AURRIGO IN THE NEWS

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, Calls for Transformation in Ground Support Industry: Introducing the Concept of iGSE

Coventry, UK, October 3, 2024: Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc (AIM: AURR, “Aurrigo”), a leading international provider of smart airside solutions, urges industry stakeholders to embrace innovation and drive the evolution of ground support equipment. As part of Aurrigo’s advanced thinking in this transition, Keene emphasised the necessity for Ground Handlers to transition into a new paradigm he has coined as “iGSE”—intelligent Ground Support Equipment.

“Today’s aviation landscape demands that we step up our game,” Professor Keene stated. “As we move into a new era of airside operations, it is imperative that we harness advanced technologies to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The future belongs to those who will lead the charge in reimagining how ground handling is performed.”

Keene’s vision for iGSE encompasses a suite of advanced, integrated technologies designed to enhance operational performance and streamline airside activities. By adopting smart airside solutions, the industry can reduce turnaround times, improve reliability, and significantly lower its environmental footprint.

Keene outlined several key areas where iGSE can make a profound impact, including:

Automation: Implementing automated systems to minimise human error and enhance operational speed.

Data Analytics: Leveraging real-time data to optimise resource allocation and improve decision-making processes.

Sustainability: Integrating eco-friendly practices into ground support operations to reduce emissions and support global sustainability goals.

“By transitioning to iGSE, we can create a more connected and efficient ground handling environment that meets the demands of modern air travel,” Keene added. “This is not just about technology; it’s about transforming our industry to better serve airlines, passengers, and the planet. Who will be the first GSE to transition to an iGSE?”

Aurrigo is committed to leading the charge in this transformation, investing in designing and developing innovative solutions that position the company—and its partners—at the forefront of the future of airside operations.

Enquiries:

Aurrigo International plc
David Keene, Chief Executive Officer
Tenille Houston, VP Public Relations and Communications

About Aurrigo

Aurrigo International plc is an international designer and developer of fully integrated smart airside solutions for the aviation industry, including automated vehicles, systems and software.

The Group’s proprietary, award-winning autonomous technology and secure management system is supporting some of the world’s leading airports. Customers choose to partner with Aurrigo to transform their baggage and cargo handling operations, improving safety, operational efficiencies and meeting sustainability targets, while navigating growing passenger volumes, rising costs and increasing labour shortages.

Headquartered in Coventry, UK with offices in Singapore and Ottawa, the Group has a 30+ year heritage designing and supplying automotive vehicle manufacturers with highly advanced, innovative product and system solutions.

For more information, see www.aurrigo.com

Aurrigo International plc reports strong growth in autonomous division in interim trading results

A global provider of smart airside solutions has posted strong growth in its autonomous division as part of its interim results for the first six months of 2024.  Aurrigo International plc, which listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in 2022, has seen revenue rise to a total £3.9m turnover – a 26% rise in line with the expectations of the board.  This has been accelerated by the uptake of its Auto-Sim digital twin product and the deployment of it all-electric Auto-DollyTug® at five global airports, providing the blueprint for how baggage and cargo will be transported in the future.  £800,000 of revenue has been generated in the first half of the year in autonomous solutions alone (160% rise), with the promise of annual sales touching £3m by the end of December.   A better product mix, combined with an increase in orders from long-term customers, has also resulted in double-digit growth for the automotive side of the business.

Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, commented: “We are pleased to report a period of strong growth as we scale our technology, teams and customer engagements. The growth in our autonomous division reflects the steady scaleup of our smart airside solutions in key airport hubs around the world, which is driving increased interest across our target aviation market and a growing pipeline.  “During the period, we have expanded our international teams, enhanced our hardware and software offering, and advanced our engagement with key strategic partners, providing a robust foundation for growth.”

An enhanced autonomous solution offering following vehicle functionality advancements has been one of the key operational highlights of 2024 for Aurrigo so far, with the incorporation of robotic arms on the body allowing the vehicle to autonomously load and unload a ULD itself.  The successful deployment of Auto-DollyTug® airside has accelerated customer interest and led to the signing of three strategic partnership deals that gives the business access to a network of over 460 airports.  Alongside these developments, the company has invested heavily in scaling up its UK team at its Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry, bolstering its operation in Singapore and opening a new office in the US at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

David concluded: “We enter the second half of 2024 with good momentum, improving margins and a clear pipeline of deliverables, giving us confidence in our growth opportunity to help deliver the airport of the future.”

For further information, please visit www.aurrigo.com

Aurrigo International plc marks Labor Day with launch of new office at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

One of the world’s leading providers of smart airside solutions has launched its first operational office in the United States.

Aurrigo International plc, which is transforming the way cargo and baggage are autonomously transported around airports, has opened a dedicated facility at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).

Auto-DollyTug® at CVG

Located inside the Delta Cargo building at CVG, this site will house a new team responsible for the deployment of its Auto-DollyTug®, a fully electric tug that operates autonomously airside and delivers clients cost savings, increased efficiency and up to60% carbon reduction compared to traditional diesel tugs.

Daniel Garcia Jr has been recruited as Aurrigo’s first Autonomous Vehicle Safety Operator in the US and he will shortly be joined by more colleagues as Aurrigo is actively recruiting positions specialising in vehicle maintenance.

“This is a milestone moment for us in the United States, a vitally important market for our business and our global expansion,” commented Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc.

“The deal we signed in January to deploy Auto-DollyTug® at CVG has led to this dedicated office and new team.”

He continued: “It will provide the team with ease of access to the initial deployment, while also providing the opportunity to move forward on other potential ventures stateside.”

Auto-DollyTug® is an all-electric, autonomous vehicle that combines the utility of a baggage tractor, with the ULD (Unit Load device) carrying capability of an airport dolly all in one, making a more flexible and space efficient vehicle.

This means that a combination of an Auto-DollyTug® towing four trailers carries five ULDs, which is 30% more than a traditional tug set-up of the same overall length.

Aurrigo’s technology also incorporates robotic arms on the body, allowing the vehicle to autonomously load and unload a ULD itself, enabling a fully automated operation.

The project has begun set up and mapping, with operations soon to follow.

David concluded: “Many US airports are looking to push the boundaries of innovation to increase capacity and improve the passenger experience…Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the first of what we hope will be many adopting our technology.

“We are delighted to be increasing our presence in the US and creating jobs in the same week that this great country held its Labor Day.”

For further information, please visit www.aurrigo.com or follow the company on its social media channels.

Aurrigo introduces autonomous vehicles to Inverness Airport and beyond, in the Scottish Highlands and Islands

Inverness, Scotland – August 19, 2024: An exciting launch kicked off today at Inverness Airport, where passengers will get the opportunity to ride in Aurrigo’s autonomous Auto-Pod from the new rail station to the airport terminal.  The pilot will run through August 30th and will see two types of automated people movers trialed, the smaller Auto-Pod and larger Auto-Shuttle at the Inverness Airport and the University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness Campus.

(Aurrigo’s autonomous Auto-Pod in front of Inverness Airport)

The Highlands and Islands region is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, but its rugged terrain and dispersed population present significant transportation challenges.

Graeme Bell, General Manager for Inverness Airport said, “We are delighted to act as one of the testing grounds for the autonomous vehicle which is being used to explore the potential of a vehicle connection for passengers travelling between the railway station and the terminal building.”

The distance from the railway station to the terminal is 1.2km, and the Auto-Pod will be covering about 750m of the journey.  Currently, the alternative for passengers is to walk the whole route or take the shuttle bus for which there is a charge unless you have the Go-Hi app. This trial is to gauge public perception surrounding autonomous vehicles and will assess the feasibility of introducing an on-demand, low-cost connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) service to the region. By leveraging autonomous vehicle technology, the project aims to enhance accessibility, reduce passenger travel times, and significantly decrease CO2 emissions, contributing to Scotland’s NetZero goals.

Prof. David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo noted “Operating at Inverness Airport highlights the diverse environments where Aurrigo’s automated vehicles can truly make an impact.” He continued “The aviation industry as a whole offers countless opportunities for this innovative technology to enhance operations, improve safety, and transform the passenger experience.”

HITRANS Director Ranald Robertson said, “HITRANS are delighted to be a partner in this project which will help improve our understanding of what passenger transport might look like in the Highlands and Islands in the future. The trial will test two different types of driverless shuttle with both operations providing a real test of what this technology can offer both at Inverness Airport and Inverness Campus.’

Project partners include the University of Glasgow, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Aurrigo International plc, Stagecoach North Scotland, and Darwin Innovation Group Ltd., and is funded through Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ (“CCAV”) Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility (“CAM”) competition.

About Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership

The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) is the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands covering Highland, Moray, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Orkney Islands and most of Argyl and Bute.  HITRANS works with partners to improve transport services in the Highlands and Islands and has been involved in the delivery of a large number of innovative transport technology programmes.

About Stagecoach North Scottland

Stagecoach North Scotland is the operating subsidiary company of Stagecoach Group delivering bus and coach services throughout the Highlands and North East of Scotland.  The company has embraced technology with Inverness having become the UK’s first city to have an all electric bus network in 2023 and Stagecoach Group are also the operating partner of the CAV Forth project.

About Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL)

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is a private limited company wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers and responsible for the management and operation of 11 regional airports located at: Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick John O’Groats. Working with our stakeholders, HIAL is committed to supporting the essential socio-economic role of aviation in Scotland by maintaining and developing its airports and the connections they provide for some of our country’s more remote communities.

About Aurrigo International plc

Aurrigo International plc is an international designer and developer of fully integrated smart airside solutions for the aviation industry, including automated vehicles, systems and software. The Group’s proprietary, award-winning autonomous technology and secure management system is supporting some of the world’s leading airports. Find out more at www.aurrigo.com

Contact Information

Aurrigo International plc

Tenille Houston, VP Public Relations and Communications

Miles Garner, Sales and Marketing Director

  

+1 343 322 4297

media@aurrigo.com

 

+44 (0)2476 635818

 
Cucumber PR

Russ Cockburn

 +44 (0)78 1260 0271

Sehr Gut! Aurrigo receives German ministerial backing at latest autonomous aviation demo

Autonomous technology born in the UK has been given a high-profile German seal of approval after a demonstration at Stuttgart Airport.

Aurrigo International plc’s Auto-DollyTug® was successfully deployed as part of the Digital Testbed Air Cargo (DTAC) Demonstration, which is led by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) and operational partners Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH, Fraport AG, and Sovereign Speed Gmbh.

The ongoing testing – attended by Mr Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport – provided a glimpse into the future of air cargo handling and how it can be optimised by using autonomous equipment.

Held on the apron of Stuttgart Airport, the demonstration included a host of features, such as:

  • Autonomous transport of cargo containers to the aircraft position
  • Autonomous recognition of the loading device (high loader) at the aircraft position and cargo handover
  • Collaborative behaviour in mixed traffic with manual vehicles and pedestrians, including yielding right of way
  • Reliable detection of static and dynamic obstacles.
Partners of DTAC gathered at Stuttgart Airport to put Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® through its paces Photo by Leif Piechowski.
In the foreground Aurrigo’s ground breaking all-electric, autonomous Auto-DollyTug®. Photo by Leif Piechowski

Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, commented: “Our ability to lead the world in this autonomous technology has come from successful collaborations with a host of international partners.  “The Digital Testbed Air Cargo Demonstration is the latest one and we’re delighted to have successfully showcased the difference Auto-DollyTug® can make at busy airports like Stuttgart.  “To have Mr Luksic on site to see the test firsthand was a massive honour, and the feedback we received for our pioneering innovation was extremely positive.”

State Secretary Luksic takes a closer look at an Auto-DollyTug®. Photo by Leif Piechowski
State Secretary Luksic takes ride in Auto-DollyTug®. Photo by Leif Piechowski

State Secretary Luksic added his support: “The demonstration of the autonomous vehicle at Stuttgart Airport clearly shows that the Digital Testbed Air Cargo makes a direct contribution to the advancement of freight handling on the airfield.

“The use of autonomous vehicles can make processes more efficient and safer. This is a crucial step towards a digital and interconnected air freight transport chain.”  Auto-DollyTug®, which is now set to be deployed at six global airports, introduces pioneering features that elevate efficiencies beyond the capabilities of today’s standard aviation tow tractors.

Benjamin Bierwirth, Professor for Controlling and Logistics at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, added: “The demonstration impressively shows the progress in autonomous vehicles in the aviation sector. Even demanding tasks can be taken over, thus relieving personnel of time-consuming tasks. I expect these vehicles to be in continuous operational use at major airports within the next five years.

“The tests demonstrate how autonomous vehicles can efficiently and precisely handle the transport of cargo containers, making handling more predictable and resilient even in times of skilled labour shortages. This marks a significant advancement in the industry and offers a promising outlook on the future of air cargo logistics.”  With the company’s patented sideways drive system, this innovative tractor can manoeuvre directly sideways into confined spaces within the baggage hall and amidst ground service equipment (GSE) on the apron.  Additionally, its 360-degree tank turn capabilities and integrated robotic arms enable the vehicle to automatically load and unload unit load devices (ULDs) with precision, streamlining operations.

About Aurrigo International plc

Aurrigo International plc is an international designer and developer of fully integrated smart airside solutions for the aviation industry, including automated vehicles, systems and software.  Customers choose to partner with the Coventry-based company to transform their baggage and cargo handling operations, improving safety, operational efficiencies and meeting sustainability targets, while navigating growing passenger volumes, rising costs and increasing labour shortages.  With international offices in Singapore and Ottawa, the group has a 30+ year heritage designing and supplying automotive vehicle manufacturers with highly advanced, innovative product and system solutions.

For further information, please visit www.aurrigo.com or follow the company on its social media channels.

 

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