Siemens Completes Baggage Handling System Contract at Miami International Airport

NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Siemens Industry, Inc.’s Mobility and Logistics Division and the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department (MDAD) are pleased to announce the completion of the Siemens contract for Miami International Airport’s new, fully automated baggage handling system (BHS). The North Terminal Development (NTD) Program’s new integrated baggage handling and explosion detection system is the largest conventional baggage system in the United States, with over 14 miles of conveyor transportation and screening luggage from 152 ticket counters to more than 50 gates, and the ability to process more than 40,000 bags per day.

“We’ve worked very closely together to make this collaborative arrangement possible. We are satisfied with Siemens’ performance and the solution that they have provided”

The majority of the $220 million system, roughly 91 percent of the total system, began operation in March 2012 and has processed over 10 million bags to date. The successful startup in March allowed for the demolition of the old baggage system and the renovation of remaining building areas in preparation for the final phase of the new baggage system.

Siemens and MDAD have developed the final phase of the system so the complex, multiple-year contract could be completed and the remaining stages could be finished under a new completion agreement. This leverages MDAD’s oversight and Siemens’ technical expertise with the capability of local partners to complete the final coordination stages of the project.

“We’ve worked very closely together to make this collaborative arrangement possible. We are satisfied with Siemens’ performance and the solution that they have provided,” said Juan Carlos Arteaga, MDAD NTD Program Director.

The remaining stages will integrate three additional explosion detection systems, three baggage carousels, one ticket counter, and further improvements to the North Terminal’s Federal Inspection Service (FIS) facility and recheck area.

“Siemens, MDAD, and its local partners will continue to collaborate on the remaining portions of the system as it is brought online to complement the overall project,” said Terry Heath, president, Mobility and Logistics Division, Siemens Infrastructure & Cities. “The Siemens team remains committed to the success of this project and to our very important customers in Miami International Airport.”

Portions of the remaining project scope go live in the next couple of months with the final cut-in scheduled near the end of this year.

The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, with approximately 90,000 employees, focuses on sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offering includes products, systems and solutions for intelligent traffic management, rail-bound transportation, smart grids, energy efficient buildings, and safety and security. The Sector comprises the divisions Building Technologies, Low and Medium Voltage, Mobility and Logistics, Rail Systems and Smart Grid. For more information, visit http://www.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities.

The Siemens Mobility and Logistics Division provides solutions to customers to optimize passenger and freight transport. The division bundles all Siemens business related to management of traffic, transport and logistics. This includes railway automation, infrastructure logistics, intelligent traffic and transport systems, and technologies for developing the infrastructure for electric mobility. For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/mobility.