Siemens Logistics has installed its VarioTip solution at Munich Airport to automatically unload baggage from unit load devices (ULDs).
In 2022, this technology was trialled as part of the existing baggage handling system at Munich Airport’s Terminal 2 arrivals zone.
During this pilot, the system achieved a high automatic ULD unloading rate of around 99 percent throughout live operations.
Hauke Hedderich, Head of Processes and Central Infrastructure at the Terminal 2 Gesellschaft in Munich said:VarioTip from Siemens Logistics supports us in our strategy to automate manual, labour-intensive processes at the interface between the baggage handling system and the apron. Besides focusing on efficiency, we aim to achieve a high level of workplace ergonomics in order to make jobs more attractive in the long term.
After installing VarioTip in our system and running numerous tests under real operating conditions, we were convinced by its powerful, reliable performance. VarioTip will help us further optimise ground handling in Terminal 2 in the future.
VarioTip features an advanced tilting mechanism that can process up to 20 ULDs an hour, unloading around 800 items of luggage.
Once the luggage has been unloaded, the device singulates them and transfers them on to the system to return to passengers.
VarioTip can be operated by a single worker, thus allowing the airport to improve human resource utilisation. It also reduces the need for manual intervention in order to enhance workplace safety.
Michael Schneider, CEO of Siemens Logistics, said:Automating complex logistics processes is one of the biggest challenges at airports. With VarioTip, we developed an ideal solution specifically for ground handling operations. Today, a single worker manually handles an average of up to 24 tons of baggage during one shift. Our innovation not only reduces manual efforts and physical strain, it also helps increase the speed, efficiency and sustainable performance of baggage transfer operations.
