Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is expanding and automating its Perishables Centre at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, in cooperation with Lödige Industries, in order to meet the rising demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and perishable goods. Automating cold-chain infrastructure so as to maximize on limited space while keeping handling reliable and compliant, has become a growing priority for cargo operators, particularly at major hubs around the world.
In the case of Paris, the focus is on expanding facility’s capacity, and improving both how temperature-sensitive cargo is handled as well as processing performance. Air France KLM Martinair Group’s cargo division is installing a Lödige Industries’ elevating transfer vehicle (ETV), which can automatically store and retrieve unit load devices (ULDs) and pallets across multiple levels. The 10-foot-wide ETV serves 58 storage decks, of which 17 sit inside temperature-controlled zones. Lödige Machine Warburg and Lödige Machine Romania are supplying the system, which is due to go live at the end of SEP27. The resulting automation will reduce the need for manual handling, simplify internal cargo movements, and make better use of storage space. It will also increase the reliable handling of temperature-sensitive goods across dedicated cool areas.
A speaker for the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo project team stated: “Expanding our temperature-controlled cargo capabilities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is an important step in strengthening our cold-chain operations. The new automated storage solution will enable us to handle growing volumes more efficiently and further enhance the cargo handling flow for temperature-sensitive shipments at CDG.” Björn Ussat, Director Airport Logistic Solutions at Lödige Industries, added: “Cold-chain logistics place particularly high demands on reliability, efficient use of space and consistent handling processes. This project demonstrates how automation can help cargo operators optimize storage capacity and internal material flows while supporting the stringent handling requirements of temperature-sensitive shipments. We are delighted to support Air France KLM Martinair Cargo with an efficient and scalable solution that also provides a solid basis for future expansion of automated storage processes at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.”
