One of the world's biggest baggage handling systems, reflecting state-of-the-art design and utilizing the world's most advanced technology will be put into operation right on schedule at Beijing's Capital International Airport. The Siemens baggage handling system of the new Terminal 3 was handed over to the Beijing Airport Authority, BCIA, on December 19, 2007. With its capacity to sort and transport up to 19,200 baggage items per hour, it ensures that Beijing Capital International Airport is well prepared for the influx of visitors for the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008.

The baggage handling system was designed to accommodate Beijing's desire to serve as Air China's international hub: 330 check-in counters are linked to a 68 km high-speed conveyor system. With Siemens baggage handling system, Terminal 3's passenger handling capacity will be more than doubled from currently 28 million to 60 million passengers per year. Although the passengers do not see it, the baggage handling system operates throughout the different levels of the airport. The high-speed tray system connects T3A with T3B via a 2.2 kilometer tunnel, transporting baggage at a speed of 10 meters per second from the check-in counters in T3A to the makeup carousels in the international terminal T3B. It uses a combination of belt conveyor, high-speed tray system and tilt-tray sorters to transport the baggage to the required destination safely and efficiently and as well, to process arriving baggage to the appropriate arrival carousel. Siemens BHS is controlled by a complex computer system and will accelerate the processes for departures and arrivals and facilitate the MCT (Minimum Connecting Time). Less than 25 minutes will be necessary to move the baggage from one stationary aircraft to another.

The Beijing Airport's baggage handling system has over 9,000 Siemens' motors, controlled by 109 Siemens S7 PLCs, utilizing RFID and sophisticated IT software and main computer control system. The system has been designed to meet the projected passenger flow through the year 2015. Siemens has brought this design from the conceptual phase to completion in less than three years. Through the implementation of a rigorous integration and testing of all components, Siemens ensures that the reliable baggage handling system and the carefully-designed drive and control technology and IT software operate together perfectly to fully meet all the requirements and needs of BCIA. The contract value of the project is about EUR170 million.

One of the most challenging aspects of Siemens Baggage Handling System at Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 3 was the extremely tight time-schedule. Normally a project of this magnitude requires four to five years to complete. However, as the system had to be fully operational before the 2008 Olympic Games, Siemens completed the baggage handling system in about three years. Siemens was aware from the beginning that because of the tight schedule, everything had to work right from the start: with a combination of careful planning, experienced management and professional, dedicated implementation by the project team, the completion of the project has been possible and the delivery has been on time.