Sascha Schmel
Managing Director VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics
Graduate industrial engineer Sascha Schmel (born 1978) is Managing Director of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association. He accompanies the jury as an elder statesman without voting rights and represents the sponsor.
Sascha studied industrial engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt. After completing his degree, he gained his first experience in medium-sized industrial companies and began his career at the VDMA in 2005 as an expert in machine safety.
In 2008, he moved to the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association, where he headed the Industrial Trucks department. In 2012, Sascha was appointed Managing Director of the trade association. In this function, he was involved in the founding of the IFOY AWARD.
In 2018, Sascha formed the fifth specialist department of the trade association with driverless transport systems and is also one of the midwives of VDA 5050.
Innovations inspire the engineer in all areas, as a pioneer in the field of renewable energies and with his early switch to electric cars, change and innovation are more than just the salt in the soup for him.
I am always inspired by the natural solutions that make the most of materials, space and digitalization that can currently be made stable. This makes my engineering heart beat faster and makes the IFOY AWARD something very special for me.
Publications
Contact
VDMA e.V.
Lyoner Str. 18
60528 Frankfurt am Main
Deutschland
T +49 69 66031325
sascha.schmel@vdma.org
Interview
What is the most striking trend in intralogistics at the moment?
Automation on the one hand, and reducing the footprint on the other. Both ecologically and geometrically. The latter applies in particular to warehouses.
What makes a product innovative?
Either it really is something new or something familiar has been made better. Innovation is sometimes very incremental, but over five years the sum of the increments is a revolution.
Which finalists inspire you?
I am always inspired by the natural solutions that make the most of materials, space and digitalization that can currently be made stable. This makes my engineering heart beat faster and makes the IFOY AWARD something very special for me.
What is your highlight at the IFOY AWARD?
The mood around the IFOY is always good and forward-looking. If a finalist has to go home without a trophy, you often hear: “But we’ll get it next time!”
