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| Dematic develops an asset management solution with RFID | | When Containers Send Radio Signals | The new EPCglobal radio frequency identification standard also gave impulses for the industrial RFID users. Low cost data media, long reading range and worldwide availability are convincing arguments for the technology. Dematic, a leading provider of RFID-controlled logistics systems, integrates the products into innovative solutions in a new technology center.
An industrial application of EPCglobal is the asset management. A modern production requires countless "assets" - boxes, containers, tools and much more besides. On the one hand, a sufficient number of these must be available even at peak times. On the other hand, stocks should be as low as possible because the assets can be a considerable cost factor.
RFID can help here: This technology allows automatic identification of assets and is resistant to various different stress factors. EPCglobal also assigns globally unique identification numbers for all types of products. If all assets are labeled with an EPCglobal tag and RFID readers are installed in suitable positions, the assets can be traced automatically throughout the delivery chain - a step towards greater transparency in logistics.
But what is the best position for the tags? And how do the antennae have to be adjusted in order to detect the assets even at high speeds?
Answers in the "Tech Center"
Dematic answers these questions at the new "Tech Center" in Offenbach. A team of logistics and RFID specialists headed by Dr. Christoph Dönges examine how RFID can be introduced to logistic applications. Since the Technology Center combines laboratory with practical conditions, scenarios can be simulated realistically and at the same time high demands for test accuracy and repeatability can be met.
Large companies would like to have more transparency in the circulation of their transport containers for example. "In peak periods, the logistics departments have a lot of work to do to make sufficient containers available," Dönges explains. RFID allows continuous recording and display of the use of the transport containers. Intralogistic processes can also be improved.
Dematic examines in extensive tests how the RFID transponders have to be mounted optimally on the different assets. Standard products such as the RFID systems Simatic RF600 and Moby D as well as components from Dematic are used. Four RFID antennae of the Simatic RF660A type are mounted on a portal for example which simulates incoming goods. An extensive conveyor system is also equipped with RFID antennae to carry out continuous tests with transport containers at high speeds. "This is the only way to test the practicability of our concepts - a simple lab test is not good enough," Dönges explains.
EPCglobal
EPCglobal was founded in 2003 by GS1 and GS1 US (formerly EAN International and Uniform Code Council, Inc.). A first milestone in RFID standardization was reached with the development of the EPC (electronic product code). The EPC serves for radio frequency-based labeling and identification of objects and is based on the proven EAN standards.
Ideas 3 / 2007 | |
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