| Decisive ergonomics |
Demag systems for fast baggage handling at Leipzig/Halle airport
A new building for the baggage handling operation was also built at the same time as the central terminal at Leipzig Halle airport. Demag SpeedHoist rope winches are used for handling the baggage items, which makes it much easier for the workers to handle the loads.
A constant growth in passenger figures impressively reflects how the Leipzig/Halle location has developed: Whereas almost 275,000 air travellers used the airport in 1990, the figure had already increased to more than two million five years later. In order to keep pace with this rapid development, the airport was turned into an advanced hub, which connects rail, road and air traffic in its modern terminal. Today, the terminal can handle 4.5 million passengers.
In addition to unlimited operation allowed around the clock, the benefits offered by the location of Leipzig/Halle airport include an advanced infrastructure and the availability of free development space. A second 3,600 metre-long runway is currently being built, which will also be used by DHL for operation of its European hub from 2008.
The overall concept for faster turnaround also includes separation of the baggage handling area from the incoming goods sector. Whereas the airport company is responsible for the site infrastructure, its subsidiary Port Ground provides baggage loading and unloading services. Employees are deployed in line with flight schedule requirements.
When the passengers have checked in, the baggage items are transported above ground through a conveyor tunnel to the new departure building. Here, on the upper floor level, they are automatically x-rayed, sorted and "gently" tilted out of the transport container. They are then transported by a belt conveyor to one of the five carousels on the ground floor.
On the long sides of this oval conveyor belt, Demag Cranes & Components installed single-girder overhead travelling cranes from the KBK Aluline range, each of which are fitted with a DS-H 80 SpeedHoist. The cranes, which have a span of four metres, each travel along a 23.5 metre runway, thus enabling a large area to be served along the baggage conveyors. The owner specifically selected the KBK Aluline system due to its low weight, since the crane runway is suspended direct from the steel superstructure of the upper floor. The smooth-running trolleys are a further advantage: the workers can move the individual crane bridges very easily by hand, particularly since rigid end carriages were selected for the bridge suspensions.
The worker positions the SpeedHoist above the belt, picks up an item of baggage with the hook and places it on the baggage trolley next to the belt. The rocker switch enables the system to be controlled by one hand, while the second hand is free to help guide the load. The infinitely variable speed control between 0.7 and 70 m /min. also ensures fast and careful handling of the load.
A further variant is used in the oversize baggage area. In this area, the same type of SpeedHoist operates on a KBK monorail section that is arranged parallel to the belt and runs at right angles over the end of the belt. Here, the worker can position the handling unit direct above the designated retrieval point, lift the oversize baggage out of the transport container and place it on the waiting mini trolley.
Industrial safety requirements were already considered at the planning phase, which provide for the use of ergonomic tools to relieve the workers. Port Ground presented a study to show how handling equipment would reduce non-productive time in the baggage handling operation every year. Following a test phase, the owner decided in favour of the Demag system consisting of the SpeedHoist and the KBK single-girder overhead travelling crane. Whereas KBK was selected as a robust load handling system offering a wide operating radius along the conveyor line, the customer was impressed by the ergonomic rocker handle of the SpeedHoist unit for single-handed operation with smooth speed control. The DSH 80 variant meets all requirements for handling baggage items weighing up to 40 kg and special baggage weighing up to 70 kg.
The entire systems were delivered ready for assembly. After being assembled by Demag service personnel, the speeds and acceleration rates of the units were individually adjusted in agreement with the customer.
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Contact:
Corporate Communications
Demag Cranes & Components
Mr Christoph Kreutzenbeck
Tel. +49 (0) 2335 / 92-7333
