BHS - a system for sorting checked baggage at airports
Baggage Handling Systems (BHS) are specialized solutions for automatic identification and sorting of checked baggage at airports. They are a key component of airport infrastructure, ensuring high reading efficiency, continuous operation and full baggage traceability throughout the passenger handling process.
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What is the BHS system and how it works
The Baggage Handling System (BHS) includes complete, integrated reading stations installed on baggage conveyors, scanning tunnels, checkpoints and sorting gates. Its task is to uniquely identify baggage and automatically direct it to the correct logistics stream.
BHS solutions use multi-layered identification technologies, including:
- Barcode reading (laser and vision),
- Advanced camera systems with high efficiency,
- optional RFID, which provides the highest possible read rate even when the label is not visible.
The systems are designed to be modular and scalable, so they can operate in laser, vision or hybrid (laser + imager + RFID) configurations, depending on airport requirements, throughput and reliability levels.
Key elements of the BHS architecture
An integral part of BHS systems are advanced hardware and software components that together provide high identification efficiency and full process control. Key elements include:
- multi-sided reading framework (ATR – Automatic Tag Reader),
- Baggage tracking systems (photocells, light curtains, encoders),
- baggage gauge / dimensioning solutions,
- central surveillance software enabling:
- monitoring of system operation,
- image archiving,
- “no-read” case analysis,
- Remote diagnostics and service.
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Application of BHS systems at airports
BHS systems are used in all key areas of airport infrastructure where an unambiguous link between baggage and passengers and its automatic routing in the logistics stream is required.
The complete system infrastructure includes both fixed solutions and mobile scanners and handheld data collectors.
The most common application areas include:
- Check-in areas – automatic identification of luggage at the entrance to the system,
- Baggage sorting facilities – reading labels and directing baggage to the correct lines and carousels,
- Security screening systems (EDS) – identifying and tracking luggage for screening,
- Baggage transfer – effective reading of damaged or partially obscured labels,
- Arrival service – baggage identification at the exit of the system,
- Baggage reconciliation – linking the baggage to the flight and the passenger,
- RFID systems – Increase read efficiency at the most demanding points,
- Image archiving and OCR – “no-read” analysis and support for operations and IT teams.
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Experienced experts you can trust
27 airports
worldwide
We design BHS solutions for ultra-high throughput environments, where the key is:
- maximum read rate,
- Continuity of system operation 24/7,
- fault tolerance and label quality,
- Full integration with airport and IT systems.
Airport-grade systems use redundancy of critical components, automatic switching to backup systems, and full remote supervision of plant operations, which minimizes the risk of downtime and ensures the highest level of reliability.
Wojciech Stachowiak – Head of Automation Department
Full list of realizations: