SAS Cargo is the famous and leading air cargo carrier for Scandinavia, and every day passengers and cargo flights serve over 100 destinations worldwide. SAS Cargo’s handling operations have become an independent company named Spirit Air Cargo Handling – and Spirit is now Scandinavia’s biggest air cargo handling company.

Recently, SAS Cargo/Spirit highlighted the fact that heavy lifts in combination with high frequency are costly for them. Cargo handlers’ job often means very hard work, with sick leave, compensation claims and other issues being the resulting factors. SAS Cargo/Spirit has searched for a lifting aid that could minimise the risk of injury and increase productivity at the same time.

The specialist remedy to solve all of these concerns in all workplaces where SAS Cargo/Spirit manually loads or unloads cargo is the installation of a Vaculex TP vacuum system. This clever technology virtually makes the cargo become weightless and easier to handle, which in combination with high working speed results in much quicker handling with very low risk of injury caused by heavy lifting or bad posture. The Vaculex TP handled more then 90% of the cargo – up to 45kg/100lb – with ease.

The specific manager concerned is Karl-Åke Libell, warehouse manager at Spirit Air Cargo, Stockholm, Sweden. “We have tried to find a lifting aid for our manual handling for a long time. We have tried several other types of equipment without any success. Vaculex offered a system that works in reality for air cargo handling. The cooperation with Vaculex during all phases from test project to installation and start up has been very good,” he said.

“The Vaculex TP works extremely well for our operation. The lifters are very easy to learn how to use and the operation of them is very quick and flexible. What impressed me the most was the fact that all personnel spontaneously started to use them, even before we had any training and introduction. I strongly recommend Vaculex to other cargo handlers.”