minimises recalls and provides real-time information to authorities and customers.
- BITO recommendation: Integrate our cloud-based BITO WMS directly with your blockchain platform to seamlessly map compliance from goods receipt to shipment.
Energy-efficient & carbon-neutral intralogistics
Rising electricity prices and CSRD obligations make warehousing a climate factor. LED contracting reduces the electricity consumption of hall lighting by over 60% and saves hundreds of tons of CO₂ annually. In combination with roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, modern energy-efficient stacker cranes for high-bay warehouses reduce kWh usage per pallet by up to 30%.
- Going green: Combine automated storage and retrieval machines using energy harvesting systems and rooftop solar panels to cut your energy consumption by up to 60% while ensuring carbon-neutral operation.
Paperless small quantity picking
Paperless picking methods such as pick-by-light or pick-by-vision will increase your pick rate to up to 400 picks/hour, while reducing the error rate to below 0.5%. This helps avoid picking errors and time-consuming rework, which is a definite plus, particularly when dealing with hazardous materials. Visual signals guide employees to the correct storage position of an item and automatically confirm picks to the warehouse management system.
- Greater efficiency: Combine this solution with our modular and stackable multi-purpose MB containers for use in laboratories and production facilities.
High-density shuttle-assisted storage for volatile markets
Short product life cycles and fluctuating raw material costs require maximum storage density and flexible FIFO/LIFO strategies. Deep-lane pallet racking serviced by shuttle vehicles that move into the channels and position pallets and drums with pinpoint accuracy eliminates the need for service aisles and for forklifts operating in these aisles. This solution saves up to 40% of aisle space and increases throughput, as several shuttles can be operated in parallel.
- Scalability: Start with just a few channels and integrate additional shuttle vehicles as your portfolio grows.
What are the requirements for logistics?
Sustainable transformation & safe storage of hazardous materials
Selective pallet racking
BITO pallet racking provides secure and selective access to IBC containers, drum pallets, and big bags.
High-density storage in deep-lane pallet shuttle systems
Pallet shuttle vehicles optimise FIFO/LIFO storage in temperature-controlled chemicals warehouses and reduce the amount of space required for service aisles.
Drum storage and hazardous material handling
TÜV-certified drum storage racks with drip pans are compliant with the Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS 510) and the German law on how to handle substances hazardous to water (AwSV).
Multi-tier systems and pick towers
Boltless shelving combined with a pick-by-light system increases picking performance in laboratories and spare parts supply companies to over 400 picks per hour.
Automated small parts storage
BITO Automated storage and retrieval systems guarantee permanent stocktaking and safe storage of damage-prone goods.
Multi-trip bins, boxes and containers
Stackable and nestable BITO MB multi-purpose containers save up to 75% on space when empty and are temperature-resistant from -20°C to +80°C.
Digital services
The cloud-based BITO WMS combines RFID, pick-by-vision, and IoT sensor technology for real-time inventory control and predictive maintenance.
Added value for your business with BITO storage systems
Here is how BITO makes your chemical supply chain future-proof, compliant, efficient, and scalable
- Regulatory compliance: BITO helps you to easily meet TRGS 510, REACH, and SSbD requirements.
- Verifiable sustainability: CO₂-saving shelving and racking, reusable bins and boxes, and energy-optimised automation support your CSRD reporting.
- Modular scalability: PROmotion shuttle racking, automated storage systems and related equipment grow with your product and batch diversity.
- Transparency & tracking: RFID-supported traceability minimises recall risks and simplifies audits.
Want to get your chemical logistics up to date?
Our intralogistics experts will analyse your material flow and support you in developing a future-proof, ESG-compliant solution, no matter whether you need a drum rack or a fully automated high-bay warehouse.