Central Japan International Airport (Construction of a Baggage Handling System)

Challenges

Needed a system that can help us achieve the top position in customer satisfaction.
Achieve high safety standards with the convenience and ease-of-use appropriate for an international airport.
Needed a system that is friendly to the user and the baggage.

Results

Developed an in-line screening system that significantly reduces check-in times.
Provided a state-of-the-art system that comprehensively raises the level of security.
Provided a Belt Carry Sorter that handles baggage without damage.
Contributed favorably to the overall airport management with quick, safe and reliable baggage handling.

Background

Innovative BHS toward enhancing customer satisfaction.

The vision of Chubu Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) is to become the worlds’s best with respect to customer satisfaction, which requires us to develop a universal design with wide appeal. The layout is clean and open, connecting the international and domestic islands on one floor with the Meitetsu line via a concourse. Passengers can go straight to check-in counters without using stairs.

To keep the flow of passengers smooth and easy, Centrair considered an in-line screening system in the BHS at the beginning stage of airport design. We also wanted to reduce wait-times for passengers with inline screening done in the BHS after checking-in. Given the demands for safety, convenience and comfort in the 21st century, we felt that the most advanced BHS would help us achieve our goals.

Reasons We Chose Toyo Kanetsu Solutions:

Toyo Kanetsu also aims for a system friendly to users and the baggage.

The primary reason however, is Toyo Kanetsu’s strength and domestic market share of baggage handling systems in Japan of over 90%. We could not allow any flight delays due to issues in baggage conveyance, and furthermore, this would be the first inline screening system at a domestic airport. With this depth of experience and knowledge, we felt reassured in putting our trust and confidence in Toyo Kanetsu.
It was also very important that the Belt Carry Sorter manufactured by Toyo Kanetsu could handle baggage without any damage. Carts with sorting conveyors were installed at equal distances, and when the piece of baggage arrives at a predetermined position, the sorting belt conveyor starts instantly. This smooth, horizontal motion of the belt carry conveyor is done so there is no sudden impact or shock to the baggage. Furthermore, the height and angle of the turntable (Tilted Triplanar) at baggage claim area is the result of studying what angle and height makes it easy for passengers to get their bags most comfortably. Toyo Kanetsu has considered the details at every turn. This approach was completely consistent with Centrair’s vision for the airport to be a place that is open, smooth and convenient. It took two years from when order was placed to complete construction, and during that time, we had some challenges but because the relationship was build on mutual trust, we overcame those, staying clearly focused on the common goal.

After introduction:

Smooth check-in with in-line screening system.

Centrair's BHS has a total conveyor length of 4.8 km (3.6 km for international flights and 1.2 km for domestic flights) and 1020 conveyors (860 for international flights and 160 for domestic flights). The Belt Carry Sorter that collects the baggage gathered on the international island has a capacity of 4000 pieces per hour.
With Japan’s first inline screening system for international and domestic flights, passenger check-in is smooth and wait-time was significantly reduced as expected. The check-in conveyor does not stop so it also had the effect of reducing stress for ground crews at check-in desks.
With the increase in international flights, one domestic check-in line was revamped to handle interntional flights so now there are five international flight lines and two domestic flight lines. Because the overhaul had to be done while the system was in operation, it was more difficult than installing a new line from scratch, but the project was completed successfully.
Since airports are widely used by the pubic, it is sometimes difficult to avoid trouble, but this logistics system at Centrair has been running trouble-free since installation. We are truly grateful for the Toyo Kanetsu, and its strong competence in this area, especially signified by the monitoring room equipped with the latest technology so we can understand and proactively manage details so as to avoid even small issues.

What’s Next?

Improve the functionality of the airport to link local cities to the world.

Centrair is convenient when it comes to flight connections. Compared to using Haneda and Narita going from domestic to international flights, you have to take a train, but with Centrair, you only have to go from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. Because of the highly developed network of domestic flights among the international airports in Japan, it is easy to get from almost anywhere in Japan to the rest of the world. Recognition of this fact is still fairly low so users are still mainly limited to those living in the Chubu region. Developing a PR program will be key along with continuing to strengthen our operations as an international hub airport. One of those functions is to speed up the baggage return to the baggage claim area on arrivals. This of course, will further improve customer satisfaction and will be one area we work together with Toyo Kanetsu toward maintaining our standing as the airport with the world’s best customer service.

* Source: Based on an interview conducted July, 2009. Data, organizational departments and personal names appear as they were at time of interview.