Selected References
Frankfurt International Airport (Germany)
Baggage Tub and Carrier Separation System to accommodate 100% In-line Screening
2004 - 2006
The Frankfurt Airport baggage system consists of a belt driven system which transports a metal carrier holding a plastic tub
to hold the bag. The original tub and carrier configuration was a fixed unit, which did not allow an automated separation of
the two elements. The original design inhibited the screening of the bags within the tubs because of the metal carrier. This
created a problem for Frankfurt Airport as it moved to integrate 100% screening into its existing baggage system.
As multiple unload and reload of the bags for the purpose of multi level in-line screening was rejected, Fraport decided to modify the existing trays in a way that allows the automated separation of the plastic tub (containing the baggage) and the metal carrier. The modifications to the carrier design was quite extensive, and a robotic process was designed to separate the tub from the carrier. Prior to arrival at a Level 1 in-line screening device, the tub is separated from the carrier by a robotic arm. A single robotic separation unit has the capacity to separate 1,200 trays per hour.
The carrier is transported to a storage area for future reconnection, while the plastic tub containing the bag travels through the screening process. Once cleared the bags is remarried to the carrier and transported to its proper destination.
Logplan supported Fraport with the development of this system from the concept phase to the implementation. In 2004 Logplan prepared the proposal for the prototype production of the new tray. Logplan then tested the automated separation of the prototype and supported with the development of the specification for the new tub/carrier design. From March 2005 to July 2006, Logplan provided project management services for the production of the carriers and tubs. During this period several prototypes were designed and tested. When the final configuration was accepted and the tubs were produced, Logplan provided the project management for the replacement of 17,500 tubs and carriers.