Crisplant, part of BEUMER Group and a leading global supplier of automated baggage handling systems announces the completion and hand over of the final phase of a new state-of-the-art baggage handling system at Helsinki Airport. The new system is designed to increase terminal efficiency and enable ultra-fast transfer times whilst reducing energy consumption.
"Achieving a typical transfer time of just 30 minutes was a key factor in the design of the new system," explains Klaus Schäfer, Crisplant managing director.
In addition to centralising all transfer baggage, to provide greater efficiency, the Crisplant system integrates three core processes which help Helsinki to achieve ultra-fast transfer times: a transfer monitoring tool, developed by Crisplant, gives Helsinki Airport automatic notifications of delays to incoming flights which are carrying transfer baggage. This advance warning system allows the airport to implement special measures to ensure that these bags reach their connecting flights, even when time is limited.
Efficiency is also enhanced with the installation of a combined barcode and RFID scanner on one of the four baggage screening lines. This line is used for in-bound baggage on flights from Hong Kong and Schiphol, which are already using RFID tags as part of their baggage handling procedures. Tests have shown that the combination of the barcode and RFID technologies provides a 100 percent read rate, compared to a read rate of around 98 per cent when either barcode or RFID technology is used in isolation.
Crisplant also installed manual encoding stations at each check-in, to guarantee availability of the baggage handling system despite downtime in the connection to the departure system.
Crisplant designed, manufactured and installed the fully redundant baggage handling system, which integrates the CrisBag® high-speed baggage transit system with the industry’s most energy-efficient, LS-4000 sorters, as well as Crisplant’s high-level control system based on a single sort-allocation computer (SAC) which covers all four terminals to give the Baggage Logistics Centre control room an overview of the complete baggage handling system. As part of the expansion of Terminal 2 and the renovation of Terminal 1, the new baggage-handling system can handle 7,000 bags an hour at peak capacity.
"In 2011 Helsinki Airport achieved a record growth of 15.5%, taking passenger numbers to 15 million and strengthening its position as a leading long-haul airport for Northern Europe. The new baggage handling system will provide a foundation on which Helsinki Airport can achieve continued growth by ensuring high terminal efficiency and an ultra-fast connection time which will make a significant contribution to the overall passenger experience," explains Esa Siponen, vice president for Helsinki Airport.