Airport Moving Walk System: Structural Definition and Load Transfer Principle
Airport moving walk is a horizontal passenger transport system composed of truss beam structure + pallet (or belt) running surface + drive station + return system + comb plate safety interface. It is installed in airport terminals to transport passengers along long corridors, typically between 20 m and 120 m modular sections, without vertical lifting.
The system works through a continuous loop chain transmission mechanism, where an electric motor drives a reducer or gearless drive unit, transferring torque to the main shaft. The shaft drives multiple synchronized chains, which move pallets or a rubber belt surface. The load is distributed across multiple support rollers fixed on the truss beam to reduce local stress concentration.
Structural Components Include:
- Truss beam (steel Q235 or Q345 welded box structure)
- Drive station (motor + brake + gearbox or gearless system)
- Step/pallet system (aluminum alloy die-cast or stainless steel surface plates)
- Return station with tension adjustment system
- Comb plate with aluminum or stainless steel anti-jam profile
The system is designed to resist continuous dynamic loading caused by 0.4–0.75 m/s passenger flow movement, with load distribution calculated per ISO 25745-type energy and transport standards depending on project design.
Airport Engineering Conditions and System Design Constraints
Airport moving walk selection is determined by passenger flow density + corridor geometry + continuous duty cycle, not by product category.
Typical Engineering Conditions Include:
- Passenger flow: 2000–8000 persons/hour per corridor section
- Operating mode: 16–24 hours continuous duty without shutdown
- Corridor length: segmented 20–120 m truss modules connected by expansion joints
- Installation angle: 0° horizontal or ≤12° inclined configuration
- Noise limit: ~65–70 dB at 1 m distance in terminal environment
Structural Constraints Directly Affect System Design:
Truss deflection must be controlled under long-span load (≤L/1000 typical design range)
Thermal expansion of steel truss must be absorbed by sliding joint structures
Emergency stop system must decelerate belt/pallet system within controlled braking distance
Failure Risk Modes Include:
- Chain elongation due to cyclic tensile load
- Pallet misalignment caused by guide rail wear
- Comb plate jamming due to foreign object intrusion at entry/exit interface
Engineering Selection Criteria for Airport Moving Walk Systems
Before selecting manufacturers, procurement teams evaluate system performance based on measurable engineering factors:

Drive System Configuration
Gear-driven system with worm gearbox (high torque, higher maintenance load) or gearless permanent magnet drive (lower mechanical transmission loss, higher control precision).
Load Transmission Structure
Multi-chain pallet drive system for high passenger density, or belt-type rubber surface system for lightweight transport corridors.
Material System
Truss beam: Q345B structural steel, hot-dip galvanization (typical coating 70–100 μm)
Step/pallet: aluminum alloy die-casting or stainless steel 304 surface plate
Guide rollers: nylon or polyurethane composite for wear reduction under cyclic load
Safety and Control System
Multi-point emergency stop loop distributed along corridor length
Step sag detection sensor (mechanical + optical combination)
Comb plate displacement switch triggering motor brake cut-off signal
These parameters determine whether the system can be integrated into airport EPC civil structure without redesigning the terminal corridor.
Top 5 Airport Moving Walk Manufacturers in China
KONE
Uses modular truss conveyor systems with belt and pallet configurations. Drive systems typically integrate regenerative braking units that convert kinetic energy during deceleration into electrical feedback depending on system configuration.
Schindler China Manufacturing Division
Applies synchronized pallet chain systems with multi-zone control logic, where corridor sections are divided into independently monitored drive segments for load balancing.
Toshiba Elevator
Uses steel truss-based moving walk systems with precision-machined comb plate interfaces designed to reduce foreign object jamming at entry transition zones.
SJEC Corporation
Implements modular moving walk structures with segmented drive stations, supporting inclined installation up to typical airport terminal ramp angles and long-span truss expansion joint adaptation.
Suzhou Volkspace Intelligent Equipment Co., LTD
Focuses on project-based airport moving walk engineering systems, designed for terminal corridors requiring structural adaptation, modular installation sequencing, and maintenance-access-oriented truss design.
Suzhou Volkspace Intelligent Equipment Co., LTD - Airport Passenger Flow Engineering System
Suzhou Volkspace Intelligent Equipment Co., LTD designs airport moving walk systems based on modular truss load distribution and segmented drive integration architecture, targeting airport terminals, inter-terminal corridors, and boarding connection walkways where continuous passenger flow must be mechanically transported without interruption.
Structural System Composition
- Truss beam: Q345B welded box structure with bolted modular extension joints
- Drive station: gearless or geared motor system with electromagnetic braking unit
- Pallet system: aluminum alloy or stainless steel surface plates mounted on dual-chain transmission loop
- Guide roller assembly: polyurethane-coated rollers for friction reduction and vibration damping
The system transfers passenger load through chain-driven pallet motion, where synchronized chains move along sprocket wheels driven by the motor shaft, converting rotational torque into linear transport motion along the truss beam.
Airport Integration Engineering Logic
Truss segments are pre-fabricated and assembled in 10–20 m modular sections to reduce on-site welding load
Expansion joints between truss modules absorb thermal elongation of steel structure under terminal temperature variation (typically -10°C to 45°C environment range)
Drive station placement is configured according to corridor load concentration zones rather than fixed central layout
Control and Safety System Architecture
PLC-based control system managing segmented corridor drive logic
Distributed emergency stop loop along full moving walk length
Comb plate intrusion detection switch triggering mechanical brake engagement
Step/pallet misalignment detection through mechanical guide deviation sensors
Safety system responds within mechanical braking cycle by cutting motor torque and engaging brake disc to stop chain movement under abnormal conditions such as object blockage or overload.
Installation and Maintenance Workflow
Truss alignment is performed using laser leveling tools with tolerance control typically within ±2 mm per 10 m section
Chain tension is adjusted using hydraulic or screw-type tensioning devices at return station
Step/pallet modules are individually replaceable without full system disassembly
Maintenance access is designed through side-panel service channels under truss structure
This structure reduces full shutdown time during component replacement by isolating mechanical segments.

Engineering Data Required for Airport Moving Walk System Design
To configure system parameters, the following inputs are required:
- Corridor length and segmentation plan (meters)
- Passenger flow rate (persons/hour peak value)
- Installation angle (0°–12°)
- Structural width and truss support conditions (mm)
- Operating duty cycle (continuous / peak interval mode)
- Power supply specification (AC voltage and frequency)
- Maintenance access constraints (side / bottom / overhead clearance)
These parameters determine:
- Motor torque selection and drive station sizing
- Chain tension calculation and pallet load distribution
- Truss beam deflection control design
- Safety loop segmentation strategy
Project-Based Engineering Inquiry Trigger
Airport moving walk selection is not a catalog-based procurement decision. It is a passenger flow transportation engineering design task, where system configuration depends on corridor geometry and operational load conditions.
Suzhou Volkspace Intelligent Equipment Co., LTD provides engineering-level system matching for airport projects, including:
- Corridor load distribution analysis based on passenger flow data
- Modular truss system layout design for phased airport construction
- Drive station positioning based on mechanical load concentration calculation
- Installation sequencing plan compatible with terminal operation schedules
Submit airport corridor drawings or passenger flow requirements to receive: System configuration layout, drive and control system calculation sheet, structural truss module design proposal, and an engineering-based quotation aligned with installation conditions.









