Airfreight stakeholders eye warehouse expansion, automation across the globe

Airfreight stakeholders continue to handle cargo growth through warehouse expansions and automation across various airports. Material handling solutions provider Lodige Industries has already completed the installment of a fully automated air cargo terminal at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), according to a June 21 release. The facility consists of two elevating transfer vehicles with a five-level, three-directional, automated unit load device (ULD) storage and handling system for 227, 20-foot storage positions. TFU, which opened in 2021 and has already become one of the world’s busiest airports, is set to expand further with the addition of three runways, increasing its annual cargo throughput to 2.8 million tonnes, according to the release. [caption id="attachment_57065734" align="alignright" width="512"] WFS facility at AMS (Photo/WFS)[/caption] Lodige also provided equipment for the airport’s domestic cargo terminal and a warehouse dedicated for hazardous goods, as well as an express distribution center. In total, the company created 83,000 square meters of cargo facilities for TFU. The air cargo project at TFU marks another foray into the industry for Lodige Asia, which completed its first air cargo project in 2018 in Shanghai and second in 2020 in Chengdu. North America Meanwhile, Anchorage Alaska-based investment firm NorthLink Aviation announced an agreement with National Air Cargo Holdings for hardstand terminal capacity at NorthLink’s air cargo terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). The entire NorthLink south campus at ANC will include 11 power-through hardstands and four push-back hardstands, two deicing stands, dual-hydrant fueling systems at each hardstand, and a ground service equipment facility, according to a recent release. NorthLink’s terminal will also include onsite deicing fluid recycling, Sean Dolan, CEO at NorthLink Aviation, told Air Cargo World . “The warehouse is going to be multi-tenant and serve two roles: cargo transfer and parts storage,” Dolan said. “My expectation is that for cargo transfer, NorthLink will partner with a cargo handler to jointly operate the warehouse space to make it easy and flexible for carriers and their customers to download and upload cargo at ANC.” NorthLink aims to have the hardstands operational by the fourth quarter of this year, Dolan said. In November 2021 equity firm Tiger Infrastructure Partners acquired a controlling stake in NorthLink Aviation , securing a 120-acre, 55-year lease at ANC. In turn, the two companies intended to develop an air cargo terminal at the airport featuring a 100,000-square-foot facility. NorthLink’s focus on sustainability includes using renewable electricity at the facility and working to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the site. Europe In Europe, logistics services provider cargo-partner opened a new warehouse with 12,900 square meters just 10 minutes from Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) in Zagreb, according to a June 21 release. The facility will complement the pre-existing 4,000-square-meter facility in the nearby neighborhood of Jankomir. The new facility is equipped with 13,500 pallet slots and is expected to see a throughput of food, perishables, animal products and pharma, according to the release. It also offers short- and long-term storage and road feeder services, including 22 loading and unloading ramps. [caption id="attachment_57065736" align="alignright" width="460"] cargo-partner warehouse near ZAG (Photo/cargo-partner)[/caption] Handler Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is also preparing for European expansions with a new cargo facility at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), according to a June 22 release. The 3,000-square-meter cargo warehouse aims to support the handler’s growing client base and add capacity ahead of the winter season, bringing WFS’ total cargo space at AMS to 17,500 square meters. The facility includes eight truck docks and will handle pharma , perishables, and valuable and dangerous goods. Management software CargoSpot Mobile will be used to digitize the operational processes at the facility and provide real-time shipment visibility, according to the release. WFS has been expanding its operational footprint and earlier this year secured a 15-year license to operate its first cargo handling terminal at Bangalore International Airport (BLR) in India. The handler will oversee the international cargo terminal when it opens in 2023.

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