LUG aircargo handling is undergoing IATA CEIV certification as part of its program to upgrade infrastructure, senior project manager Dominik Misskampf explains.
He says though LUG’s customer portfolio changed this year, temperature controlled shipments have been stable, and it is working to capacity.
This was behind the decision to expand and modernise the Health Care Center. LUG expanded its capacity of temperature controlled storage area to 650 square metres in Frankfurt with the potential to go up to 1,200 square metres, with segregation into eight rooms of different sizes and flexible temperature settings.
The facility is totally new, and was constructed with a state-of-the-art IT system.
Misskampf says: “Real-time monitoring of the temperature with a record and alarming system will assure the right surrounding temperature. On this occasion we question our processes and thrive for their optimisation.”
The majority of temperature controlled shipments are exports, with 15-25 degrees Celsius the most popular.
Misskampf says: “In the past, changes of the products or respectively of the structure had been mostly related to the airlines in our handling.”
LUG has welcomed Emirates SkyCargo as a new customer, and he says: “We expect a massive increase in volumes of temperature-controlled cargo at LUG aircargo handling.
“On the basis of first analysis we do not expect a change in the structure of the freight.”
Indicators for the future suggest demographic changes, individualisation and the development of bio-tech pharmaceuticals will increase volumes, Misskampf says, but competition is hard.
He explains that handling agents like LUG have to fight on three levels until the shipment reaches the warehouse.
“At first, shippers decide whether they send their products by air or by ocean. Unfortunately, the relative portion of airfreight has decreased in recent years.
“Second, freight needs to be routed via Frankfurt. Finally, you have to compete on your local station.”
Stricter regulations, demand for speed and cost reduction are major challenges for handling and transporting pharmaceuticals, but he adds: “At the same time, increasing requirements pose opportunities for single companies to outline their abilities. A chance LUG aircargo handling is pursuing.”
