Sortation Conveyors
Vertical or horizontal bag diversion
Reliable baggage sortation for every system requirement
Alstef Group provides a range of baggage sortation conveyors designed to route baggage efficiently between conveyors, chutes, make-up areas and other destinations within an airport baggage handling system.
Our range includes horizontal and vertical sortation solutions for diverting or merging baggage flows, with different configurations and capacities to suit the required throughput, available space and BHS layout. From pusher and high-speed plough diverters to vertical sortation and distribution units, each solution provides controlled baggage transfer while integrating into the wider baggage handling system.
For airports requiring higher-capacity automated sortation, Alstef Group also offers the XSORT Cross-Belt Sorter, designed for fast, accurate baggage sorting across multiple destinations.
Medium Capacity Sortation Conveyors
Low Capacity Sortation Conveyors
Pusher Diverter
Designed for compact horizontal directional changes, the Pusher Diverter uses twin pivot arms driven by a single motor to move the pusher blade in an elliptical motion. The lateral movement aligns baggage centrally and perpendicular to the receiving conveyor, supporting transfer rates of up to 46 bags per minute. It can be used as a sortation device on both conveyors and carousels.
Vertical Sortation Unit (VSU)
The Vertical Sortation Unit provides fast vertical baggage sortation, using simultaneously tilting conveyors to divert one baggage flow into two or merge two flows into one. Continuous operation enables sorting capacities of up to 1,800 bags per hour
Plough Diverter
Designed for high-speed baggage sortation, the Powered Plough Diverter redirects baggage to an alternative conveyor line or chute using an actuated arm that moves diagonally across the conveyor. Variable operating speeds allow it to divert individual bags or a stream of baggage, with sorting capacity of up to 60 bags per minute. Takeaway angles of 0°, 45° and 90° are available in left- or right-hand configurations.
Vertical Distribution Unit (VDU)
The Vertical Distribution Unit uses a luffing conveyor to divert one baggage flow into two or merge two flows into one. It can operate in a fixed position for a continuous stream of bags or dynamically sort individual bags by destination, with capacities of up to 800 bags per hour.
Medium Capacity Sortation
Pusher Diverter
Designed for compact horizontal directional changes, the Pusher Diverter uses twin pivot arms driven by a single motor to move the pusher blade in an elliptical motion. The lateral movement aligns baggage centrally and perpendicular to the receiving conveyor, supporting transfer rates of up to 46 bags per minute. It can be used as a sortation device on both conveyors and carousels.
Vertical Sortation Unit (VSU)
The Vertical Sortation Unit provides fast vertical baggage sortation, using simultaneously tilting conveyors to divert one baggage flow into two or merge two flows into one. Continuous operation enables sorting capacities of up to 1,800 bags per hour
Low Capacity Sortation
Plough Diverter
Designed for high-speed baggage sortation, the Powered Plough Diverter redirects baggage to an alternative conveyor line or chute using an actuated arm that moves diagonally across the conveyor. Variable operating speeds allow it to divert individual bags or a stream of baggage, with sorting capacity of up to 60 bags per minute. Takeaway angles of 0°, 45° and 90° are available in left- or right-hand configurations.
Vertical Distribution Unit (VDU)
The Vertical Distribution Unit uses a luffing conveyor to divert one baggage flow into two or merge two flows into one. It can operate in a fixed position for a continuous stream of bags or dynamically sort individual bags by destination, with capacities of up to 800 bags per hour.
Sortation conveyors at a glance
Pusher Diverter
Conveyor or carousel
Centred, perpendicular transfer
High Speed Plough Diverter
0°, 45° or 90° takeaway
Left or right-hand configuration
Vertical Sortation Unit
Vertical merge or diverge
Continuous simultaneous tilting
Vertical Distribution Unit
0.5–1 m/s belt speed
Fixed or dynamic sortation
*Vertical Distribution Unit sorting capacity is dependent on belt speed.
Designed for maintainability and lifecycle performance
Alstef Group’s baggage sortation conveyors are designed to support straightforward inspection and maintenance, with robust mechanical systems and accessible components helping to minimise intervention time.
The Pusher Diverter uses a single-motor twin pivot mechanism with lubricated-for-life flange bearings and a maintenance-free spherical end rod. The High-Speed Plough Diverter uses a direct-drive arm motor to reduce the number of moving parts, while its arm belt can be changed in approximately five minutes.
For the vertical sortation range, individually driven conveyors and controlled tilting mechanisms support reliable continuous operation, with variable-speed drives used to manage conveyor speed and baggage movement.
Sortation Conveyor FAQs
A Pusher Diverter moves laterally to transfer individual bags centrally and perpendicular to the receiving conveyor and can be used with conveyors or carousels. A High-Speed Plough Diverter uses an actuated arm to redirect baggage to another line or chute and can divert individual bags or streams of baggage.
Both can merge two baggage flows into one or divert one flow into two. The Vertical Sortation Unit uses simultaneously tilting conveyors for continuous high-speed sortation of up to 1,800 bags per hour. The Vertical Distribution Unit uses a luffing conveyor and can operate in a fixed position for a stream of bags or dynamically sort individual bags according to destination, with capacity up to 800 bags per hour.
For baggage handling systems requiring higher throughput and sortation across multiple destinations, a dedicated high-speed sorter such as the XSORT Cross-Belt Sorter may be used. The appropriate technology depends on factors including baggage volumes, number of destinations, available space and overall BHS configuration.
Throughput depends on the sortation technology, conveyor configuration, baggage characteristics and number of destinations. Conveyor-based sortation can be configured to meet a range of airport capacities, with higher-throughput applications typically using dedicated sorting technologies such as cross-belt sorters.
