Individual carrier systems, like TUBTRAX, are designed to transport bags in carriers at high speeds over long distances. Each carrier is tracked and guided through the system with an in-built RFID chip. New features of TUBTRAX include a high-capacity unloading unit and an inline stacking unit.
As airports handle ever-growing volumes of passengers and bags, the development of innovative systems and intelligent software is vital to ensure efficient, reliable baggage handling. Samantha Jenkins reports on Vanderlande’s progressive developments.
Fast, safe and robust solutions for the transportation, storage and sortation of baggage are essential for both efficient airport operations and a positive passenger experience. This applies from check-in to make-up, as well as for transfer and arrival baggage.
A combined approach, covering innovative systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services can provide optimum performance of integrated baggage handling systems. Vanderlande can provide initial business and logistical planning, concept analysis and design, through to reliable project execution and lifetime operational support. Among its most recent developments is a new airport-wide operations and maintenance (O&M) contract at Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The contract has been awarded to Vanderlande for one year, with potential for renewal on an annual basis for a further two years, subject to agreement between both parties. Vanderlande has operated and maintained the baggage handling facilities in Barcelona’s Terminal 1 since 2009, when it delivered a state-of-the-art TUBTRAX system. It has also installed the majority of baggage handling equipment in the airport’s Terminal 2, but the O&M was previously carried out by other parties. “With our Spanish customer centre located in Barcelona itself, and Aena being the biggest baggage handling customer in Spain, this contract is of significant strategic importance,” stated one of Vanderlande’s baggage handling experts. “We will now be able to implement our operations and maintenance methods, and other proven ways of working, from the old terminal to bring the overall service levels up to an excellent standard. This will contribute to a further reduction of missed bags.”
Individual carrier systems, like TUBTRAX, are designed to transport bags in carriers at high speeds over long distances. Each carrier is tracked and guided through the system with an in-built RFID chip, minimising lost baggage and ensuring more bags make their flights on time. New features of TUBTRAX include a high-capacity unloading unit and an inline stacking unit. “The new TUBTRAX stacker/de-stacker minimises the need for empty carrier return lines by stacking them up to four high and sending the stack back to the loading areas. For systems with high-capacity peaks, the same units can stack or de-stack up to six carriers and store them in offline buffering zones. This solution is also available as a retrofit package for existing TUBTRAX systems,” commented one of Vanderlande’s baggage handling experts. “In addition, we have introduced an updated version of the dynamic high-capacity unloader, which will set new standards in availability, reliability, dimensions and capacity. It can unload 2,750 bags per hour at 2.5m/s with only two electric motors covering a length of 3.8 metres.”
Sustainability is also a core Vanderlande principle. Its latest development in conveyors, the BLUEVEYOR was designed under ‘Cradle to Cradle’ principles, meaning it is extremely energy efficient and has been optimised for both reuse and recycling of materials after service.
Meanwhile, SCANNOJET is a new automated tray return system for hand baggage at security checkpoints. “It has been designed to increase throughput, reduce operational costs, and improve the passenger experience without affecting security levels,” explained one of Vanderlande’s baggage handling experts.
SCANNOJET makes it possible for operators to review X-ray images remotely, away from the checkpoint. It also offers passengers a more favourable experience, as SCANNOJET automatically prepares empty units ready for passengers. The modular design allows it to adapt to different airport requirements. Customers can configure the system in a number of ways, for example how the empty tray will be presented to the passenger, if it will work in remote mode, or whether empty tray recognition capabilities are included.
Value-added automated baggage handling solutions clearly benefit both the operational efficiency of airports and the passenger experience. Companies such as Vanderlande are always looking ahead and working on new ideas and technologies to enable their customers to handle the growing number of passengers and bags.
