New Bangkok International Airport to use RFID for logistics management

Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport, the newest and largest airport in Southeast Asia, has selected Intermec to supply an RFID and barcode system for the airport's Cargo Free Zone. The airport, which is the central air traffic hub for Southeast Asia, features an NBIA Cargo Free Zone IT project, which has some of the most up-to-date technology and services in the region, including its RFID Customs Free Zone management system. RFID will be used to track incoming and outgoing goods in the cargo warehouse and terminal.

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New Bangkok International Airport Selects Intermec RFID System to Boost National Transport and Logistics Capacity

EVERETT, Wash., Jun 18, 2007-- Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport, the newest and largest airport in Southeast Asia, has selected Intermec (NYSE: IN), the leading RFID and supply chain technology vendor, to supply an RFID and barcode system for the airport's Cargo Free Zone.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, the central air traffic hub for Southeast Asia, features an NBIA Cargo Free Zone IT project, which has some of the most up-to-date technology and services in the region, including its RFID Customs Free Zone management system. RFID will be a core part of the IT system for the Cargo Free Zone and will be used to track incoming and outgoing goods in the cargo warehouse and terminal.

"Intermec is proud to be a part of the Cargo Free Zone system of New Bangkok International Airport," said Piyarat Srivaranon, Thailand country manager of Intermec. "The project will be the largest RFID system in Southeast Asia and will provide faster monitoring of cargo locations and tracking of movements in the Zone."

"AMR Asia Company Limited is proud to be the most important and pioneering implementer of this new technology with the RFID system for Cargo Free Zone of New Bangkok International Airport," said Visith Somboon, president of AMR Asia Company Limited, systems integrator for the project and an Intermec Honours Partner. "This strategic project will provide more efficient management of the air cargo business.

"The main reason that Airport of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) chose to install Intermec RFID technology in the Cargo Free Zone was to make the flow of goods faster, more accurate and more efficient. It will also streamline customs procedures and speed up transfer tax processes. Intermec offers the best technology available to enable us to meet our target of becoming Asia's aviation hub."

The Cargo Free Zone also uses Intermec bar code printers and readers to monitor cargo, complementing the RFID system. Cargo cars entering terminals have RFID tags attached while their loads have bar code labels, which are read using Intermec's bar code readers.

The RFID system for the Cargo Free Zone uses a range of Intermec RFID equipment, including 150 Intermec IF5 intelligent fixed RFID readers, 100 Intermec 751 rugged mobile computers, 100 Intermec IP3 portable RFID readers, 600 RF antennae, 46,000 reusable plastic RFID tags, and 4,000 windshield RFID tags. The bar code system includes ten PD4 bar code printers and ten 1551 rugged handheld scanners.

About Suvarnabhumi Airport

The New Bangkok International Airport Company Limited (NBIA) was established on February 27, 1996. It is a government owned company under the Ministry of Transport. AOT is its sole shareholder. The NBIA is responsible for the implementation of the Suvarnaphumi Airport Project.

Ripping Suvarnabhumi

Thai Airways International president Apinan Sumanseni has touched off a major controversy with "dangerous" criticism of Suvarnabhumi Airport for failing to live up to its potential as a regional cargo and tourism hub.

At a recent session of the National Legislative Assembly's Transport Committee, the president said that the new airport had only benefited airlines, while failing to help the Thai people.

The subcommittee, which is chaired by Adm Banawit Kengrian, was also surprised when Apinan Sumanseni remarked that the airport's customs free zones had been a failure.

Mr Apinan's comments were criticised by subcommittee members, including veteran aviation expert Chusak Bhachaiyud, who is the former senior vice-president for the technical department at THAI.

Mr Chusak questioned the THAI president's understanding and attitude on the role of the airport in contributing to national development.

"It is extremely dangerous if the chief executive of our national carrier subscribes to such an unusual view which is contrary to common logic," Mr Chusak told the Bangkok Post.

"And why on earth are so many countries in the region competing against one another to become the regional aviation hub? Nobody ever questioned the benefits of being an aviation hub."

In his note to Adm Banawit, the former THAI executive said that the goal of being a hub was to attract carriers to the airport and encourage tourism. Thailand, he said, would benefit greatly if airlines fly here instead of Hong Kong, Singapore or Malaysia.

Likewise, the concept of customs free zones in streamlining air cargo shipments has been applied to several airports in the region including Hong Kong, Osaka, Incheon, Singapore and Hong Kong, where they have contributed to their attempts to be logistics and cargo transshipment centres, he explained.

"[A customs free zone at Suvarnabhumi] not only benefits shippers, but also other parties in the chain including farmers, whose produce is exported," he said.

He added that operational flaws that prevent the customs free zone at Suvarnabhumi from running efficiently did not mean the facility was useless, as implied by the Thai president.

Many regional airports are continuously expanding their airports to make them regional air hubs, he said.

For instance, Singapore Changi airport is due to open its third terminal on Jan 9 next year

International passengers and freight in transit through Suvarnabhumi represent about 5% of traffic through the airport, according to AoT figures.

By Boonsong Kositchotethana

Airport to make final scanner payment

The American seller threatened to suspend services at Suvarnabhumi airport and inform US airlines and security agencies unless the takeover certificate ordering payment was issued.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) has agreed to facilitate the final payment to bomb scanner supplier GE InVision after receiving a warning letter from the US embassy with the threat.

Acting AoT president Kulya Pakakrong said the board decided on Thursday to issue the takeover certificate (TOC) to GE InVision right away, without waiting for the investigation by the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) into reports the purchase of the luggage scanners was tainted by bribery and price inflation.

The ASC has not replied to the AoT inquiry about the progress in the investigation, she said.

The procurement committee of AoT proposed that the ASC investigation and the TOC issue should not be linked.

GE InVision earlier sought the TOC, which it will present to get the final payment for the scanners from ITO Joint Venture, AoT's contractor of the whole Suvarnabhumi airport project.

The last instalment totals US$5.2 million consisting of US$1.7 million for scanners and US$3.5 million in service fees.

An AoT source said the ASC is looking into why AoT has not saved on the deal by purchasing the 26 computed tomography X-ray (CTX) machines directly from GE InVision, the manufacturer, instead of doing it through a broker, Patriot Business Consultants Co. The ASC believes AoT could have saved about 300 million baht by direct ordering. The full purchase cost was US$35.8 million.

With the issuing of the takeover certificate, GE InVision will deliver spare parts for the CTX machines at Suvarnabhumi airport. Many of the 26 scanners are not working. Problems arose previously because the floor where they are installed was not air-conditioned. The machines must be kept cool.

Now the place is air-conditioned, but water leaks from the air-conditioning system, which also affects the scanners.

The AoT source said the US embassy had written to AoT chairman Saprang Kalayanamitr on May 25 advising that the delay in issuing the TOC could cause GE InVision to cancel its services at Suvarnabhumi airport and inform US airlines and security agencies of the cancellation.

AoT had two weeks to meet the TOC demand.

Suvarnabhumi airport director Serirat Prasutanond confirmed yesterday that GE InVision had not suspended services at the airport

Thailand's New Security Measures for Hand-Carry Luggage

Thailand has implemented new aviation security measures for hand-carry bag on all flights departing Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport from 1 June 2007. These measures also apply to passengers making transit/transfer connections in Bangkok. The following restrictions will apply:


Liquids, Aerosols and Gels must be in containers with a maximum capacity of not more than 100ml each. Liquids, Aerosols and Gels in containers larger than 100ml will not be accepted even if the container is partially filled.


Containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity not exceeding 1-litre. These containers must fit comfortably within the transparent re-sealable plastic bag, which must be completely closed.
Only one transparent re-sealable plastic bag will be permitted per passenger and must be presented separately for inspection at the security screening point.


Exemptions apply to medications, baby food and special dietary items in Liquids, Aerosols and Gels form. These items will be subjected to additional checks at the security screening point.


Passengers can continue to purchase Liquids, Aerosols and Gels items, such as liquor and perfumes, at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Such purchases will be placed in sealed tamper-evident bags by the shops, with the receipt clearly displayed in the sealed bags.


Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines and Airports of Thailand website for detailed information on the new measures before they arrive at the airport. To facilitate passengers’ check-in and security screening processes, all passengers are also advised to pack their Liquids, Aerosols and Gels items appropriately in their check-in baggage or hand-carry bag, in accordance with the new restrictions, before they arrive at the airport. More information can be found on DCA (Department of Civil Aviation) website : http://www.aviation.go.th/Thailaw/Notice-24-05-50.pdf

Original news source: http://www.dancham.or.th/fullnews.php?id=838