Siemens expands footprint in Indian airport
• Siemens expands baggage handling system at Bangalore International Airport in India
• Capacity expansion and further improvement of passenger convenience
• Record numbers of 18 million passengers in 2015
Siemens as investor of the first airport in India built in a public-private partnership is taking its expansion further in Kempegowda International Airport (Bangalore International Airport Limited). Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL) has received an order to expand the baggage handling system in the arrival area of the airport. The company helps the airport operator to expand its capacities and further improve passenger convenience of international passengers.
In 2015, Bangalore registered record numbers of 18 million travellers, accounting for a traffic growth of more than 25 per cent. Sanjay Reddy, Managing Director of Bangalore International Airport, said: “Our cooperation with Siemens reaches back to the very beginnings of our airport: As a pioneer of change in Indian aviation, Bangalore was the first airport in India to be constructed through a public-private partnership. When the airport was built and opened in 2008, Siemens was already among our major partners and investors. We are happy to expand this cooperation with the new baggage handling contract.”
Michael Reichle, CEO of Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics, added: “We are proud of this strategically important project in Bangalore. In India, we build on our extensive proven track record of greenfield and brownfield projects. Moreover, Siemens operates and maintains the baggage handling systems in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore – the four busiest Indian airports. They account for almost 70 percent of passenger traffic in India.”
The scope of supply also includes conveyor belts, a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a SCADA system for computer-based monitoring and control of all technical processes. When Bangalore Airport was built as a greenfield project, Siemens was responsible for the overall engineering, procurement and commissioning (EPC) covering the complete project management and turnkey electrification. Today, Siemens operates and maintains the complete baggage handling system at Bangalore comprising of terminal 1 and the newly expanded terminal. In 2015, the airport saw an average of over 400 take-offs and landings per day, accounting for an increase of approximately 13 per cent. Statistics point to an expanding market due to factors like demographic change and growth in leisure travel.
Solutions tailor-made
Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics has many solutions such as: New tray: More efficient baggage handling thanks to the lightweight screenable tray, which permits the integration of ultra-modern x-ray devices into Siemens’ high-speed systems • SmarTray: Innovative tool for the automatic inspection of tray systems which provides an excellent basis for condition-based and preventive maintenance • Operation & maintenance: Highest service standards thanks to pre-established key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance-based contracts • Intelligent data management and monitoring system: Trendsetting software ensures greater transparency and provides a basis for the decision making process of baggage handling system operators • Air cargo systems and software: Siemens offers comprehensive solutions for increasing throughput and efficiency to deal with growing air freight volumes and limited storage capacity.
To a few questions from ACU, Birgit Jantschke of Siemens has given the following response:
Could you tell us the technology deployment at Bengaluru airport with regard to baggage handling / cargo etc? How has this helped in turnaround times for airlines/airport?
Bengaluru airport and Siemens have cooperated successfully from day one: In 2005 when Bengaluru airport was built as a Greenfield airport project, Siemens implemented major technical systems including the baggage handling system (BHS), airfield lighting, the IT and communication systems, aerobridges and as well as the power supply and the building services automation system. Moreover, Siemens acts as one of the private stakeholder in India’s first private-public partnership in the airports sector.
In 2006/2007: Siemens implemented Cargo Handling Systems (CHS) for two cargo handling concessionaires at Bangaluru airport. For AAI SATS, Siemens delivered elevating transfer vehicles (ETVs), an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) as well as storage locations; for Menzies, Siemens implemented transfer vehicles and storage locations.
Is Siemens providing technologies for cold storage and dangerous goods handling? If yes, what are the features of these technologies?
Yes, Siemens is able to provide these technologies. To ensure perishable goods constantly retain their quality and freshness, Siemens creates the fastest possible logistics chains with special cold and deep-freeze storage rooms at air cargo terminals.
In recent years, security requirements have been continually increasing in the air cargo industry. We work closely with our customers to develop solutions that meet their particular security demands in line with IATA regulations. These regulations are mostly confidential exactly because they are security relevant.
India is still a country which is labor-intensive.How difficult is it to introduce technologies which replacelabor?
We push for more automation for baggage and cargo processes to become faster, safer and more reliable. However, machines will never completely replace people. To our mind, automated BHS and CHS are dedicated to take the strain off personnel. We are aiming for better working conditions, for example by creating an ergonomic environment.
