Lödige Industries unveils new automated guided vehicle for airfreight ULDs in Munich

October 10, 2019: Material handling solutions supplier Lödige Industries unveiled its new automated guided vehicle (AGV) for the transportation of airfreight Unit Load Devices (ULD) at the ‘Inter Airport Europe 2019’ trade show in Munich. The driverless, computer-controlled, wheel-based carrier features a 5-feet and 10-feet model for different sizes of ULDs, with the larger variant capable of lifting and transferring palletised loadings.

“Bringing new technologies to our customers in the aviation industry has been an essential element of our offering over the last decades. This innovation (AGV) fits well with our company history,” said Philippe De Backer, chief executive officer at Lödige Industries.

Claimed to be faster and reliable, the AGV can boost operational efficiencies in baggage and cargo transport by taking advantage of data-based functions to assign routing precisely via warehouse management systems. The battery-powered load carrier allows operators to connect the various terminal areas such as a link between landside-based truck docks and airside-based ULD storage or other repetitive intra-terminal transfers.

The flexible AGV is a tool for managing space scarcity and enables operators to free up staff for higher-value assignments. The German company says that the new AGV has the potential to lower the fixed costs by replacing floor-mounted roller conveyors. Equipped with laser scanners and sensors that detect obstacles the AGV also helps improve safety.

Björn Ussat, director of airport logistics solutions at Lödige said, “The ULD AGV is the natural extension of our product range, as we can offer even more flexible terminal configurations to our customers. We are pleased that we can offer our customers a product that will foster sustainable operations and significantly improve terminal efficiency.”

At a speed of 3 meters per second, the 10ft model can handle various ULD contours and runs one shift on a single battery charge. With a maximum load capacity of 6,800 kilograms, the AGV covers all possible 10ft-ULDs. The 5-feet model carries loads up to 1,588 kg for straight 12 hours. Customers are able to order the 5-feet model immediately; the 10-feet device will be available from the summer of 2020.

Lödige’s technology is installed in more than 40 cargo terminals around the world and manages over a quarter of the 56-million-tonne global airfreight volume.