Airport Baggage Handling Systems, Sorting and RFID integration

Key facts

• Major upgrade to the automated baggage handling system is part of extension plans
• Work will be carried out at night, in time allocated for routine maintenance, to eliminate disruption to the normal operation of the airport
• Aggressive timescale will complete the upgrade by September 2010, in time for Asia’s largest multi-sport events

Crisplant – a global leader in automated baggage-handling systems – has been awarded a €12.6 million contract to upgrade the automated baggage handling system at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China. This major upgrade is scheduled to be completed in time to prepare Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in to handle visitors and athletes attending Asia’s largest-ever multi-sport events.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport currently handles 31 million passengers per year, travelling to around 100 primarily domestic destinations. Crisplant has scheduled work on the upgrades to be completed in a series of over-night shifts, using time allocated for routine maintenance.

The need to increase capacity has been driven by steady growth in air passenger traffic, in China and throughout Asia, as well as by Asia’s largest ever multi-sport events which will take place in Guangzhou: The 16th Asian Games, or XVI Asiad, will be held in November 2010, followed by the inaugural Asian Para Games in December 2010.

Plans for an upgrade were included in the original baggage handling system, which was designed and installed by Crisplant in 2004. The upgrade will add an extra 18 check-in counters and conveyors, taking the total to 182. Also included in the upgrade is the integration of 6 new security screening machines, which will provide additional baggage screening capacity, particularly for baggage bound for North America. The two original Crisplant tilt-tray sorters already provide sufficient handling speed for the increased capacity but will be extended with the addition of 10 inductions. The sorting system upgrade also includes 11 vertical sort units, 10 horizontal sort units, 2 chutes and 30 360° IATA tag scanners.                  …./…

A new server room will house the latest high-level control systems: sort allocation control (SAC) and Crisplant sorter control (CSC) software, as well as a sophisticated corporate information system (CIS) which will provide advanced statistical analysis of baggage-handling efficiency. The upgrade also extends to the baggage-handling control room, which will be fitted with a video wall as well as new workstations and hardware.

An official ceremony on 12 October 2009, marked the start of work on the upgrade and was attended by representatives from the airport authorities, Crisplant, the Asian Games (Asiad) and other organisations.

Construction Headquarter, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, comments; “It is imperative that the airport is ready to handle the increased capacity generated by these two high-profile events. There can be no delays and no errors. That is why we have awarded this crucial contract to Crisplant, who have already demonstrated their ability to deliver advanced baggage-handling systems, on time and on budget.”

Crisplant’s Kim Nyborg Carlsen, Airport Director, Crisplant, added, “Provision for possible future upgrades, which will take capacity far beyond the immediate needs, should be an essential factor in the design of any new baggage-handling system. Extensive emulation allows Crisplant to test a system’s performance at current peak volumes and then extend this to projected peak volumes which may become the norm as air passenger traffic increases. Planning for tomorrow’s capacity is vital in designing today’s systems.”

Member of BEUMER Group, Crisplant is a leading provider of sortation solutions worldwide. Crisplant provides solutions and lifetime support for airports, postal facilities, parcel distribution and warehouse and distribution centres. Crisplant has led and delivered projects that include many of the world's largest and most advanced material handling operations, being fully supported by their global network of Customer Service & Support centres. The BEUMER Group is a leading international manufacturer of intralogistic systems specialising in conveying and loading technology, palletising and packaging technology as well as in sortation and distribution systems. Having approx. 2.000 employees and a turnover of around EUR 350 million, BEUMER Group has, with subsidiaries and representations, a worldwide presence for various industries. For further information please visit us on: www.crisplant.com and www.BEUMER.com.

For sales or marketing information, contact Peter Elmvang, Marketing Manager, Crisplant,
tel: +45 8741 4141 e-mail: peter.elmvang@crisplant.com

For media information, contact Rachel Holcombe, Account Manager, Napier,
tel: +44 (0) 1243 531123 mob: + 44 (0) 7787 526341 email: rachel@napier.co.uk
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