Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has taken measures to lighten the workload of employees working in the baggage hall. Having previously ordered 30 lifting aids, the airport is now testing three machines with new technology to further improve the baggage handling process.
The aim of the tests is to reveal whether the lifting aids sufficiently lighten the work of baggage workers, whether they need further development and whether they are suitable for purchase and installation. The three lifting aids being tested are the Turnable CLS, the e-CLS and the e-CLS Launcher. With this.
People must come first again at Schiphol, and that’s why it is important that we improve the working conditions of baggage employees.
Ruud Sondag, Schiphol Airport CEO
The Turnable CLS is a pneumatic lifting aid that allows alternating left-to-right and right-to-left operation, which can reduce the shoulder fatigue employees have signalled. It has been developed based on feedback from KLM and Schiphol staff.
The e-CLS is an electric lifting aid used to load baggage. Some of the benefits of this new type of lifting aid compared to existing ones is that it is more user-friendly and safer. This lifting aid can also be calibrated to certain heights.
The e-CLS Launcher is also an electric lifting aid. This machine makes it possible to load the top layer of cases in a baggage container, a difficult job to accomplish with just manpower. This loading is done by a drive system on the lifting aid, which eliminates the manual pushing of suitcases.
“One of our top priorities is to improve the working conditions of baggage staff. (…) The reactions from baggage hall colleagues made it clear that they’re positive about this lifting aid. (…) Together with Power Stow, we’re looking for ways to further accelerate the production of the lifting aid and to make adjustments to it as swiftly as possible so that it’s even better”, said airport CEO Ruud Sondag.
The tests are in addition to Schiphol’s earlier announcement to purchase 19 baggage robots and 30 lifting aids. The airport is working on introducing properly functioning lifting aids, that can be used by all employees, at every work location in the baggage halls by the end of April 2024 at the latest.
