Vanderlande has supplied and installed 72 of its Stack@Ease units as part of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 integrated baggage system. First launched in 2013, Stack@Ease is described as a highly flexible solution that removes the need for heavy lifting, lowering the risk of stress or injury to the baggage handler.
Taking its power from a standard wall socket, the device works as an extension of the handlers’ normal operations. A platform sits on a movable arm that can be positioned at one level for the baggage to be placed onto it, then moved easily to where it needs to be deposited, with the Stack@Ease itself taking the physical strain.
Heathrow handles more than 185,000 bags a day, with a system comprising 30 miles of conveyors. Each piece of luggage needs to be moved, loaded and unload at various intervals. By using Stack@Ease, the baggage handling system also has the potential to increase its capacity, rising from 5,200 to 7,200 bags per hour.
Mike Christman, director and general manager of Vanderlande’s UK offices, said, “We are delighted with Heathrow’s decision to install the Stack@Ease in Terminal 3. With its low environmental impact and simple operation, the unit has a minimal impact on the planet, while creating a better working environment for baggage handlers.”
