Swissport has introduced a new cargo handling system at Birmingham Airport (BHX) designed to speed up freighter aircraft turnaround times and improve safety.
The ground handling provider, which processes more than five million tonnes of air freight each year across 117 facilities worldwide, has worked with UK-based manufacturer Joloda Hydraroll to modernise its ULD (unit load device) handling process.
Previously, staff relied heavily on forklifts to move ULDs across the warehouse from truck docks to airside dollies – a time-consuming process, particularly during busy overnight peaks when handling e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and perishables.
The new system includes powered roller decks with integrated weighing scales, castor decks for 360-degree movement, safety barriers, and modular mobile workstations to simplify loading and unloading.
Together, the upgrades create a one-directional cargo flow that reduces manual handling, increases throughput and improves worker safety.
Swissport said the improvements had already led to faster processing of inbound and outbound cargo, more efficient in-line compliance checks, and reduced turnaround times for freighter aircraft.
The installation is also designed to “future-proof” the site, allowing Swissport to scale up as cargo volumes at Birmingham grow.
Joloda Conveyor Services will provide ongoing maintenance support to ensure the system remains reliable, with service level agreements promising rapid technical response.
Nav Heer, Cargo Operations Manager at Swissport, commented: “The system has noticeably changed how we manage daily operations, particularly by automating key stages of the ULD handling process.
“This has helped us improve aircraft turnaround times, especially during busy periods. The in-line weighing function has also addressed a previous bottleneck in our export flow, supporting better handling of time-sensitive cargo.
“There have also been changes in the working environment, with fewer forklifts in use and clearer walkways contributing to a more organised and potentially safer workspace.
“The installation process went smoothly, and the system now gives us a more scalable setup to manage growing volumes.”
Swissport’s Birmingham team described the changes as delivering “immediate operational improvements”, including safer working conditions and greater efficiency.
