Turkish Cargo has selected Lödige Industries to provide automation and digital technology for its Istanbul terminal expansion.
Earlier this year, the Istanbul-hubbed airline announced plans for the second phase of its SMARTIST air cargo terminal that will see capacity more than double from 2m tons per year to 4.5m tons.
And it was today revealed that Turkish has partnered with Lödige Industries on automated handling technology at the SMARTIST 2 facility.
The second-phase development will feature a six-level high-bay storage system offering 1,562 ULD positions, with nine 15 ft Elevating Transfer Vehicles and ten 15 ft transfer vehicles.
The setup will also include 23 10 ft Elevating Workstations and two 20 ft Elevating Workstations designed for “ergonomic and efficient ULD handling”.
The solution is complemented by 22 tilting decks, 76 right-angle decks, two 20 ft truck docks, and almost 1.000 powered roller decks.
Murat Yalçın Kirca, cargo operations global, vice president at Turkish Cargo, said: “With SMARTIST 2, Turkish Cargo’s ambition goes far beyond adding capacity. We continue to strengthen our role in global air freight through intelligent infrastructure.
“The next-generation cargo facility allows us to manage growing volumes without disrupting our operational flow, ensuring an uninterrupted service quality for our customers worldwide. This approach is supported by Lödige Industries’ expertise in advanced cargo handling systems.”
Work is planned to be completed gradually during the 2027-2028 period.
Inaugurated in February 2022, SmartIST currently has an annual handling capacity of 2.2m tonnes.
The facility includes specialised facilities such as temperature-controlled cold storage zones, dedicated pharmaceutical areas and designated sections for hazardous and radioactive materials.
