Predictive maintenance boost for critical baggage systems
Dutch predictive maintenance specialist Samotics is to supply its technology to Stansted Airport in the UK to monitor critical baggage handling systems.
One of the main barriers to reducing delays at airports is baggage handling equipment failures. During peak seasons, baggage handling functions run at 150% capacity, leaving no room for downtime. When equipment unexpectedly malfunctions, it causes significant delays to boarding and reclaiming luggage. 80% of baggage handling downtime at the airport has been due to mechanical faults leading to the failure of conveyors, which were upgraded in 2021 with 2.4km of track and 180 automated carts.
To overcome this challenge, London Stansted Airport is to use the Samotics SAM4 machine health monitoring system to predict electrical and mechanical failures in motors. This can identify and prevent over 90% of potential faults up to five months in advance says the company.
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SAM4 captures performance data by using a technique called electrical signature analysis (ESA) to analyse current and voltage signals of electric-driven motor systems using sensors installed in the motor control cabinet, rather than on the asset itself. This means that SAM4 is quick to install and does not incur an upfront downtime, enabling rapid deployment at minimal cost.
Paul Marshall, Reliability Engineer at London Stansted Airport said: “At London Stansted Airport, we are constantly striving to enhance the passenger experience. By leveraging Samotics’ SAM4 system, which has already been proven at a leading international airport, we can increase the reliability of our baggage handling system to significantly reduce delays and impact on travelers.”
Jasper Hoogeweegen, CEO at Samotics said: “Our technology helps airports address a fundamental challenge by identifying and resolving developing faults before they happen. With accurate health and performance data, operational teams can schedule maintenance at their convenience rather than reacting to an unforeseen fault. With less downtime, passengers and airlines benefit from reduced delays and a smoother travelling experience. We look forward to supporting London Stansted Airport to harness the potential of proactive maintenance.”
SAM4 Health will be rolled out to dozens of baggage handling systems located across arrival and departure halls.
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