Airport Baggage Handling Systems and Sorting #1

Key Facts:

• Two CrisBag® systems provide energy savings of CAD$500k/year                  
• Systems integrate 100% baggage tracking to meet CATSA requirement
• Systems provide exceptionally low maintenance requirements

Crisplant – part of BEUMER Group and a leading global supplier of automated baggage handling systems – has been awarded a contract to design, manufacture and install two new baggage handling systems at Ottawa International Airport. One system will be for the Domestic/International terminal and the other for the US trans-border terminal.

Committed to reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency, the Ottawa International Airport Authority chose Crisplant’s CrisBag® tote-based transport system not only because of its low energy consumption but also its modular design, centralised management system and low maintenance.

Mark Laroche, Ottawa International Airport Authority President and CEO comments, "Installation of the two new CrisBag systems is set to save the airport CAD$500k per year compared to the conventional solution currently being used. An efficient and proactive maintenance schedule is also something that the Airport Authority is keen to implement to fulfill its environmental obligations, so it was a clear decision to purchase Crisplant's exceptionally low maintenance solutions."

The CrisBag system also features a unique start/stop technology which allows sensor-controlled modules to power off when the totes are not in operation. Combined with a top speed of 10m/sec, this makes CrisBag one of the fastest and most energy-efficient baggage handling systems in the world.

Both CrisBag systems will operate a 100% baggage tracking solution that meets the latest CATSA requirements used by Canadian airports with US trans-border passengers and baggage operations. The systems provide baggage tracking from check-in to screening meaning that outbound sorting and x-ray has been integrated into the one baggage sorting technology.

The new installations also include SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), bag drop facilities and a high-level control system to centrally manage both baggage handling systems.

“The 100% traceable totes used in a CrisBag system provide an ideal solution to meet the necessary accuracy required by security and explosive detection systems used in a US trans-border operation,” explains Klaus Schäfer, Crisplant’s Managing Director. “Because checked bags remain in dedicated, traceable totes in the CrisBag early baggage storage, the whole process will promote the efficient flow of bags through the trans-border security area.”

The current conveyor-based system will remain operational until the new systems are handed over in March 2015, ensuring no disruption to passengers whilst the installation takes place.