Transport for West Midlands’ (TfWM’s) strategic head of transport innovation will reveal at this year’s Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition how the public body is developing a blueprint for scaling low-powered last-mile logistics solutions.
At the event, which takes place on 19-20 March at the NEC Birmingham, Chris Lane will discuss the challenge in the West Midlands of developing policy and practices to enable and support clean and sustainable last-mile delivery using low-speed zero-emission vehicles (LZEVs) and to stimulate the regional market.
As part of his presentation, Lane will explain how, while some LZEVs are currently operational in the UK, others are not yet considered legal on public roads and streets, and whilst some factory testing and trials have taken place, no one has developed the path from manufacture to scaling up LZEVs as a service.
Thus, Lane will present one of TfWM’s innovation projects and demonstrate how to scale such technology in the West Midlands, using its position with the UK government as a ‘transport sandbox’ to explore what needs to be done with regard to regulations to enable this outcome.
What’s more, Lane will reveal what the challenges are for low-powered last-mile logistics, why it needs support, and explain how interested parties can engage with the West Midlands on innovation in logistics.
Lane joins a phenomenal line-up of speakers at this year’s Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition, which will feature both case-study presentations from exhibitors focussing on the benefits of their products and services along with sessions delivered by industry thought-leaders and experts in the sustainability field.
Some of the standout speakers confirmed to share their in-depth knowledge of how sustainable practices and processes in the transportation, supply-chain and logistics industries can benefit the bottom line as well as people and the planet include: Bill Esterson MP, shadow minister for transport (roads) and Member of Parliament for Sefton Central; Helen Hayden, executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure at Leeds City Council; Benjamin Foster, president and founder of Fosterra; Nicola Small, city region sustainable transport settlement programme director at Coventry City Council; Fraser Robinson, co-founder and CEO at Beacon, and Dr Anna Railton, cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford and climate justice at Oxford City Council.
What’s more, the Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition will be co-located with fellow Akabo Media events, IntraLogisteX 2024 – the UK’s premier intralogistics and materials handling exhibition, and Robotics and Automation – the UK’s largest exhibition dedicated to these technologies, to form the overarching Logistics, Supply Chain and Automation Expo.
As a result, visitors who register for any of these events will also be able to access all three exhibitions and conference theatres with one ticket. The co-location also means an immediate gain in the number of exhibiting companies and qualifying professional visitors, with more than 8,000 buyers expected.
Additionally, the Logistics, Supply Chain and Automation Expo will see the official launch of Aurora Insights – Akabo Media’s brand-new research and consultancy division, which will encompass data-based reports, executive summaries and a monthly podcast, exploring the latest trends and innovations in urban mobility, sustainability, supply chain, logistics, and robotics and automation.
For more information about the Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition, and to see the latest conference agendas and speaker lineups, click here. For speaking opportunities, please contact Komal Singh at komal.singh@akabomedia.co.uk or call 020 8357 0892
