In the current era when air cargo transportation continues to pursue "higher throughput,
lower errors, and greater resilience", the automation of cargo terminals is moving from partial
equipment upgrades to a systematic reconstruction centered on data. Recently, China Eastern
Airlines Cargo Co., Ltd. announced a cooperation with Lodige Industries of Germany to put into
use the new generation of large-load automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) at Terminal 4 of Shanghai
Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal, in order to reduce the reliance on manual towing
and fixed infrastructure. Promote the evolution of the freight station operation mode towards a
"flexible, visual and scalable" smart hub.
According to the information disclosed by both parties, the project has completed testing and
operation delivery. A total of 6 "10-foot-class" high-load AGVs have been deployed, each capable
of transporting unit loading equipment with a maximum capacity of 6.8 tons, for automated transfer
and dynamic scheduling within the cargo station. The report mentioned that all these AGVs were
manufactured in Germany and underwent strict testing, aiming to adapt to heavy-load and continuous
operation environments with higher stability and reliability.
At the system level, AGVs are not "isolated vehicles", but are deeply integrated with the self-
developed cargo station management platform of Rodiger Industries. Its Cargo freight management
system- Cargo Professional Freight - is responsible for cargo flow planning, route guidance and
full-process tracking, and presents visual operational insights on mobile devices through real-time
data analysis, thereby supporting 24/7 continuous operation and precise scheduling. For China
Eastern Airlines Logistics, Weddy Pan, the person in charge of operation quality management and
cargo terminal business development, said in a statement that the Rodiger system "exceeded
expectations", changed the existing operation model, made the process more efficient and adaptable,
and prepared for future growth. He particularly emphasized that the seamless integration of the system
with the existing operation processes has brought about a "leapfrog improvement".
Judging from the expected results, both sides regard "flexible transportation" as a core value:
AGV fleets can reduce the reliance on manual transfer and fixed transportation infrastructure,
optimize routes and rhythms, and form a dynamic cargo flow that can expand with changes in business
volume. Data-driven control is also employed to reduce the risk of ULD damage, enabling on-site
personnel to shift from "low-value handling" to higher-value organizational and anomaly handling
tasks. Meanwhile, Rodiger disclosed that this AGV fleet will also work in coordination with the
"lift-and-run" system it previously provided at this cargo station to further enhance throughput and
operational intelligence, and continue the cooperative relationship between the two sides in projects
such as ETV system transformation.
