Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has equipped the new cargo terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World Central (DWC) with a state-of-the-art material handling system (MHS).
“Our partnership with Siemens is a testimony to our commitment to create and deliver industry-leading air cargo solutions,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, SkyCargo. “We constantly develop the nuances of our services and our innovative products – ensuring that we remain creative and efficient. The new MHS will not only help us meet our customers’ needs but enhance SkyCargo’s overall operational performance through providing top solutions also in niche markets.”
In its initial implementation stage, the new cargo terminal can handle a throughput of 700,000 tons per year; this will increase by an additional 300,000 tons in the future. The new terminal’s total building ground area is 732,000ft2 and the MHS is housed in a single leveled building. This is designed to maximize the terminal operational performance by optimizing cargo processes including cycle times by utilizing a cargo tracking capability, direct build-up/breakdown handling, quick transit to and from airside as well as cargo screening.
The air cargo MHS is divided into specific areas for cargo storage and handling. It consists of dedicated subsystems such as acceptance, bypass, staging and systems for transferring goods directly with only short-term storage (cross-dock systems) for inbound and outbound flow. Build-up and breakdown areas are equipped with fixed and flexible workstations.
A multilevel storage system has a capacity of more than 800 unit load device (ULD) positions. Bulk cargo can be stored in a very narrow aisle (VNA) system in more than 3,000 positions. Direct cross-dock lanes are provided to ensure quick cargo transferring from airside to landside and vice versa. Special cargo is processed and stored in a perishable area of over 172,000ft2. This large air-conditioned area includes cold and freezer rooms as well as individual cooling units with various temperature zones.
The state-of-the-art cargo handling IT system Cargo Compact from Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions controls the highly automated systems and equipment. It ensures the highest possible throughput of the freight and the shortest possible turn-around times for airplanes and trucks.
