A performance-based competition, which allowed for the selection of the best adapted solution based on technical and financial criteria, resulted in ALSTEF being contracted for the development of the baggage sorting system at Basel-Mulhouse Airport.
For the past ten years, the traffic at EuroAirport (Basel-Mulhouse Airport) has continually increased, with the introduction of an EasyJet base and the contribution of a large number of airlines. EuroAirport has set up a major investment plan to increase its capacity and the capabilities of its baggage sorting system, adding two building extensions to double the space allocated to sorting and loading of departure bags in containers/trolleys.
The baggage sorting system to be installed by ALSTEF includes, in addition to the modification of the existing system, the integration of a high-speed Cross Belt MBHS® (manufactured by SELEX) automatic sorter, sorting of up to 8,000 bags / hour, depending on configurations. This system will sort the bags to 34 chutes, according to their destination, their class (eco, business) and their status (destination flight, correspondence), with accurate unloading, and very high reliability and redundancy.
The cross belt sorter will be the first installed in France for a baggage sorting application, once again demonstrating ALSTEF’s ability to propose innovative solutions that answer the expectations of airports.
If the automatic sorter stops for certain specific flights (charters, etc.), the bags can also be sorted to an ALSTEF BAGClaim® carousel. The complete piloting system will be assured by the PLC, Supervision and IT solutions developed by ALSTEF, and ALSTEF BAGWARE® software, which ensures that bags are sorted to the correct chutes according to their identity and their flight status.
To prevent any operational interruption due to the automation of the baggage sorting system, the construction of the building extensions, the disassembly of the existing equipment, and the implementation of the new equipment will be completed in different phases.
The commissioning of the complete system will take place in the third quarter of 2016.