BEUMER lands $33 million contract at Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport

BEUMER Group has signed an agreement with Aruba Airport Authority N.V. for the design and installation of a $33 million, high-speed baggage transportation and sortation system at Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport. The installation, which also includes BEUMER’s residential program for on-site operation and maintenance, is part of the airport’s Gateway 2030 expansion and modernisation program.

The baggage handling system (BHS) features a tote-based CrisBag® high speed baggage transportation and sortation system, with integration to a full TSA-compliant EDS screening system with in-tote screening functionality, and a Baggage Image Weight Identification System (BIWIS) to streamline the airport’s U.S. pre-clearance process.

The new system will eliminate the requirement to reclaim checked luggage and undergo a second passenger screening process which presently is in place for U.S. travellers. Additionally, the new system will allow U.S and non-U.S. bound flights to operate from a common-use check-in facility. Aruba Airport handles approximately 2.8 million passengers annually, with 67 percent coming from the United States.

The Aruba Airport project is the first airport in the Caribbean and Latin America to showcase BEUMER Group’s integrated ICS system (CrisBag) and bag storage system (CrisStore) to handle the peak flight demands of the airport, according to BEUMER Senior Vice President Barry Lagerstedt.

“The application of U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance as well as the interface with TSA-compliant protocol baggage screening is a perfect application for our integrated CrisBag baggage handling and storage solution and provides the highest reliability and security of any system available,” BEUMER Senior Vice President Barry Lagerstedt said. “Our team has worked very closely with the Aruba Airport programme team to verify system capabilities, operational benefits and future capabilities. We are proud to design a scalable and redundant tote-based system, and we look forward to a successful long-term relationship with Aruba Airport.”

The final design of BEUMER’s tote-based CrisBag system will be carried out in collaboration with the airport’s main terminal designer, NACO, and program management consultant Satterfield & Pontikes to ensure that the baggage handling system and the building are properly integrated and that the new system is designed and built with the optimal efficiency.

“We are very pleased to have crossed this important milestone,” said Aruba Airport Authority N.V. CEO James Fazio. “The new baggage handling system is the centerpiece of the airport’s redevelopment project and will allow for the modernisation and streamlining of many of our passenger processes, most notably, a significantly more efficient U.S. Customs pre-clearance operation, improved baggage screening, and a more efficient use of the airport check-in hall capacity. We are very pleased to be partnering with BEUMER Group on this important system and look forward to working on transforming our airport in the upcoming years.”

Installation will begin in Q3 of 2020, with completion expected in Q2 of 2021 in coordination with the opening of the Gateway 2030 project construction phase 1.