With air traffic predicted to grow at an average rate of 8% per year, and in some areas even up to 20%, the amount of air cargo flown around will also increase tremendously. As a result, companies involved with air cargo face growing challenges on how to organise this and how to get cargo from and to their customers safely and on time.
SACO, backed by more than 50 years of experience, offers ULD handling solutions ranging from basic systems for manual manoeuvring to fully mechanised and automated systems.
Based in Mierlo, The Netherlands, SACO designs, manufactures and supplies turnkey cargo handling equipment and systems. Due to the modular design of SACO’s units, it is easy to move, modify, extend and upgrade an existing system in phases when cargo volumes grow. Users can adjust investments to their needs.
Full after-sales support, tailor-made maintenance solutions and 24-hour service ensure a high performance standard throughout the system’s entire lifespan.
SACO’s systems have been successfully supplied and commissioned in many European countries, but also in India, Indonesia, Russia, the UAE, the US, Canada, Curaçao, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
About SACO
SACO is fully owned by and incorporated into SMA BV based in The Netherlands. SMA BV has its origin in 1966 and has evolved into an internationally oriented organisation with multiple divisions. The core activities of the company – construction, manufacturing, supply and assembly of steel and machine constructions – are sub-divided in five divisions.
SACO enjoys the advantages of having a flat organisation with short and direct communication lines, while also being able to handle large projects requiring extensive manpower and project management.
Product portfolio
SACO’s portfolio includes extensive solutions for the handling of air cargo ULD’s (pallets and containers). Ranging from conveyor decks, truck docks, dolly docks, build-up / break-down workstations, weighing systems, multi-level storage systems incorporating (elevating) transfer vehicles, to SACO’s slave pallet system to additional flexibility.
The company’s turnkey approach enables the supply of cost-effective integrated hardware and software solutions for the control and management of air cargo handling and storage systems. This can vary from a standard PLC control system to overall material handling software and management IT systems.
SACO is your turnkey supplier for a wide range of applications and investment plans. As cargo volumes grow, let your system evolve through phases with SACO’s modular equipment design.
General air cargo
Based on five decades of relevant experience, SACO has a full set of handling equipment available to configure any solution that may be required. This includes storage and conveyor decks, truck docks, dolly docks, workstations, scissor lifts, ULD hoists, (elevating) transfer vehicles ETV’s, and pallet masters / slave pallets.
Depending on the required capacity, ULD storage systems can be based on ETVs or on the lift-and-run principle incorporating multiple TV’s and hoists.
Postal and express parcel
Speed and flexibility are of the essence with Postal and Express Parcel handling. SACO has developed a reliable set of standard equipment for ULD handling dedicated for this sector.
These solutions include modular castor decks, roller decks, truck docks and integrated weighing systems.
Perishable air cargo
The handling of perishables such as flowers, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and medicines, requires special attention.
As well as keeping the cool chain intact, or segregation and storage in independent temperature controlled conditions, handling equipment is suitable for ambient conditions and dedicated handling requirements.
