14 Feb 2026
50 MBHS Cross-belt sorter sold for Leonardo Automation
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Every time a suitcase arrives on the conveyor belt on time, intact and without a hitch, there is technology at work behind the scenes. One of these technological marvels was created in Genoa and has just reached a symbolic milestone: the sale of the 50th MBHS machine, the baggage sorting system developed by Leonardo and now used in various international contexts, from Europe to Asia, the Middle East, India and the United States.
The MBHS (Multisort Baggage Handling System) was designed in Genoa about 15 years ago and has helped to change a sector that for decades had remained tied exclusively to traditional solutions, such as tilt tray systems. These technologies are effective but ill-suited to handling the real variety of modern baggage, which varies in shape, weight and size.
The innovation introduced by Leonardo was as simple as it was disruptive: treating baggage not as a “standard object” but as something to be accompanied and protected. Thanks to cross-belt technology, the MBHS uses small independent conveyor belts that keep each piece of baggage stable, centred and controlled throughout its journey. The result is more delicate, flexible and precise sorting.
This is a clear advantage for operators in the sector, who reduce costs, consumption and machine downtime, but also for passengers, who see a reduction in damage and loss. The sale of the 50th MBHS machine comes after years of use in the field, with over a million hours of actual operation and more than 9 kilometres of sorting lines in operation. These figures demonstrate a well-established technology, designed to work continuously and adapt to real traffic flows.
The MBHS is an innovation that goes beyond traditional mechanics, integrating digital and engineering solutions, from IoT sensors for performance monitoring, including predictive maintenance, to artificial intelligence for analysing luggage and optimising its management.
All this was developed in Genoa, at Leonardo's headquarters in Sestri Ponente, where a team of over 300 highly specialised engineers and technicians work. These professionals, with a strong prevalence of STEM skills, are engaged in the development of advanced solutions for baggage handling and logistics, in an industrial context that combines innovation, experience and long-term vision.
‘This achievement is the result of the daily work of our people,’ commented Giuseppe Ceppodomo, managing director of Leonardo's Automation business unit, speaking at a meeting with employees organised in Sestri Ponente to celebrate the result. ‘It is a technology that continues to evolve and, to do so, we need new skills and young people who want to take on concrete projects that can have a real impact.’
