en.Wedoany.com Reported - Turkish Cargo has selected Lödige Industries as its technology partner to advance the expansion of its SMARTIST cargo hub at Istanbul Airport. The project will increase the annual handling capacity from the current 2 million tons to 4.5 million tons, in response to the sustained growth in global air cargo demand.

Lödige Industries previously provided the fully automated cargo handling system for the first phase of the SMARTIST project. This SMARTIST 2.0 phase will integrate the latest automation and digital technologies on the existing foundation to further optimize operational efficiency. With a total enclosed area of 370,000 square meters, the facility is one of the largest cargo hubs globally. The design emphasizes maximum automation, enabling seamless storage and retrieval of unit load devices (ULDs) and internal pallets to reduce turnaround times and manage complex logistics processes.

Murat Yalçın KIRCA, Vice President of Cargo Operations (Global) at Turkish Cargo, stated that through SMARTIST 2.0, Turkish Cargo aims to strengthen its role in global air cargo via smart infrastructure, ensuring service quality and operational efficiency are maintained as cargo volumes grow—a goal supported by Lödige Industries' expertise. Björn Ussat, Director of Airport Logistics Solutions at Lödige Industries, noted that the project enhances Turkish Cargo's cargo capacity at Istanbul Airport and reflects the collaborative commitment of both parties to automation and operational excellence.