Ground_Support_October_2020 - 31

TECHNOLOGY

FLOWING INTO THE FUTURE

"Our comprehensive approach has
led to the creation of a modular and
innovative concept that seamlessly
integrates the complete journey of a
bag. Each module can be applied on
an individual basis and means that
any airport can benefit from the inherent flexibility and scalability it contains," describes Sven Platschorre,
Vanderlande commercial solution
manager, airports. "For this reason,
Bagflow can be applied at airports
of all sizes, although we expect that
the larger airports will be the early
adopters of this solution."
Platschorre says that some of the features that differentiate Bagflow are:
A baggage system that enables
differentiation in handling: efficiency for "cold" (early) and "warm"
(normal) bags and priority for "hot"
(time-critical) bags.
Airport-wide baggage controls:
this will enable an integrated operational approach to the total baggage
process, provide full tracking and
tracing of bags through the entire
process, align passenger and bag
flows, support real-time decision-making on bag flows and allow
seamless integration with external
data sources to benefit end-to-end
operational control.
Automation of the ground handler
processes through the integration
of new technologies: this includes
autonomous vehicles for unit load
devices (ULDs), transport that can

grow seamlessly alongside an
airport, or robots that automatically load luggage and take the
heavy lifting out of baggage
handling.

Photo courtesy of Vanderlande

As Miami implements AGVs and
other airports harness radio waves,
in the Netherlands work is being
done to create the near-fully autonomous baggage handling system
of tomorrow. Named Bagflow, the
system was unveiled by Vanderlande
at inter airport Europe in 2019 and is
described as "a scalable and modular
concept," integrating the complete
journey of a bag.

Airports will gradually adapt
these innovations into their
processes, extending from
the baggage handling system
toward the handler processes
in the terminal and finally on
to the apron. The nature of the
airport business dictates that
the change will be an evolution
rather than a revolution.
"Traditionally, baggage handling
The Tubtrax component of Bagflow
automation is located inside an
airport terminal. However, new
technologies and an end-to-end philower the total operational cost and
losophy can extend this automation
at the same time create a seamless
towards the handler process, both
travel experience for the passenger,"
inside the terminal as well as exterPlatschorre says. "It is the seamless
nally. In order to make the required
combination of multiple systems that
improvements in the total baggage
creates a total future-proof solution."
process, three areas of innovation are
Bagflow as a complete system has
necessary," Platschorre says.
yet to be implemented, but several
Bagflow combines a number of
of the robotic modules that make up
Vanderlande's prior airport innovaBagflow have been sold and are in
tions, such as: Tubtrax, a high-speed
operations at airports. Other modindividual carrier system; Adapto
ules, such as Adapto Bagstore, have
Bagstore, a shuttle-based automated
been sold and are also in the process
system with built in baggage sorting
of being implemented, Platschorre
features; Bagload, an automated
notes.
baggage loading robotic arm; Vibes, a
"The benefits of Bagflow can be
software suite that supports all steps
seen right across the airport, even
of an airport's baggage handling opincluding the ground handlers, who
erations; and Fleet, an autonomous
will see their jobs change in a posivehicle, offering a flexible and sustive way. Increased automation levtainable baggage logistics solution.
els will remove a great deal of heavy
All add up to what is Bagflow's most
lifting duties, thus improving working
defining feature: it's heavy use of
conditions significantly," Platschorre
automatic systems.
says. "Increased automation will also
allow employees to focus on bags
"Adding automation and switching
that need special attention, which in
to a 'pull' process provides more
turn will facilitate higher performance
effective utilization of resources
levels and enhanced passenger
and saves space and our integrated
satisfaction."
Vibes software allows airports and
airlines to significantly improve bag
performance. In this way, we can

OCTOBER 2020

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