Growing demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and perishable goods is driving investment in automated cold-chain infrastructure at major air cargo hubs worldwide. As cargo operators expand their temperature-controlled handling capabilities, making efficient use of available space while maintaining reliable and compliant processes is becoming increasingly important. 

Against this backdrop, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is expanding and automating its Perishables Centre at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The investment will increase the facility’s capacity and improve cargo handling while further strengthening its capabilities for temperature-sensitive shipments. To maximise the use of the available building volume and support future cargo growth, the dedicated air cargo business of the Air France KLM Martinair Group is implementing an elevating transfer vehicle (ETV) from Lödige Industries for the automated multilevel storage and retrieval of ULDs and pallets.

By automating storage and retrieval processes, the ETV system reduces manual handling, streamlines internal cargo flows and makes efficient use of the available storage capacity. It also supports reliable handling processes for temperature-sensitive shipments within the facility’s dedicated cool areas.

“Expanding our temperature-controlled cargo capabilities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is an important step in strengthening our cold-chain operations. The new automated storage solution will enable us to handle growing volumes more efficiently and further enhance the cargo handling flow for temperature-sensitive shipments at CDG,” says the project team at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.

The installation comprises a 10-ft-wide edge ETV serving a total of 58 storage decks, including 17 located within temperature-controlled areas.

“Cold-chain logistics place particularly high demands on reliability, efficient use of space and consistent handling processes. This project demonstrates how automation can help cargo operators optimise storage capacity and internal material flows while supporting the stringent handling requirements of temperature-sensitive shipments. We are delighted to support Air France KLM Martinair Cargo with an efficient and scalable solution that also provides a solid basis for future expansion of automated storage processes at Paris-Charles de Gaulle,” says Björn Ussat, Director Airport Logistic Solutions at Lödige Industries.

The system is being supplied by Lödige Machine Warburg and Lödige Machine Romania and is scheduled to become operational at the end of September 2027.