Reconfigurable logistics systems for efficient processes-a new planning tool set

The importance of the circuitry of resources is continuously increasing in Europe and other parts of the world. The major driver is the scarcity of natural resources and disposal capacities. In this context, the efficient design of logistics processes is of high importance, as high costs for collection, return, treatment, and redistribution are combined with a low value added. There are already sound (logistics) recycling concepts for quantitatively significant material flows like packaging materials, high quality products like end-of-life vehicles, or very hazardous products like batteries. But the problem remains unsolved for those end-of-life products which have "a bit of everything but not enough of anything": household appliances. For these end-of-life products the project-team developed logistics plant concepts, which accommodate the high number of options and the low value added.