Cargo Handling Systems

Innovative automation and digitalization

­solutions boost speed and efficiency

siemens-logistics.com
 Air cargo: Get

Content

2 Air cargo: Get ready for the future

4 Your one-stop shop for cargo handling

systems

6 From end to end: We have you covered

10 Digitalization: Improving cargo

terminal operations

12 First-class customer services: Keeping

performance up

13 Continual innovation: Concepts

on the horizon

14 Spotlight on our capabilities:

Major references

2
ready for the future
When time is of essence, there is no better alternative
than air cargo. In fact, air cargo is a vital motor of the
global economy. According to the International Air
Transport Association (IATA)
– which counts some 290
airlines worldwide among
its members – air cargo rep-
resents over 35 percent of IATA calls on all
global trade by value, or
more than €6 trillion in airlines to commit
goods. Cargo planes and the
belly spaces of passenger to air cargo
aircraft are regularly packed
with perishable goods, such modernization.
as food and flowers as well
as time- and temperature-
sensitive pharmaceutical
products like vaccines. And then, of course, you have
mail and the many express parcel deliveries.

With an eye on the potential of air cargo, IATA calls

on all airlines to commit to air cargo modernization.
Targets include improving quality and enhancing safety.

To gain more transparency, speed and efficiency, imple-

mentation of modern electronic processes has become an
important lever. Digitalization along the entire logistics
chain is a key enabler for the development of innovative
services and solutions.

With its combined offering of automation and digitalization

solutions, Siemens Logistics is in a perfect position to
support the air cargo industry in its quest for modernization.

Air cargo is a vital

motor of the
global economy.

3
 Your one-stop shop for cargo

Today, air cargo represents over 35 percent of global trade by value, or more than €6 trillion in goods.

4
handling systems

Siemens Logistics is a leading provider of innovative
products and solutions in the fields of baggage and cargo
handling. The company’s customers include prestigious
airports and airlines on every continent.
Our customers benefit from a complete range of services,
from planning, design, installation and commissioning
to training, maintenance, upgrades and modernization
throughout a solution’s life cycle. Our more than 3,000
employees worldwide provide these services from our
own regional subsidiaries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia
and the Americas. Wherever you may be, our experts are
close at hand.
Siemens consulting staff supports with the planning and
optimization of all logistics structures and processes. Our
experienced specialists start by examining your business
requirements and then – together with you – determine
which technology to use. Decisive factors include the
volume of cargo handled annually and possible plans for
expansion. We are able to cater to all needs – big or small.
Not only do four of the world’s top ten cargo airports rely
on our technology, but also midsized cargo centers in all
markets. Whether your project involves integrating indi-
vidual solutions, expanding an existing arrangement, or
installing a complex and fully automated turnkey solution,
our engineers can handle all tasks.

In doing so, they consistently make use of automation

and digitalization. These forward-looking concepts
improve processes and increase efficiency – which help
Siemens is a trendsetter airports enhance their competitive position. As a proven
expert in automation and digitalization, Siemens is the
and market leader in partner of choice for innovative and flexible equipment
as well as intelligent software. Partnering with Siemens
airport logistics. means getting the best solution for today and tomorrow.

Customer benefits
• Extensive system engineering: From the first sketch – using simulation and emulation – to the installed,
ready-to-operate cargo handling system
•P
 rocess improvements: Decades of airport experience combined with innovative and flexible equipment,
proven digital solutions to boost your processes
•C
 omprehensive project management: Crucial for the successful and timely delivery of any infrastructure
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project, greenfield and brownfield projects alike
•R
 eliable system integration: Bringing it all together for our customers, providing them with innovative
software and state-of-the-art cargo handling systems that can grow and adapt as needs change
•L
 ife-cycle partnership: Safeguard the performance of cargo handling systems over their entire lifetime with
our Service 4.0 program and, if required, the supply of upgrades and modernization

5

Every step of the way, we are at your side. Solutions from
Siemens are designed to improve the speed and performance
of your cargo terminal – whether your focus is on export,
import or transit. For more than 50 years, we have been
cooperating with our global customers and partners to
provide the most modern solutions for all processes, from
planning through to implementation.
Here are some of our solutions for the core areas in an air
cargo terminal:
Truck on- and offloading
The function of the truck dock or reception area is to accept
ULDs from trucks at various heights above road level. And as
the link between the landside and airside, solutions in this
area have to support fast and flexible processes.
Siemens’ offering for truck docks is tailored to your needs and
includes everything from weighing scales to operator cabins.
Is the focus on speed? A special offering from Siemens is the
Truck on- and offloading
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From end to end:
movable truck dock. It supports ULD transfers from several
trucks at the same time. The result is even higher output.
Bulk and ULD handling
Forklifts and pallet movers are tools of the trade in bulk,
pallet and ULD handling, as well as in storage areas. Although
these devices are manually operated, movements can be
supported and improved by the advanced CargoCompact
software from Siemens. It allows a fast and safe handling of
material flows and ensures maximum operational performance.
In many cases, ULDs have to be stored until takeoff time.
For optimized cargo storage, we integrate small, manually
operated systems all the way to complex, automatic systems
for several thousand ULD and bulk cargo storage locations.
Buildup and breakdown
Freight is selected and consolidated at the workstation or
buildup and breakdown area. Siemens has developed an
extensive product portfolio for this zone that integrates all
Bulk handling
We have you covered

We cooperate with our global customers and partners

to provide the most modern solutions for all processes,
from planning through to implementation.

safety aspects. For example, our workstations can be

designed as a fixed or sink-in version in either a wide or
narrow configuration. We also offer a workstation that
forklifts can drive over.
100,000 18.6
cargo planes take million Dollar
Another key product for buildup and breakdown is the off every day worth of goods
slave pallet. This manually operated roller deck can be are transported
comfortably moved with special pallet movers for an per day
added degree of flexibility inside the warehouse.

Buildup and breakdown

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Internal transport
Internal transport
Across a terminal and a storage system, ULDs frequently
have to be moved within a cargo handling facility. The
solutions have to be safe for operating personnel, and of
course economical.
Whatever your requirements, Siemens has just what you
need. Our portfolio includes transfer vehicles for horizontal
movements, elevating transfer vehicles for multi-level
cargo handling systems all the way to stacker cranes that
can reach heights of up to 40 meters.
ULD storage
The cargo storage system is used to store ULDs (containers
and pallets). Every cargo compartment can be designed
to hold one or multiple ULDs or pallets and is equipped
with a roller deck on which the ULDs move. Generally
8
ULD storage
speaking, there are two types of roller deck that can be
installed: a friction-driven or a motor-driven roller deck.
Siemens offers both, and aligns the solution with the
internal transport technology in place.
For temperature-sensitive products like food, flowers
and pharmaceuticals, Siemens implements special cold
and deep-freeze storage areas for ULDs at air cargo
terminals.
Airside transfer
After ULDs and pallets have been processed in the cargo
terminal, they are transferred to the airside via our dolly
dock. At the same time, the dolly dock serves as the
incoming position for ULDs and pallets unloaded from
incoming flights for further processing in the cargo
terminal.
 Airside transfer
As your partner, we can
integrate any necessary
security equipment in
your air cargo terminal.
For the transfer to and from the airfield, the dolly docks
are height-adjustable. Depending upon the cargo terminal’s
configuration, a range of options is possible: examples
include friction- or motor-driven roller decks, roller ball
mats, weighing scales and protection barriers.
Security
As your experienced partner, we can integrate any neces-
sary security equipment in your air cargo terminal. This
includes systems that scan ULDs and bulk freight to
detect stowaways, improvised explosive devices (EDS/
HDX), weapons, drugs and contraband. Video monitoring
and fire protection systems are also part of the offering.
We design the security system in accordance with your
requirements and system layout to guarantee optimized
material flow.
Proactive Consulting
Siemens consulting staff assists with the planning and
optimization of all logistics structures and processes.
Together with our customers, we realize logistics systems
in the given framework. Our top priority is to supply
dedicated and competent support along the entire path,
from the initial idea to the implemented solution. Data
plays a big role. Take for example our CargoCompact
software: It collects data from the cargo handling system
for monitoring and to create statistics, which help identify
potential to increase performance. What’s more, the
collected data can also be used by other analytic platforms.
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 Digitalization: Improving cargo
Control room
All stakeholders in a supply chain – from suppliers and
trucking companies to freight forwarders and airlines –
have to exchange data. Today, each party is often using its
own in-house IT system, and there is hardly any standard
regarding protocol and format.
Siemens has the right solution to cope with these chal-
lenges. Within cargo terminals, all material flows are
mapped and optimized with the proven CargoCompact.
The software manages business processes in the terminal
and guides the material flows required for import, export
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and transit, including buildup and breakdown with its pull
and push functionalities. In short, CargoCompact helps
ensure that cargo is handled according to specifications
and time schedules.
Transparency is an essential aspect: All process data is
documented and transferred to the different stakeholders
automatically. The recorded data can then be used for
statistics and dashboard KPIs. Maintenance tools and
remote operation complete the portfolio for cargo operations
in the terminal.
terminal operations

MindSphere – the open, secure, cloud-based Internet-of-
Things operating system from Siemens – comes into play for
connecting many kinds of data sources. It brings together
data from processing systems, machine sensors, and other
sources to enable advanced data analytics.
Siemens offers a complete digital portfolio to cover the
entire logistics chain: The cloud-based AX4 software inte-
grates all processes and data from all partners in the supply
chain. It permits the coordination of transport operations.
The employees responsible for cargo handling know the
transport routes as well as the exact anticipated shipment
volumes at an early stage, which enables them to plan
capacities and delivery time slots with much greater precision
and efficiency than ever before.
Once a truck has arrived at the cargo terminal, Dock & Yard
Management software takes over. During unloading and
loading, all the way up to departure from the hub, it ensures
seamless integration of transport and turnaround processes.
Planning, Prediction & Control helps maximize through-
put with minimum resources. The software models all
processes and capacities, and maps actual loads. Using
simulation, it shows which resources should be used to
fulfill the requested service level agreements. Hence,
bottlenecks are identified in advance, giving the terminal
operator sufficient time to take countermeasures.
In the future, air cargo processes will increasingly be
automated and digitalized. More physical objects will be
linked digitally to become part of the Internet of Things.
The physical objects will be connected by process models,
and the data they produce will be saved in data lakes.
The collected data, in turn, will serve as a basis for
subsequent analytics, such as for forecasting and plan-
ning. It will also become possible to perform computing
processes in the cloud. Siemens is ready to support your
digital transformation.

CargoCompact software takes everything

into consideration
• From automation to business processes: While yesterday was about
keeping equipment busy, today it’s about making the right decisions
to meet service level agreements
•S
 uperior visual insights and specialized analytic views: Powerful
real-time visualizations allow many processes and statistics to be
combined and color-coded, which in turn helps to locate issues
•2
 D/3D insights with CCTV integration: Video surveillance equipment
can be used to supervise maintenance, inspect physical damage, and
follow moving objects
•S
 tatistics/data service: Numbers derived from powerful material
flow statistics and enriched with business process and shipment
information provide valuable information
• Simulation/emulation: Our custom-tailored air cargo terminal simu-
lation reflects your terminal, including all assets and workstations
•E
 nergy efficiency: With our smart cargo software we provide the
transparency you need to find the right proposals to save energy,
avoid peaks, and plan resources better

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First-class customer services:
Keeping performance up
In addition to reliable and efficient systems, quality services
are a further major value-adding factor in the total cost of
ownership. What’s more, services help provide the fastest-
possible return on investment. We therefore support the
performance of systems over their entire lifetime – including
upgrades and modernizations, also to enable the digital
transformation of existing installations. Siemens services
are available for third-party systems as well.
To meet the demand for digitally supported maintenance,
Siemens established the Service 4.0 program. It maximizes
the value of progress made in system technology and inte-
gration that has come with interconnected industrial
equipment. More than 40 airports worldwide cooperate
successfully with us on the basis of long-term contracts and
partnerships. System operators benefit from a comprehensive
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portfolio of modular and customizable technical services.
At many airport facilities, such as the Cathay Pacific Cargo
Terminal in Hong Kong, Dubai International, Munich Termi-
nal 2, and Madrid-Barajas, Siemens’ own teams of operation
and maintenance (O&M) experts ensure that baggage and
cargo handling systems operate smoothly and at maximum
efficiency.
Quality services are
a major value-­­adding ­factor.
The dedicated and experienced local teams on site are
highly familiar with the installed technology and take care
of all service aspects quickly and efficiently. They place great
importance on preventive maintenance to avoid system
downtime and service interruptions. In addition, they also
rely on condition monitoring and predictive analytics. Guided
by the goal of zero downtime, our staff works alongside the
system operator’s employees on multiple levels. The result
is an integrated operations and asset care team.
KPIs for excellent results
In many cases, jointly established key performance indicators
form the basis for O&M contracts. A case in point is the
contract with Dubai International for Terminals 1, 2, and 3,
as well as the cargo handling system at the Dubai Flower
Centre. A performance-based contract scheme ensures the
highest service standards across the airport.
For O&M contracts, we employ state-of-the-art technologies.
An example is remote monitoring and service for the soft-
ware system Siemens installed at the Cathay Pacific Cargo
Terminal in Hong Kong. Via secure channels, software data are
transferred to the Siemens control room. From there, technicians
can monitor how the software is functioning. If service
becomes necessary, updates are carried out remotely.
Airport and system operators who partner with Siemens
on long-term O&M contracts benefit in many ways: Their
systems operate properly over their entire lifetime. In
addition, Siemens engineers run facilities with an eye on
energy savings and lifetime extension. That translates into
cost savings as well as a higher return on investment. But
the most important advantage is that operators know that
their cargo terminals are in the best hands – at all times.
 With the innovative Siemens matrix concept, the cargo storage area and transport medium are combined into a single unit.
Continual innovation:
Concepts on the horizon
Siemens makes sure that its customers are fit for the future.
Therefore, our engineers take a proactive approach to
developing the technologies of tomorrow. The goal in a
nutshell: to continuously increase the operational efficiency
and optimize resource utilization.
In regard to hardware, our engineers are coming up with
various innovations, such as the matrix concept. With it,
the cargo storage area and transport medium are combined
into a single unit. Among the advantages are fast access
time and short travel paths. Cargo matrix boasts compact
construction, so less space is required. Plus, the system can
be easily expanded.
As part of its innovation package for the cargo system of the
future, Siemens also provides autonomous guided vehicles
(AGVs). AGVs help optimize the distribution process of ULDs
within the terminal as well as outside on the apron; they
also connect terminals to other airport buildings and/or
aircrafts. Fleet management and order organization as well
as monitoring are just two of the main features that are part
of the AGV software package.
Revolver ULD storage is another innovation capturing market
attention. This system has six chambers, each equipped with
conveyors that are rotated around their own axis by a steel
structure, similar to a Ferris wheel. The conveyors in the
chambers are held in a horizontal position by a gear system.
In comparison to conventional systems, the advantages of
revolver ULD storage include simultaneous transport of up
to six units, higher performance and shorter waiting times.
A further pioneering vehicle for any cargo terminal is the
ULD-Mover. It can pick up ULDs from floor level and ma-
neuver them inside and around a cargo terminal. Unlike
the conventional mover, slave pallets are not required.
One of the biggest trends, however, is digitalization in
cargo centers. Digital offerings such as AX4 integrate data
from all stakeholders, from incoming and outgoing freight
forwarders, from ground handlers, and from airlines. Data
lakes from all processes are generated and used for sub-
sequent analytics, whether for a central cargo control
tower or for a dedicated sub-process. Functionalities
include displaying crucial KPIs in dashboards, precisely
forecasting resource needs based on actual load data,
predicting forthcoming operational bottlenecks, and
evaluating suppliers’ performance, for example in regard
to punctuality.
The complete supply chain – from end to end – is covered
with the cargo hub in its center. The result is full transpar-
ency of all processes. Siemens gets all stakeholders ready
for tomorrow.
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 Spotlight on our capabilities:

14
Major references
dnata Cargo – Dubai International Airport
• Digital handling of all landside processes with the
cloud-based software platform AX4
• Automation inside the terminal upgraded with
CargoCompact software
• End-to-end digitalization of processes tailored more
closely to customer requirements
Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport
• Multilevel storage area with capacity for more than
800 ULDs
• Cold and freezer rooms for processing and storage
of perishable cargo
• CargoCompact software ensures maximal operational
performance
Emirates Cargo Mega Terminal – Dubai International
Airport
• Wireless automation to primarily process transshipment
cargo
• Construction with a series of modules
• Enhancement of cargo processing capacities to
increase capacity
Photo credits: Cathay Pacific Services Ltd.: cover, pages 6-10; dnata: pages 4, 14
Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal – Hong Kong ­
International Airport
•S torage and conveying systems as well as electrical
­equipment for the new terminal
•F astest possible throughput times for cargo and shortest
possible waiting times for planes and trucks
•T ailored solution for a high volume of transit and
export cargo
Taiwan Air Cargo Terminal Ltd. – Taiwan Taoyuan
­International Airport
•P
 lanning, design and delivery of equipment from ­Siemens
in the framework of an extension
•E
 fficient, smooth and timely air cargo handling thanks to
highly automated system with CargoCompact software
•T
 he latest standard operating procedures for ground air-
cargo handling services in import, export, consolidation
and transshipment
LAN Cargo S.A. – Miami International Airport
•S
 emi-automated cargo handling system in a refrigerated
environment for handling ULDs with flowers and fruits
•A
 roller conveyor system for faster throughput and less
damage to shipments
•M
 ain connecting point for cargo between Latin America
and the world
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