BEUMER Group – a Strategic Partner of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group – is introducing an innovative solution for hand baggage screening at airports alongside partner HÖRMANN Klatt Conveyors.
The new solution, known as SECTRO, promises to deliver shorter waiting times at security checkpoints, greater passenger satisfaction and lower staffing levels. The two companies have joined forces as part of a strategic partnership to successfully launch SECTRO on the market in the course of 2025.
With SECTRO, peaks of around 1,000 passengers per hour can be processed via one module, with the same space requirement as conventional Smart Security Lanes. At the same time, it is said that SECTRO requires 50% fewer CT scanners and can be operated with a third fewer staff.
“More than a third of all passengers experience security checks as a particular stress factor,” said Ronald Willems, Divisional Director Airport, BEUMER Group. “With SECTRO, we are not only ensuring a noticeable improvement in the passenger experience, but also reducing the personnel required for security and baggage control. In times of a persistent shortage of skilled labour, this is a competitive advantage for airports that should not be underestimated.”
For passengers, the new solution means a relaxed security check: hand baggage is deposited in a newly-designed self-service area, with each person generally only requiring one lockable container linked biometrically to the passenger. Once the baggage has been checked, it can be collected again in a separate area, minimising the risk of baggage loss or theft. If, contrary to expectations, a piece of baggage needs to be checked separately, the owners are directed to a recheck area via a screen display.
A prototype of the new system was finalised at the end of 2023 and the necessary certifications have been initiated. As part of the collaboration, BEUMER Group will be responsible for the market launch, sales, project management and customer support, as well as the development of the system control. HÖRMANN Klatt Conveyors is supplying the mechanical conveyor technology. The first pilot project is scheduled to start in the course of 2024.
