Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport

Ready for Soccer World Cup 2010!

On Wednesday 1 April 2009, the new BHS system at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa went live. The Vanderlande teams on site ensured everything went according to plan. Twelve thousand bags were handled on the first day, with no problems or delays. The maximum of 15,500 bags per day was achieved at the beginning of the Easter holidays 2009.

OR Tambo Airport is the largest and most modern airport of Africa and ready for many more large events. With the new CTB (Central Terminal Building), located between the existing International and Domestic Terminals, the airport’s capacity has increased to 20 million passengers per year.

The contract for the baggage handling system was signed with ACSA (Airports Company South Africa) in April 2007 and comprised of 95 check in counters, 8 VERTISORTERS, 1 km of Early Bag Storage for 1,200 bags, 6.5 km of conveyor, 1,100 motors, 10 screening lines, 31 PLC’s, complicated integration with existing lines in the International and Domestic terminals and transfer lines, high redundancy and a maintenance contract for the baggage handling system (excluding sorters).