Northern Ireland airport ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturer announces launch of innovative new ‘skybelt’ loader

Northern Ireland airport ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturer has unveiled the Mallaghan SkyBelt, a highly capable, fully electric conventional belt loader.

The SkyBelt, which will be manufactured in Mallaghan's factories in Dungannon and Atlanta, Georgia is an aircraft baggage loader solution which represents a significant advancement in the innovation of GSE.

Joe Griffith, chief commercial officer at Mallaghan, said: “Our innovative SkyBelt will deliver several key benefits to customers, including reducing instances of aircraft damage, savings in on-going maintenance costs, and most significantly, enhancing their sustainability credentials at a time when the industry is putting a collective focus on responsible business.

“This highly anticipated belt loader will become a mainstay of the aviation industry and is being deployed already, including at large US airports like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport, with other significant deployments planned.

“We hope to continue to drive industry-wide transformation through the design and delivery of innovative, future-proofed equipment to our network of valued customers and partners.”

The fully electric belt loader forms a key part of Mallaghan’s commitment to promoting sustainability and achieving industry-wide environmental targets. Deliveries began in 2023 and orders are currently running into 2025.

Alex Blench, general manager of GSE Central Services at Delta Air Lines, added: “Mallaghan came to the table with solutions to long-standing problems and delivered on every single aspect of the design. What the team put together is certainly class leading – it’s a gamechanger.”

Significant investments towards continuous Research & Development have allowed Mallaghan to design and manufacture several electric products including Catering Trucks and Passenger Stairs, and the company has ambitious plans to develop a fully electric portfolio by 2025.