SIL 2026 Awards a Robot That Doubles Operational Efficiency and a Project Promoting Female Talent

• The jury, made up of specialized sector media, has awarded two of the 160 innovations presented at this year’s SIL, recognizing their technological and social impact.

• Aragón has marked the 25th anniversary of the Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA) with an event chaired by Octavio López, Regional Minister for Public Works, Housing and Logistics of the Government of Aragón.

• SIL hosted sessions by COACAB, FERRMED, CIMALSA and UNO, while also holding a networking event with participating companies and leading logistics directors from the sector.

Barcelona, June 4, 2026. – The 28th edition of the International Logistics Exhibition (SIL 2026) presented this morning the SIL Awards for Best Innovation, which recognize the most innovative initiatives showcased at this year’s event. The jury, composed of 15 journalists specializing in logistics, transport, intralogistics and supply chain, selected the two most outstanding innovations based on both their technological impact and their social contribution. It is worth noting that a total of 160 new developments are being presented at this year’s SIL 2026, from which the jury shortlisted 24 finalists, with the winners ultimately being HAIPICK CLIMB, by the company LyL, and the initiative “Women, Get on Board,” by the Cares Foundation.

The awards ceremony was presided over by Pere Navarro, Executive President of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona and President of SIL, and Blanca Sorigué, Managing Director of the CZFB and SIL, who presented the awards to representatives of both organizations.

Two Innovations Shaping the Future of Logistics

The HAIPICK CLIMB system, developed by the company LYL, has been recognized for its ability to redefine warehouse automation. It is a robot that doubles operational efficiency while simultaneously reducing installation complexity, offering a highly scalable solution for today’s logistics environments. Luis Talavera, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of LYL, and Raúl Vilaplana, Country Manager for Spain & Portugal at Hai Robotics, collected the award on behalf of their organizations.

For its part, the “Women, Get on Board” project was recognized for its transformative impact in both the social and labor spheres. This initiative, led by Fundación Cares, aims to reverse the low representation of women in the logistics sector, where they currently account for less than 20% of operational roles. In collaboration with the Fundación Surt, the program offers a specialized training pathway that combines technical instruction, hands-on experience in real environments, and job placement. In its latest edition, it has significantly increased female participation, with eight women joining the program, some of whom are already working in operational roles within real logistics environments. The project also contributes to improving team productivity and diversity—key factors for business competitiveness. The Managing Director of the Cares Foundation, Helena Borbón Porta, received the award.

Aragón celebrates the 35th Anniversary of PLAZA

Aragón Aragón has been at the center of one of the day’s key events with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA), presided over by Octavio López, Regional Minister for Public Works, Housing and Logistics of the Government of Aragón. Notably, PLAZA is the fifth-largest logistics hub in Europe, spanning 13 million square meters and currently exceeding 90% occupancy. As a result, the Government of Aragón has recently declared the project of regional interest and plans an expansion of a further 89 hectares to continue attracting investment from major logistics groups.

Knowledge Takes Centre Stage on SIL’s Main Day

SIL Knowledge featured a packed agenda of sessions, bringing together professionals from the customs, rail, logistics operators, logistics digital transformation, artificial intelligence, intralogistics, and real estate logistics sectors across seven different venues.

The Official College of Customs Agents and Customs Representatives of Barcelona (COACAB) held the session “Customs in an Uncertain World: Geopolitics, Trade and New Rules for Businesses” within the framework of SIL, consolidating it as a key meeting point for analysing the challenges of international trade. During the session, experts from both the public and private sectors discussed the main developments in European customs regulations and their impact on business activity, as well as the evolution of the Union Customs Code in a global context marked by uncertainty.

The session also focused on the digitalization of customs clearance and the implementation of new regulatory frameworks and digital systems for border operations—key aspects for improving efficiency and competitiveness in the sector. In addition, it addressed the growing role of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, technologies that are transforming customs and logistics processes. The event featured prominent participants including Antonio Llobet, President of COACAB and the General Council of Customs Agents; Massimo de Gregorio, President of the pan-European confederation of customs agents CONFIAD; and Pere Navarro, Executive President of the CZFB and President of SIL.

Another highlight of the day was led by the Logistics and Transport Business Organization, UNO Logística, which addressed the latest technological developments, showcased various success stories, and analysed trends in this field to drive efficiency, cost optimization, and supply chain visibility. The session brought together numerous professionals from the logistics and transport sectors, including Rubén González, Sales Country Manager at Tesisquare Iberia; Martí Torra, Director of Logistics and Distribution at Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial; Sofía Gómez, EMEA Procurement Lead at HP; David Gómez, Transport Manager at Danone; and Rafael Aguilera, Managing Director of UNO.

The railway sector also took centre stage with the FERRMED session, which examined the remaining challenges facing the Mediterranean Corridor, with the participation of key stakeholders from the various regions involved. Likewise, CIMALSA held an important session focused on the Catalan strategy for railway terminals.

Networking Between Shippers and Companies in the Sector

Networking also played a key role, with a dedicated activity that connected participating companies with leading logistics and supply chain directors from industrial firms that rely on logistics services.

It is worth noting that SIL 2026 will hold its final day tomorrow, with a special focus on talent through the Job Market Place, which will host various job interviews to fill different vacancies offered by companies in the sector.

IMPORTANT! PRESS CALL FOR TOMORROW

SIL 2027 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

• Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
• Time: 11:15 a.m.
• Venue: ZF Barcelona Stand. Hall 8, Plaza España venue at Fira de Barcelona (Stand G726)

• Accreditation: prior confirmation of attendance is required at atejera@zfbarcelona.es