THAI Airways has installed a new, innovative air cargo handling system at its THAI Cargo Terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.
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The system features ball transfer units from Alwayse Ball Unit Solutions in the UK, and was built by the company’s long-term partner, PERT Conveyor Company Ltd. This enables THAI Cargo’s ground operations team to maneuver unit loading devices (ULDs) quickly, safely and easily. ) around the terminal’s 90,000 m2 warehouse, which houses more than 1.2 million tons of goods every year.
Installed in September 2024, the new cargo handling system features more than 1,600 bale units from the company’s Heavy Duty 8006015 range installed as part of a 135m2 bale deck.
With a maximum load of up to 1000 kg per ball transfer unit, each consisting of a Ø57.1mm stainless steel bearing housed in a low-profile unit formed from a single steel body, the new system delivers the low -friction and multi-directional movement characteristics required to withstand the heavy traffic requirements within the cargo terminal. The system’s compatibility with ULDs also enables THAI Cargo to accommodate the transfer of prepackaged commodities sent to the aircraft by import-export operators.
Dean Falconer, Head of Global Partnerships at Alwayse Ball Unit Solutions, said: “Ball transfer units offer air cargo providers an unparalleled way to move ULDs safely and efficiently to facilitate quick turnaround times. Their low friction and multi-directional movement help reduce the amount of power required to operate a ULD, reducing the risk of overall ground operations and making them much safer for operators, all without the need for additional power requirements.
“We are excited to see how the new system will help improve turnaround times and improve operator safety over the coming months and years, while supporting THAI Cargo’s vision to become one of the flagship integrated logistics hubs in Asia .”
Kam Bains, export sales administrator at PERT Conveyor Company Ltd, added: “Always Ball Unit Solutions has become our go-to supplier for ball conveying units, and the THAI Cargo system is the latest in a series of projects we have collaborated on recently. years. Air cargo operators need robust and reliable handling systems to minimize time on the ground, and our roller conveyor ball decks enable the THAI Cargo operators to handle ULDs in a fast, safe and efficient manner.”
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