Air Cargo

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Deploys Vacuum Lifting System at Amsterdam Hub

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has introduced a vacuum lifting aid at its Amsterdam Airport Schiphol cargo facility to reduce physical strain on workers during pallet breakdown operations. The Swedish manufacturer LiftsAll supplies the system, which assists employees in handling individual cargo boxes and significantly decreases lifting demands during repetitive cargo-handling tasks. Sensor measurements using Movella Xsens motion capture technology confirmed that the vacuum lift removes the lifting effort associated with handling boxes during pallet breakdown. The vacuum lift can be deployed for approximately 80 percent of individual boxes, though certain cargo types including wet boxes require traditional handling methods. The equipment completed two successful test phases before entering daily service on July 13. KLM Cargo employees provided feedback during testing to ensure practical viability and workplace compatibility. Charlotte Elpers, vice president of worldwide operations at KLM Cargo, stated the vacuum lift exemplifies how technology can make operations less physically taxing while maintaining employee safety. The system integrates into KLM's broader Autonomous Operations program, which targets safer, smarter and more sustainable ground operations by merging human expertise with technological advancement.