The first flight out of T4 was Cathay Pacific flight CX 650 to Hong Kong, where Richard Dinkelmann, CEO of ICM Group was amongst the first passengers to check-in, using an ABD unit to drop his baggage.

The ABD units are a crucial element of several fast and seamless travel (FAST) initiatives at T4 including check-in, baggage drop, immigration clearance and boarding.

The ABD units were developed, manufactured and installed by ICM, and were specifically designed to meet the exact needs of Terminal 4. ICM worked closely with Changi Airport Group to tailor the ABD units to not only be easy for the passengers to use in self-service mode, but also be switched in a matter of seconds to a conventional agent-manned check-in desk.

Dinkelmann commented: “We are incredibly proud to see our advanced Biometrically enabled self-service Auto Bag Drop units go live at Changi T4 today. The units will not only deliver notable security and efficiency benefits to the airport and airlines, but they present passengers with a simpler and faster process for checking-in their bags.”

ICM’s ABD units can be found in major airports across the globe including Auckland, London Heathrow, Milan Malpensa, Minneapolis, Munich, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Singapore Changi and Sydney amongst many others.

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The trial aims to greatly reduce the dreaded check-in queues and enhance the overall passenger experience bringing the same ICM technology to Munich Airport that is enjoyed by numerous leading airports worldwide.

With many of the world’s large airports adopting self-service technology to create a fast and seamless check-in experience, traditional check-in desks are becoming a thing of the past.

The ABD machines integrate cutting-edge 3D bag scanning technology with an ergonomically friendly design. They ensure real time safety and security, with around the clock monitoring provided by ICM’s support team.  The new ABD units are also future proof with the ability for face-to-passport biometric scanning technology to be fitted.

Munich Airport’s T1 ABD trial coincides with a similar trial taking place in the US with Delta Airlines at Minneapolis St Paul Airport where ICM’s biometrically equipped Series 7 units have been successfully used since June. Both trials come ahead of the highly-anticipated opening of Singapore Changi Airport’s brand-new Terminal 4, where 50 of ICM’s ABD units will commence full operations on 31^st October.

“It is great to see Munich and TUIfly’s passengers using our self-service bag drop units to enhance the check-in process and we look forward to building on this success,” said Fabio Castro, ICM Project Manager

Joerg Scheuer from Munich Airport’s Terminal and Operational Planning said of the trial: “We are really pleased with how the ICM bag drop machines are working. Our passengers are quickly adopting to the process and overall we are seeing the benefits that these automated bag drop units deliver.”

ICM’s ABD units can be found in major airports across the globe including Auckland, London, Milan, Minneapolis, Munich, Paris and Singapore amongst many others.

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[00:00:00] Debuting the nation’s first biometric self-service bag drop right here in the Twin Cities. Carol Evans John Croman was out at MSP today to see exactly how it works and how it’s going.

[00:00:13] Most of the waiting game is about getting bags on a plane.

[00:00:17] When you look at any bag drop line you have a lot of people who don’t really need a lot of help they just need to drop a bag.

[00:00:22] So Delta is testing a new self-service backdrop system at MSP that expedites the process using facial recognition technology.

[00:00:30] So I’m going to go ahead and tag you start at a kiosk where you print your own baggage tag. Then you move onto the biometric do it yourself bag drop.

[00:00:39] So first I scanned my boarding pass. It’s going to ask for my passport.

[00:00:42] The machine can scan a passport or driver’s license but a passport requires no human assistance.

[00:00:48] So now it’s going to ask for me to look into the camera.

[00:00:50] The optical scan of Rick’s face will be instantly checked against a digital image pulled from his passport.

[00:00:56] And it said yes that’s who I am. Weigh the bag and took the bag.

[00:01:01] Of course we don’t always look like we did when we got a passport or a license.

[00:01:04] When there’s a biometric algorithm that takes you know the distance between your eyes the distance from your ears and the ratios of all of those points on your face. Does the match.

[00:01:14] Delta customers seem to warm up to the system pretty quickly.

[00:01:17] Yes. I love this it’s quick and easy and fast and it’s great.

[00:01:22] And as people move to the biometric bag drop it’ll free up Delta agents to help customers with more complicated issues.

[00:01:29] And we really want to move towards solutions with technology and innovation that allow our employees to get out from behind the counter not processing transactions but adding to the customer experience.

[00:01:42] As for privacy the facial scan is for that point in time. They’re not stored.

[00:01:47] So Minnesota is kind of the guinea pig for this new system but if it works well here we can expect to see Delta implement it at other airports around the nation. From MSP I’m John Coleman

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“We expect this investment and new process to save customers time,” said Gareth Joyce, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Airport Customer Service and Cargo. “And, since customers can operate the biometric-based bag drop machine independently, we see a future where Delta agents will be freed up to seek out travelers and deliver more proactive and thoughtful customer service.”

The airline’s introduction of self-service bag drops and facial-recognition technology is a natural next step in its work to streamline airport processes and is complimented by Delta’s industry-leading radio frequency identification technology. Previous self-service innovations like ticketing kiosks and check-in via the Fly Delta Mobile app have transformed congested lobby areas and drastically improved customer satisfaction scores.

Delta also worked with the Transportation Security Administration to implement the first automated screening lanes in the U.S. at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Other innovations include developing a groundbreaking app that helps pilots avoid turbulence for a more comfortable flight, launching the industry’s most interactive airport wayfinding maps on the FlyDelta mobile app and strategically enhancing its boarding process.

“This is the next step in curating an airport experience that integrates thoughtful innovation from start to finish,” Joyce said. “We’re making travel easier than ever for our customers and continuing to deliver a leading customer experience.”

The airline will collect customer feedback during the trial and run process analyses to ensure that this lobby enhancement improves the overall customer experience. Studies have found that self-service bag drops have the potential to process twice as many customers per hour.

Source:

http://news.delta.com/delta-testing-facial-recognition-technology-plans-first-biometric-based-self-service-bag-drop-us

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Vedaleon’s strong aviation software solution platform complements ICM’s market leading Auto Bag Drop offering, enabling the business to offer a broader range of products and services to the aviation sector globally.

Vedaleon is headquartered in Melbourne, and is currently focused on 3 main business streams:

• e-Commerce: Internet booking engines (IBEs) for airlines catering to consumers, corporates and travel agents. This also includes hotel booking engine and frequent flyer booking engine.
• Airport operations: Software and systems for self-service check-in kiosks, reprint kiosks (boarding passes), agent assisted bag drop, self-service bag drop and boarding manager.
• Regional carriers: Reservations and departure control software including reservation system and departure control system.

Vedaleon applications enable over 500 million passenger transactions annually for some of Asia Pacific largest carriers.

ICM is a global leader in airport baggage technology, and inventor of the self-service Auto Bag Drop solutions used by the world’s best airport terminals. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia with offices in the UK, France and Singapore, ICM uses cutting-edge innovation to help airlines and airports enhance the traveler check-in experience, while helping airports and airlines improve their efficiency. ICM currently operates over 300 Auto Bag Drop units in over 17 airport terminals across the world, and have processed more than 40 million bags.

Richard Dinkelmann, CEO of ICM said “The merger of ICM and Vedaleon further entrenches us at the cutting edge of being able to provide efficiencies and improvements to airlines, airports and ultimately their customer, the travelers. It also brings together a like-minded approach to innovation and R&D which will continue to be a focus for the group.”

Cornel Nunes, Vedaleon co-founder and CEO, said “Having proven ourselves in the Asia Pacific region, Vedaleon is excited at the prospect of matching our software with ICM’s market leading hardware solutions on the global stage. A mutual passion for high quality solutions means that the parties are now ideally placed to provide comprehensive end-to-end passenger management and e-Commerce solutions globally”.

Vedaleon co-founders – Mac Smith and Cornel Nunes – as well as the broader management team remain fully committed to their existing and future clients.

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Richard Dinkelmann, Managing Director at ICM Airport Technics Australia, said, “We are proud to secure our partnership with Changi Airport Group, and roll out our advanced self-service bag-drop solution. Our technology has been received incredibly well – ICM Airport Technics has been awarded recent contracts for self-service bag-drop solutions at airports in Montréal, Milan (Malpensa), Munich, and Johannesburg. It is an exciting time and we look forward to continually transforming the traveller check-in process and bringing it forward into the 21st century.”

Ang Siew Min, Vice President of Airport Operations Management at CAG, said, “With the wider adoption of self-service bag-drop machines at Changi Airport, passengers can look forward to a faster and more convenient check-in experience. The hybrid functionality of ICM ABD units also provides airlines and ground handlers with increased flexibility in their operations.”

ICM Airport Technics has successfully introduced its ABD technology at other international airports, including Auckland International Airport in December 2015. More airports around the world are witnessing the benefits of the technology and the seamless bag drop-off experience offered to busy passengers looking to save time.

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Sydney, 9 March 2015: ICM Airport Technics, the Sydney-based global leader in airport baggage technology, today announced the roll out of its Auto Bag Drop technology in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The first stage deployment saw twenty ICM units become operational in Air France’s T2E and T2F terminals, for Air France customers flying on domestic and international routes. A further fifteen Auto Bag Drop units will be rolled out later this year in Charles de Gaulle T2E, T2F and T2G.

Auto bag drop units bring a seamless check-in experience to customers, allowing them to check-in their luggage at self-service terminals. They significantly reduce check-in times and clean up crowded terminals. The units integrate cutting-edge scanning technology with ergonomically friendly design, and ‘plug’ directly into existing airport baggage handling infrastructure. They also facilitate real time monitoring and fault recovery, with the 24 hour support provided by ICM’s central control team.

Mike Sanderson, Managing Director of ICM Airport Technics UK, said: “We are thrilled that the first round of Auto Bag Drop units have successfully commenced operation at Charles de Gaulle Airport – cementing ICM Airport Technics’ technology as the most deployed and proven self-service check-in solution. This also signifies our first rollout in Continental Europe, which is a major milestone for us.”

“This growth and expansion is only the beginning for ICM Airport Technics in France, with a further 15 units to be installed in Paris in coming months. We look forward to making the check-in process a fast and efficient one for passengers in Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports.”

Nicolas Champeaux, Procedures & Operations Manager at the Baggage Operational Unit of Aéroports de Paris Charles de Gaulle, commented: “This month we processed the first live bags for passengers travelling Air France at Charles de Gaulle’s 2TE and T2F terminals and were delighted by the reception they received from travellers. The installation of ICM’s units is a definite win-win situation– there are not only strong check-in capacity benefits for us but passengers are also taken by the innovative technology, and the simpler and faster process for checking in.”

Samir Cadi, Program Manager – Air France said: “The Auto Bag Drops are working very well and are meeting our expectations.  We look forward to further roll-outs of this technology in France, as well as some airports abroad that we operate in.”

ICM Airport Technics approximated that a total of 1,500,000 bags will be processed through Aéroports de Paris airports this year alone.

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The pilot project, which took place in Australia’s busiest international airport terminal, servicing around 13 million travellers annually, saw four Auto Bag Drop units process more than 125,000 bags. These self-service baggage check-in units will now be placed into permanent service, helping to bring a fast and seamless check-in experience for QANTAS customers flying on international flights.

The customisable ICM Auto Bag Drop self-service units are already in operation across Australia for domestic flights, and have helped cut check-in times and clear up crowded terminals across the country, as well as in leading international airports such as London’s Heathrow airport.

They integrate cutting-edge scanning technology with ergonomically friendly design, and ‘plug’ directly into existing airport baggage handling infrastructure. They also ensure real time security and safety, with 24 hour monitoring provided by ICM’s support team.

Richard Dinkelmann, Managing Director of ICM Airport Technics, commented: “We are delighted that Sydney Airport has made the decision to purchase our Auto Bag Drop Units for the T1 International Terminal following a very successful pilot.”

“These market leading self-service bag drop units not only deliver notable benefits to both airports and airlines, but they present passengers with a simpler and faster service for checking in their bags – it is very rewarding for us to see that Sydney Airport has experienced first-hand such improvements. This is another key milestone for bringing the Australian-developed Auto Bag Drop experience to international travel across the world.

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• London Heathrow – Framework agreement for roll-out
• Aéroports de Paris – Contract award for roll-out
• Charles de Gaulle – Hybrid trial

ICM Airport Technics (ICM) has been awarded a framework agreement to supply Auto Bag Drop (ABD) units for all terminals at Heathrow Airport, which is to be executed over the next 5 years. “This clearly demonstrates ICM’s global leadership in the supply of ABD units and is the result of 3 years of hard work and dedication by the ICM team” said Mike Sanderson, Managing Director ICM UK.

The scope of work includes the design, supply, installation and ongoing technical support of the self- service bag drops over 5 years.

Heathrow Airport carried out trials in 2012 and 2013 enabling the potential benefits to be tested in a live passenger environment. These trials were well received by passengers and provided a wealth of learning regarding every element of the process and technology. Heathrow Airport envisages Self-service bag drops playing a significant role in future passenger journeys.

Passengers departing Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris can look forward to using the latest technology self- service bag drops following the award by Aéroports de Paris of a significant supply contract to ICM Airport Technics.

“This initial contract will see us supply and install 35 of our Series 1 Bag Drops before the end of March 2015”, said Mike Sanderson, Managing Director ICM UK.

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