Automation expands Paris CDG’s cold-chain cargo capacity

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is investing in automated infrastructure for temperature-sensitive cargo at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The expansion of its Perishables Centre is intended to increase capacity, improve internal flows and prepare the operation for future growth in pharmaceuticals and other perishable goods.

The project will use an elevating transfer vehicle (ETV) supplied by Lödige Industries. The automated vehicle will handle unit load devices and pallets across 58 storage decks, allowing the facility to use its vertical building space more effectively. Seventeen of those decks will be located in temperature-controlled zones.

Automation designed for controlled handling

With storage and retrieval managed automatically, cargo can move through the centre with less manual intervention. That is particularly relevant to cold-chain operations, where consistent processes and dependable access to controlled areas are essential. The system is designed to support the flow of sensitive shipments while reducing pressure on available floor space.

The installation will feature a 10-foot-wide edge ETV. Beyond adding storage positions, the configuration is expected to simplify the movement of cargo between handling stages and provide a scalable platform for further automation at the airport.

Operational platform for future growth

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo says the investment will help it process increasing temperature-controlled volumes more efficiently at CDG. The wider market is seeing continued demand for dependable infrastructure for pharmaceuticals and perishables, making capacity, space utilisation and process reliability important considerations for cargo operators.

Lödige Machine Warburg and Lödige Machine Romania are supplying the system. It is scheduled to enter operation at the end of September 2027.