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One of Europe’s busiest airports turns to Tennant’s Autonomous robots for smarter, more efficient cleaning
BACKGROUND: CLEANLINESS AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON—ROBOTS KEEP THE AIRPORT SPOTLESS
As one of Europe’s largest air transport hubs, Frankfurt Airport serves as a key gateway for international travel. With an area of 2,300 hectares, two terminals and four runways, it handled more than 61.6 million passengers in 2024, with peak days exceeding 200,000 travelers. Maintaining cleanliness across such a vast and hightraffic environment is a constant challenge. To meet these demands, Fraport Facility Services GmbH, responsible for cleaning Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport and employing approximately 800 people, introduced autonomous cleaning robots in 2024. This scalable, technology-driven solution aims to enhance efficiency, support sustainability goals, and maintain a consistently high standard of cleanliness throughout the airport.
THE CLEANLINESS CHALLENGE: MEETING HIGH STANDARDS IN A 24/7 ENVIRONMENT
Maintaining cleanliness at an international aviation hub like Frankfurt requires a very complex and resourceintensive operation. Main challenges include:
- Expansive Terminal Areas: Terminal 1 alone covers over 500,000 square meters—equivalent to 70 football fields—with polished natural stone floors that require frequent, thorough cleaning.
- High Passenger Traffic: Cleaning must be carried out seamlessly and safely in a highly dynamic environment, without disrupting airport operations.
- Labour Constraints: Recruiting and retaining skilled cleaning staff remains an industry-wide challenge.
- Sustainability Targets: Reducing water and chemical consumption is a high priority for Fraport.
Recognizing these operational pressures, Fraport sought an advanced, autonomous cleaning solution that would deliver high-quality, repeatable results every day, allowing staff to focus on specialized tasks like deep cleaning and sanitizing.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SOLUTION: WHY TENNANT’S AMRs STOOD OUT
Fraport initially tested multiple autonomous cleaning robots from various manufacturers—however, none fully met the airport’s complex requirements.
After extensive trials, Tennant’s autonomous cleaning robots emerged as the preferred solution. In particular, the T16AMR stood out for its dual-mode operation— allowing both autonomous and manual control—as well as its comprehensive technical support.
“Over the years, we’ve tested various robotic cleaning solutions, but all had limitations in terms of flexibility, usability, or technical support. Tennant’s T16AMR impressed us with its versatility, seamlessly integrating into our workflows.”
Mathias Dudek
Managing Director
Fraport Facility Services
ENGAGING PASSENGERS: MAKING TECHNOLOGY A RECOGNIZABLE PART OF THE AIRPORT EXPERIENCE
Frankfurt Airport passengers, who had the opportunity of seeing Tennant AMRs at work, have responded positively to the presence of autonomous cleaners, with many engaging directly with the technology.
- Passengers frequently take photos of the robots.
- Seasonal decorations (e.g., Christmas-themed wraps) have made the machines a recognizable part of the airport’s daily operations..
“Passengers love the robots. Children, in particular, enjoy watching them and often wave—it leaves a positive, lasting impression and enhances the airport experience.”
—Mathias Dudek, Managing Director, Fraport Facility Services
CONCLUSION
The deployment of Tennant’s autonomous cleaning robots at Frankfurt Airport highlights the transformative power of robotics in facility management. By optimizing workforce allocation, ensuring consistently high cleaning standards, and supporting sustainability initiatives, Fraport has set a new benchmark for smart airport operations.
With ongoing expansion of its robotic fleet and a commitment to refining automation strategies, Fraport Facility Services GmbH remains at the forefront of innovation in airport management.
