Baggage Handling
Force Engineering's Linear Induction Motors (LIMs) are powering some of the most efficient baggage handling systems in the world. Installed at major airports across the globe, including London's Heathrow, Forcepack LIMs power the baggage carts effortlessly along tracks between and around terminals.
LIM thrust is varied by control equipment to achieve the desired speed and collisions are avoided by computer sequencing. So flexible is the technology that track layouts include merges and diverts, inclines, declines and spirals.
Often systems run in tunnels eliminating the need for polluting and slow ground traffic. LIM systems offer more attractive whole life cost operation than a conventional conveyor system due to the reduced power consumption and maintenance coupled with faster and quieter operation.
The power consumption of such a system has been shown to be significantly lower in comparison to a conveyor system carrying the same amount of baggage, while the speed of a LIM system is infact higher.
Heathrow's Terminal 5 alone serves around 30 million passengers a year and has over 11 miles of conveying system, including two high speed links from the centre hub to the satellite buildings.