Siemens wins maintenance contracts for baggage handling systems in Beijing and Munich

Siemens was awarded the contract for the maintenance of the baggage handling system (BHS) in Terminal Three (T3) at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA). The new contract was concluded between Siemens and Beijing Bowei Airport Support Ltd. (Bowei), a subsidiary of BCIA. Under the terms of the contract, Siemens will assume responsibility, together with Bowei, for the operation and maintenance of one of the world’s largest BHS installations for a period of two years. In addition, Siemens won a maintenance contract for the baggage handling system in Terminal 2 (T2) at Munich International Airport. The project term is five years, with an optional one-year extension. The contract was awarded by Terminal 2 Betriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG. The total order value for both projects is over 30 million euros.

The baggage handling system in Terminal 3 at BCIA was supplied by Siemens. It was handed over to the customer at the end of 2007 in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. The system can sort and transport 19,200 bags per hour. It has been possible to more than double T3’s passenger handling capacity from 28 million to 60 million passengers per year. The scope of the service order in Beijing includes the control system of the baggage handling system, the IT system as well as associated staff training. Siemens will provide the key know-how for system operation as well as maintenance to ensure the stable performance of the BHS at BCIA T3. In addition, a simulation platform has been installed at the Siemens Airport Center in Fürth, Germany, the test center for airport infrastructure solutions. It covers the complete baggage handling application and simulates the mechanical components, the control and IT systems. This also allows the simulation of test runs. Troubleshooting for the actual system in Beijing’s T3 airport terminal is carried out remotely without interrupting the existing service there.

The supported technical works for the Terminal 2 in Munich includes the mechanical, electrical and control systems of the baggage handling system. T2 was commissioned in 2003 and, by 2008, had processed about 100 million passengers. The core of the terminal is the baggage handling system which, extending over more than 40 kilometers, transports and sorts around 14,000 bags per hour. With a transfer time of 30 minutes and highly reliable baggage sorting capability, Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss airport ranks among the best in the world. This international airport is Germany’s second largest air traffic hub. It handled about 34 million passengers in 2008.

(Source: Transport Weekly)