Dolphins Keep an Eye on Airport Baggage
25 March 2006
Hand Held Products, the world's leading supplier of image-based data capture systems, has won a contract with SITA Airport Services for its world-renowned Dolphin® family of mobile computers.
SITA Airport Services specialises in the integration of technology systems at airports, including state-of-the-art baggage processing solutions. Two years ago, Airline Clubs at Birmingham, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London Gatwick airports decided to source a new baggage management and tracking system. SITA developed a proposal that incorporates Dolphin mobile computers.
Solution Design Manager, Phil Crowder-Johnson, says: "The airports wanted a unit that would be much more robust in an industrial environment than the previous one. Other important criteria included ergonomics and operability." SITA chose the Dolphin 7300RF for Birmingham, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. This compact unit offers an excellent performance combined with low power consumption.
SITA looked at devices from several manufacturers. Phil remarks: "When we assessed each product's suitability, Hand Held Products' Dolphin mobile computers came out on top. The 7300 was ideal for these three airports."
At Gatwick, an independent consultant reviewed suitable hand held terminals, and recommended the Dolphin 9500. Its sister product, the 9550, was chosen for the baggage halls. Both are high performance mobile computers, incorporating an industry-leading triple-radio.
Phil continues: "One of the main drives behind this new system is security. There may be 500 bags on a flight, so if the ground handler can locate specific items very quickly, this reduces the number of departure delays. The Dolphins make a real difference to the speed and efficiency of the process."
"The ground handlers are very happy with the new Dolphins, and report that they are a lot better than the previous units. We will be moving over to devices from Hand Held Products more and more in the future."
