Dnata invests €200m in fully automated cargo center at AMS

Ground handler dnata will invest over €200m investment in a fully automated cargo center at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).

The 61,000 sq m dnata Cargo City Amsterdam facility, located at Schiphol South-East, will be capable of processing over 850,000 tons of cargo annually.

Scheduled to become operational in 2024, the facility will handle all types of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, mail, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.

dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be developed by Schiphol Commercial Real Estate and equipped by Lödige Industries

The cargo center will be fitted with two separate automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), using technology from Lödige Industries, for import and export with twelve stacker cranes. A total of up to 2,500 pallets will be stored here. In addition, separate storage for ULDs will be serviced by four elevating transport vehicles (ETV).

dnata will also make use of seven intelligent automated guided vehicles (AGV) from Lödige Industries to enable flexible and scalable ULD transport within the terminal. Smart gates will automatically record the volume and weight of all incoming consignments by scanning them in 3D, thus significantly speeding up handling and improving the quality of service.

All elements will be integrated into a warehouse management system to enable dnata to further grow its operations and service at AMS.

The project will also earn BREEAM excellent certification for sustainability and eco-friendly design of the facility.

dnata currently provides passenger, ground handling and cargo services to 29 airlines at AMS.

David Barker, dnata’s divisional senior vice president for airport operations, said: “dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be a game changer in the regional cargo industry, delivering significant commercial benefits for our partners, their customers and the local economy.

Over the past years, dnata has opened cargo facilities in Manchester (UK), Karachi and Lahore (Pakistan), and additional cargo capacity and infrastructure in Brussels (Belgium), Sydney (Australia) and Toronto (Canada). This March, dnata will open the second phase of the dnata City East project at London Heathrow (UK).