Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has introduced a vacuum lifting aid from Swedish company LiftsAll at its Build-up & Break-down operation at the KLM Cargo Hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
The system followed two successful test phases and has been in daily operation since 13 July, supporting cargo handlers during pallet breakdown activities where repetitive lifting and movement of individual boxes can place significant physical demands on employees.
The vacuum lift is designed to make these tasks less physically demanding by assisting workers with the handling of individual cargo boxes as pallets are broken down. Initial measurements indicate that the technology removes the lifting effort normally associated with moving boxes during this process.
According to sensor measurements conducted with Movella Xsens motion capture technology, the system can eliminate the lifting effort involved in handling boxes during pallet breakdown. The vacuum equipment can be used with approximately 80% of individual boxes.
Not all shipments are suitable for the technology. Cargo such as wet boxes cannot be handled by the vacuum system and therefore continues to be processed using conventional handling methods.
The introduction of the equipment also reflects an emphasis on employee involvement in the development of the solution. KLM Cargo employees participated directly in both trial phases, working with the vacuum lift in actual operations, testing its usability and providing feedback intended to further improve the lifting aid.
“At KLM Cargo, we continuously invest in innovation to drive improvements for both our customers and our people. The vacuum lift is a great example of how technology can make daily operations less physically demanding. By testing solutions together with our employees, we ensure they deliver real value in the workplace. This is exactly the kind of practical innovation we want to accelerate within KLM Cargo,” said Charlotte Elpers, VP Worldwide Operations, KLM Cargo.
The deployment forms part of Air France KLM Martinair Cargo’s broader effort to develop a more innovative and future-ready cargo operation, with practical technology being introduced directly into the working environment and assessed alongside the employees who use it.
