Lufthansa Cargo has laid the foundation stone for the construction of its new art storage facility at the Frankfurt hub. The so-called ArtCube at the Lufthansa Cargo Center will in future have an area of 168 square meters and offer its customers secure and professional storage of valuable works of art of all kinds. The new building is being constructed as part of the modernization of the airfreight hub in Frankfurt initiated by Lufthansa Cargo and is scheduled to go into operation at the end of the year.
“The new ArtCube enables us to offer our customers a secure and modern environment that, combined with dedicated handling, meets the high demands of sensitive art objects,” explains Harald Gloy, the cargo airline’s Chief Operations Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer. “We are aware of the special responsibility involved in handling works of art, which are not only valuable but usually unique and irretrievable. For this very reason, we have developed a customized solution for the storage of artworks and exhibits in our hub in close exchange with art forwarders and curators, so that our customers know their shipments are in the best hands.”
The new art warehouse will be self-sufficiently equipped with air-conditioning units with heating and cooling functions, creating an almost constant temperature. Through the vertical window bands the ArtCube receives natural lighting. There is a separate lounge area for art attendants. Access to the special storage area is restricted by state-of-the-art security technology.
The new construction of the art warehouse is one of the first steps in the modularly planned “LCCevolution” infrastructure program of Lufthansa Cargo at its home hub in Frankfurt – in parallel, several preparatory measures are being taken for the new construction of the central high-rack warehouse at the Lufthansa Cargo Center. The complete modernization of the Lufthansa Cargo Center is scheduled for completion in 2029.
For the crane’s subsidiary, flying valuable and famous fine arts is a tradition: Lufthansa Cargo regularly flies works by important artists to exhibitions around the globe. For all transports of this kind, the focus is on security, professional handling and seamless monitoring: For art shipments, Lufthansa Cargo therefore uses its “Vulnerables” product, which is tailored to the needs of this special industry and offers a suitable transport solution for art logistics with art-appropriate processes and maximum security.
Photo: Daniela Lotz Senior Project Manager Construction Projects, Stefan Dürr Head of Program LCCevolution, Harald Gloy COO, Cornelia Schultze Senior Manager Product, Speed and Service Offer, Dr. Mohammad Ali Seiraffi, Vice President Handling Frankfurtall Lufthansa Cargo.
In other news, from 2022, Lufthansa Cargo will equip all Boeing 777 freighters with AeroSHARK. Innovative surface technology from Lufthansa Technik and BASF improves fuel efficiency and helps airlines to reach sustainability targets.
The lower the frictional resistance of an aircraft in the air, the lower the fuel consumption. Using nature as a role model, the aviation industry has been intensively researching ways to reduce aerodynamic drag for many years. Now Lufthansa Technik and BASF have succeeded in making the breakthrough as part of a joint project. AeroSHARK, a surface film that mimics the fine structure of a shark’s skin, is to be rolled out on Lufthansa Cargo’s entire freighter fleet from the beginning of 2022, making the aircraft more economical and reducing emissions.
The surface structure consisting of riblets measuring around 50 micrometers imitates the properties of sharkskin and therefore optimizes the aerodynamics on flow-related parts of the aircraft. This means that less fuel is needed overall. For Lufthansa Cargo’s Boeing 777F freighters, Lufthansa Technik estimates a drag reduction of more than one percent. For the entire fleet of ten aircraft, this translates to annual savings of around 3,700 tons of kerosene and just under 11,700 tons of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of 48 individual freight flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai.
In its cooperation with BASF, Lufthansa Technik is responsible for the material specification, approval by the aviation authorities and performance of aircraft modifications carried out as part of regular maintenance layovers. Backed by decades of experience as an approved aviation design organization, the company will obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the 777F from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is required for operation.
The Coatings division of BASF is developing innovative, functional films in its Beyond Paint Solutions unit – such as the riblet surfaces, for example. A solution was implemented together with Lufthansa Technik which fulfills the strict requirements of the aviation industry. Exterior surfaces used in aviation are exposed to factors such as strong UV radiation as well as temperature and pressure fluctuations at high altitudes, among others. BASF has therefore focused its development on achieving extreme durability and weather resistance. The key criteria for use in aviation operation include simple application and handling as well as ease-of-repair, for which a custom concept has been developed.
Top Copyright Photo: Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777F D-ALFG (msn 66090) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 946005.
Lufthansa Cargo aircraft slide show:
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Source: https://worldairlinenews.com/2021/05/11/lufthansa-cargo-lays-foundation-stone-for-new-art-warehouse-at-frankfurt-hub/
