Beumer Group UK and Crisplant have received a baggage handling IT contract from Heathrow Airport in London, as part of Heathrow's Eastern Campus Development Programme.
Work under the contract includes upgrading the control functions of the baggage handling systems (BHS) in Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 1 (T1) to provide a more integrated baggage facility.
The upgrades will allow the BHS at Heathrow T1 to offer all screening, sortation, storage and transfer processes as an integral part of the new T2 end-to-end baggage process.
Under a contract with Mace, Beumer will replace the core Sort Allocation Computer (SAC) currently installed for T1, T4 and T2.
The new SAC systems to be installed at the terminals will feature baggage flow monitoring and easy transfer baggage monitoring to enhance their efficiency in baggage handling.
Beumer Group UK Airports Division director Peter Gilks said integrated testing using emulation will be an essential part of the design and installation process.
"This proven methodology will ensure that the live LHR airport operation is protected during the installation and commissioning phases," Gilks said.
Beumer will also install a system control and data acquisition (SCADA) software system in T2, which will support alterations in terminal design due to the on-going baggage handling projects and offer a graphic overview of the complete BHS.
Crisplant will provide Crisplant Sorter Controls (CSC) software, which will supply better control of the sorters at the airport tracking baggage on the sorters and within the associated early baggage storage (EBS) line.
CSC will also manage data from baggage tags, screening results and sort positions on the sorters.
The new software will make the existing sorters currently installed in the T1 main East and West baggage halls and transfer areas compatible with the new version.
The project is scheduled for completion by August 2013.
Image: During initial phase the new terminal will have a capacity of 20 million passengers, with further expansion planned for the future. Photo: courtesy of Warren Rohner.
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