Basel-Mulhouse Airport BHS upgrade
Alstef installed the first cross-belt sorter in France for a baggage sorting application at Basel-Mulhouse Airport.
About this Project
- Location: France
- Year: 2014
- Completion: 2016
Following sustained passenger growth, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse launched a major investment programme to increase baggage handling capacity and expand its departure baggage sorting facilities.
Alstef was selected to upgrade and extend the airport's baggage handling system, integrating new equipment with the existing system while maintaining airport operations throughout the works.
The project included two building extensions, doubling the space available for sorting and loading departure baggage into containers and trolleys. The upgraded system incorporated a third-party high-speed cross-belt sorter, providing automated sortation to 34 chutes according to destination, passenger class and baggage status.
The complete system is controlled by PLC, supervision and IT solutions developed by Alstef, together with BAGWARE software, ensuring baggage is directed to the correct chute according to its identity and flight status.
A key challenge was completing the upgrade without disrupting baggage operations. Construction of the extensions, removal of existing equipment and installation of the new system were therefore delivered in phases to maintain operational continuity.
At the time, the cross-belt sorter was the first installed in France for a baggage sorting application.
Key scope: upgrade and extension of the existing BHS; integration of a third-party high-speed cross-belt sorter; 34 sortation chutes; Alstef PLC, supervision and IT systems; BAGWARE software; phased installation within an operational airport.