Worldwide Flight Services, a member of the SATS Group, has partnered with material handling specialist Linde to start a 7-month proof-of-concept trial using autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) in its cargo terminal at Barcelona Airport. 

Two types of AGV forklifts will be used within the inbound and outbound operational areas of the Barcelona facility, which were chosen for their ability to provide automated transport of pallets for both low and high cargo storage positions. 

Barcelona Station Manager, Marc Grau, said the team has allocated pick-up areas for the trials in addition to 156 pallet storage rack locations. The forklifts will move cargo from the breakdown areas to racking storage locations within the warehouse as well as to the cargo delivery area. If proven successful, the company plans to roll out the new technology across similar WFS stations in the Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA) region. 

WFS is also working closely with CHAMP Cargosystems to seamlessly integrate the AGVs into the Cargospot Mobile warehouse management system to provide with a one core operating system solution. 

The SATS Group unit is actively exploring automated solutions, with ongoing trials of automated ground handling tractors to move cargo between its warehouse and airport apron operations. 

In evaluating this latest proof-of-concept, WFS said its operational excellence team considered doing trials after it saw the solution already in use in a warehouse facility that manages import and export shipments for the automotive industry. 

The company aims to explore whether these AGVs can reduce the number of transport tasks for cargo agent personnel to give them more time to conduct important duties and evaluate opportunities for productivity improvements. 

WFS added that safety and security remain the number one priority, with the trials to be done in accordance with racking safety requirements and adhering to safety distances for transportation.