Henk Brandsma

Henk Brandsma is Schiphol Airport’s Strategic Process Developer for baggage handling and has spent decades pushing the boundaries of baggage handling system performance and specifications through innovative thinking and a deep knowledge of operational processes. He translated his knowledge from the handling industry into the first baggage loading robot in the world in live operation in 2005 at Schiphol.

On the busiest days, around 180,000 bags can pass through Schiphol’s four baggage halls. To ensure these are handled efficiently and reduce the physical stress for handlers, Schiphol is continually investing in expansion and innovation and today has one of the most advanced baggage handling systems in the world.

Henk firmly believes that the future of baggage handling is fully automated. Whereas robots and state-of-the-art technology currently handle the end-to-end process, Henk acknowledges that full automation is a long-term journey, and that in the short term, “quick win” improvements need to be made to ensure baggage handling quality. His major drive is to improve the quality of work for the airport employees and to ensure continuity as well.