Air Canada Cargo marks one year of Toronto terminal upgrade
A year after its control system upgrade, the Toronto Pearson terminal has handled more than 250,000 tonnes of cargo while preparing for further automation and modernisation.
Air Canada Cargo Boeing 767
Air Canada Cargo has marked one year since the successful implementation of Lödige Industries’ Cargo Professional air cargo management software at its terminal at Toronto Pearson International Airport, highlighting the role of the upgraded control system in supporting cargo operations and future automation.
The terminal’s legacy control system was replaced with Lödige Industries technology at midnight on 30 September 2025, with operations resuming just one hour later under the new system. The transition was supported by 24/7 maintenance services and remote monitoring through Lödige Industries’ Customer Care Center (CCC).
The implementation involved close coordination between Lödige Industries’ engineering, software, production and on-site teams to manage the system transition, provide technical support and maintain operational stability during and after the go-live.
The project covered both the low-level programmable logic controller (PLC) layer and the high-level unit load device (ULD) management system. By integrating these processes through a single data platform, Cargo Professional is designed to reduce manual data entry, minimise errors and provide operators with greater visibility across terminal activities.
The upgraded control environment also provides flexibility for future expansion and automation as cargo volumes and operational requirements evolve.
In the first 10 full months following the transition, the system supported the handling of more than 250,000 tonnes of cargo. One year after commissioning, the upgraded system continues to support daily cargo operations at Toronto Pearson, one of Canada’s key air cargo hubs.
Jonathan Hardy, Managing Director at Lödige Industries North America, said, “The first year of live operation demonstrates what is possible when software, controls, engineering, and service are considered as one integrated system. Delivering the transition without disrupting ongoing cargo operations was an important milestone. A year of reliable operation at this scale confirms the strength of the digital foundation we have created together and provides a solid basis for the next stages of modernisation.”
With the upgraded control system now established, Air Canada Cargo is progressing to the next stage of its terminal modernisation programme. Planned upgrades include the introduction of a new Elevating Transfer Vehicle (ETV) and Mobile Transfer Device (MTD), while parts of the terminal are being prepared for the future deployment of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). These developments are expected to enhance ULD handling, improve material flow, and provide greater operational flexibility.
Based in Paderborn, Germany, Lödige Industries is a global leader in air cargo terminal solutions and automated parking systems. The company also provides logistics systems for warehouses and industrial operations, along with lift and material-handling solutions.
