Hummel offer specialised printing for airline and transportation

Simplifying the Business initiatives such as E-Ticketing, barcoded Boarding Passes, RFID Baggage Tags, CUSS solutions for Check-in and Baggage drop-off encourage airlines and airports to review their processes. Technical departments and purchasers are required to adapt both equipment and consumables such as Boarding Passes and Baggage Tags to the new developments, while finding the best combination of cost savings and quality. 

Experienced suppliers having their product development close to the market such as Hummel GmbH u. Co. KG are perfectly prepared to advise you on the right solution for your handling processes.

2D Barcodes – Paper Requirements

By the end of 2010, IATA intend to implement 100% barcoded Boarding Passes (BCBP) and prompt airlines to integrate 2D barcodes in their workflow. 2D barcodes can store more data than a magnetic stripe, provide cost savings, extended flexibility and speed to the operation. In addition, the stored data is more secure.

To achieve these advantages, however, one has to ensure guaranteed readability and resistance of the 2D barcode. The quality of the thermal paper used has a huge influence on this. If the quality of the thermal paper is unsuitable, it may result in the contrast between 2D barcode and paper-white being insufficient. Alcohol, oil, plasticizers or extended contact with water can cause a reaction with unprotected thermal papers. Spraying e.g. perfume on such papers may render the barcode illisible.

These effects can be avoided by using high quality top-coated thermal papers. Top-coated papers offer the additional benefit of prolonging the lifetime of the thermal printing heads, thus reducing the operator’s maintenance costs. Consequently, purchasers should pay special attention to the factor paper and consult a specialist to avoid problems during operation.

Finding the Right Paper for Your CUSS Equipment

Every day, more Kiosks and CUSS terminals are installed in airports throughout the world. Self-service applications include Self Check-In as well as Self-Tagging and Baggage Drop-off solutions. Depending on the printer used, the terminals require different versions of Boarding Passes and Baggage Tags.

The large variety of formats and functions of Boarding Passes on rolls e.g. makes it difficult to create a correct design. Crosswise, lengthwise, black mark, round corners, sensor hole, perforations, core diameter, outer roll diameter, paper quality, paper weight and thickness … it is especially important to clarify these points with a competent supplier beforehand. Otherwise, a non-satisfying realisation of the Boarding Passes may result in downtimes of the CUSS Terminals due to paperjam, causing additional administrative problems and annoyed passengers.

Self-Tagging – How to Avoid Passenger Confusion

Baggage Tags destined for Self-Tagging require a different approach than “normal” Tags. While standard Tags are mainly designed to fit the needs of the handling process, self-service Tags must also fulfil an explanatory function. Early trials and real applications have shown that most passengers are not sure about the correct usage of the Tag. As a result, airlines and handling agents experience a higher usage of labels, because many passengers need more than one try to get it right – meaning additional costs and unsatisfied customers. In addition to that, bags that are labelled incorrectly will cause BRS problems.

A Hummel project group has worked with renowned airlines to find a solution to this issue. By redesigning the backside of the Baggage Tag, passengers can be given easy instructions. Modified cuts and perforations facilitate the handling. In this way, passengers can label their bags correctly and easily, avoiding an increased usage of consumables and unnecessary intervention by ground staff.