Swissport's state-of-the-art cargo warehouse at Frankfurt Airport is now also in the digital space. Open since November 2020, the 17,000 sqm facility, complete with a certified Pharma Center, is equipped with an automated material handling system. It uses the Fair@Link yard management system and Swissport’s cargo app.

Swissport started operations at its 17,000 sqm airside facility at Frankfurt Airport exactly one year ago, on 9 November 2020. The new cargo premises, including an IATA CEIV Pharma certified 1,560 sqm Swissport Pharma Center, is one of Swissport’s most innovative and state-of-the-art warehouses.

The company invested heavily in digitalization and modern equipment. To raise the efficiency of the handling processes, unit load devices (ULD’s) are stored and retrieved by an automated material handling system (MHS) with a storage capacity of 115 main deck ULDs. Swissport’s cargo teams at the Frankfurt location were one of the first to be equipped with a new cargo app and mobile devices to further digitize the operation and increase efficiency. At the end of the year, Swissport in collaboration with Lödige Industries, is set to trial an unmanned, automated vehicle in Frankfurt. This innovation will further increase flexibility and the safety of ULD handling.

Swissport's warehouse operation in Frankfurt runs an all-electric powered fleet of ground service vehicles for the handling of shipments. A photovoltaic system on the roof of the building is the largest of its kind at Frankfurt Airport. It feeds more than 1.5 million kWh of sustainable solar energy per year.

The new 3D virtual tour of the Frankfurt warehouse, which was created in collaboration with Lödige Industries and Matterport, allows procurement officials and operations managers of cargo airlines and freight forwarders to pay a virtual visit to Swissport's Pharma Center and warehouse in advance of a physical visit. Other interested parties, too, can get behind the scenes insights into how an air cargo operation works. The 3D tour is equipped with virtual info points to look up key information on the facility, the equipment and the processes.