TAGSYS RFID, ICM Airport Technic Announce Strategic Alliance

TAGSYS, the leading provider of item-level RFID infrastructure, and ICM Airport Technics, a market leader in airport material flow and logistics systems, have signed a cooperative agreement to produce and supply end-to-end bag drop systems for the aviation industry.

The end-to-end bag drop systems include a RFID UHF Gen 2 Permanent Bag Tag (PBT) and self-service systems through innovative equipment enabling fast bag dropping for international flights. The PBT proposed by TAGSYS is optimized to be processed by ICM Self-Service Bag Drop. In order to be used internationally at airports that do not already have an RFID infrastructure, the future tag will offer a unique feature on the market: a small electronic-paper-based display providing visual data such as flight number, owner name and possibly a bar code.

The new bag drop system is the result of the work TAGSYS and ICM performed on the Qantas Airway “Next Generation Check-In” project. ICM Airport Technics developed the Self-Service Bag Drop solution for this project, which is now implemented at all Qantas Hubs in Australia.

TAGSYS developed the reusable Q Bag Tag, an RFID tag without display that can store the details of up to four flights, and can be reprogrammed for future flights. Qantas deployed the tags in conjunction with contactless loyalty cards that can be used as permanent boarding passes to speed self check-in.

“Combining TAGSYS’ experience in designing unique, customized RFID integrated solutions with ICM Airport Technics’ automated logistics technology represents an entirely new approach to airline baggage handling,” said Alain Fanet, TAGSYS CEO. “As part of the system, the Permanent Bag Tag can unlock efficiencies throughout the check-in and sortation process, which will not only improve the accuracy of luggage handling, but speed passenger processing at the gate and ultimately improve travelers’ experience.”

The ICM Self-Service Bag Drop includes a touchscreen monitor and weigh-scale conveyor that allows passengers to check their own baggage and pay additional fees if their luggage exceeds airline weight limitations. The system then activates the reusable Permanent Bag Tag, and the bag is sent to the baggage handling system for sortation.

“Baggage tracking has traditionally relied on disposable paper tags,” said Arne Roehrig, managing director for ICM. “By using a reprogrammable, reusable Permanent Bag Tag, airlines can reduce waste and improve efficiency of baggage handling, while enabling new customer service offerings.”

TAGSYS and ICM Airport Technics will display Permanent Bag Tag prototypes and the Self-Service Bag Drop Solution at the InterAirport Europe Exhibition in Munich, Oct. 11-14 in stand 1406 (Hall B5).