ICS – or Individual Carrier System – is a type of baggage handling system characterised by the handling of baggage in an individual carrier. But within ICS, there are two types of technologies. Moritz Bender, Global Sales Director at BEUMER Group explains the differences between them.
By BEUMER Group
The first technology is known as a cart-based ICS because it uses a cart – also known as the DCV (dedicated carrier vehicle) – to transport individual bags throughout the baggage handling system. It utilises the cross-belt technology to move a bag from a normal belt conveyor, sideways, onto the cart.
The cart system features a contactless power transmission device, a drive system and an on-board computer for routing, distance and loading control, making the cart fully intelligent. As Bender says:
“The beauty of the cart is that it can run on a simple steel track with no need for intelligence on the track. So, if you have a long tunnel connection, for example, this technology is ideal because the entire tunnel is completely maintenance-free.”
The second technology, continues Bender, is the tote-based ICS. This consists of a plastic tote into which a bag is loaded and where it safely remains throughout the entire baggage journey.
Bender explains how it works:
“There is a two-belt conveyor underneath the tote and an inverter controlling a motor, which allows the tote to run without a gearbox. In the case of the tote-based ICS, the intelligence controlling the bag lies inside the track – it’s the conveyors that direct the direction of the tote travelling to the left or to the right.”
