BEUMER Group hand-over baggage handling system (BHS) on schedule for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™

BEUMER Group - a leading global supplier of automated baggage handling systems - has successfully completed the hand-over of the Baggage Handling System (BHS) to Sheremetyevo Airport. Completing the hand-over on schedule means that BHS link between the North and South Terminal Complexes will be fully operational in time for the first arrivals for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. The BHS was installed as part of the Sheremetyevo Tunnel Project. Built directly under the airfield, the 2 km tunnels are the first to be constructed under existing runways. One tunnel carries passengers whilst, in the other tunnel, BEUMER’s autover® Independent Carrier System (ICS) transports baggage at speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour. With a total length of more than 4.8 kilometers, the autover system has 187 autoca® intelligent Destination Coded Vehicles (DCVs). Each DCV transports a single item of baggage to provide the airport with 100% traceability of each bag. This ensures optimum security, efficiency and throughput within the BHS. The capacity to transport more than 900 bags per hour in each direction enables Sheremetyevo Airport to achieve short connection times, enhancing its role as a major hub and supporting its future growth forecasts. Designed to operate with no moving parts, the autover system also helps the airport to minimise Product Life-Cycle Costs (PLCCs) by virtually eliminating maintenance of the system inside the tunnel. Sheremetyevo is Russia’s largest airport, carrying over 40 million passengers in 2017 on interna­tional and domestic flights to over 200 destinations. The development of the new Terminal B of North Terminal Complex increases the hub’s capacity to 58 million passengers per year. This is part of the airport’s Master Plan to increase total passenger numbers of Sheremetyevo up to 85 million of passengers per year by 2026. "Our goal is to ensure the implementation of the strategy of the national carrier, Aeroflot, to create favorable conditions for the development of our other aviation partners and, as a result, to become one of the largest passenger and cargo hubs in the world." Explains Andrey Nikulin, Deputy of General Director of Sheremetyevo Airport. "Today we are building new infrastructure facilities that will be launched for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This allows us to meet the guests and participants of the Championships at the highest level, since their acquaintance with Russia will start from Sheremetyevo". Klaus Schäfer, Managing Director, BEUMER Group, adds, “This project combined the twin challenges of installing an autover® system under existing runways and ensuring faultless operation in time for the 2018 World Cup. By successfully meeting the planned hand-over date for the BHS, BEUMER has fully overcome these challenges.”