QuinTech Blog Article: Handling systems getting greener?
(28.06.2010)
We at QuinTech like to question common practice. We think about the "what if's". And sometimes our questions and what if's result in interesting and useful insights (more often in other questions though…). It all starts with asking questions. And that's what we use our blog for. Here we will treat topics that are "hot" in our industry. We hope that our thoughts will inspire you to ask questions too. Feel free to share them with us by mailing to us here.
Baggage handling systems need to get more sustainable?
Around the world there is a broad awareness and growing commitment to sustainability issues. Running an airport requires a lot of energy, and baggage handling systems are big energy users within an airport. Therefore, airports and baggage handling integrators face the challenge to make their systems more green.
Obviously, getting green is more a popular marketing expression for improving the sustainability of a system. However, the field of sustainable development does not only consist of environmental concern (the green aspect). Other aspects such as social and economical development have to be taken into account as well. Economic benefits are inevitably needed for making investments in baggage handling areas, especially since the aviation industry is an industry with small profit margins.
Because the major market players, the integrators and manufacturers, primarily deal with the development and improvements of new products, it is interesting to explore the possibilities for existing (already in use) baggage handling systems.
But why is it to be expected that existing systems offer significant potential for improving their sustainability? Mainly, there are two reasons:
- First, energy saving and sustainability were, up to a few years ago, not really priority issues. Therefore not many investments regarding this subject were made in the past.
- Second, other interests were (and still are) in product development in first place. The main priorities are still operational availability and initial cost.
So it is to be expected that still significant improvement can be obtained regarding 'green' handling systems, but what are the most important drivers from an airport point of view when it concerns whether to invest in sustainability? A survey under Dutch industrial firms showed two main market related drivers:
- 1. Expected cost reductions due to lower energy use.
- 2. Improving the 'green image' of the corporation.
Since a baggage handling system within a handling area consists of several energy consuming parts such as belt conveyors, check-in belts, hold baggage screening systems, sorters etc, one should decide where to focus on. Belt conveyors are responsible for the main share of the energy consumption and they offer the best opportunities for reducing operational activity and energy consumption.
It may be clear that the biggest cuts can be achieved by focusing on the equipment that is responsible for the actual transportation part within the handling process, but there might be some misunderstandings regarding the approach. Several part-manufacturers try to promote their new products as 'green' and efficient. Therefore, in order to increase the efficiency, it seems to be an easy and logical step to replace standard technical parts by more efficient ones. However, the actual savings, due to different causes, are in many cases less than theoretical promised.
The real significant cuts should be obtained by reducing the operational activity, especially when the handling systems on average operates far below maximum capacity. Some relatively simple adjustments already could provide significant benefits.
Some regard being carbon neutral as the summum of sustainability, but how far should one actually go in pursuing this? Referring to the different aspects of sustainability, CO2 emission is not the only guiding indicator. A positive cost-benefit analysis and reasonable pay-back period are also inevitable elements of sustainability.
Taking the current baggage handling systems into consideration, it might be interesting to think about alternative ways to handle baggage. Future baggage handling processes might be entirely different.
Image by Floris Wiegerinck for QuinTech Engineering Innovations B.V.
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