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RFID
EPCglobal Launches Major RFID Pilot in Asia
EPCglobal has announced the launch of a pilot to assess RFID usage on containers and cartons being shipped by sea between Japan and Hong Kong. It is the first of a two-phase initiative that will drive progress on EPCIS, or "electronic product code information services", an EPCglobal technical specification that will allow trading partners to transfer and share EPC data across the supply chain in a standardized process and format.
"The goal of this pilot is to show the interoperability of EPCglobal-certified RFID technology and EPCIS from country to country, and between trading partners and service providers," says Gay Whitney, EPCglobal's director for standards. The RFID data generated from the sea-bound containers will not only be shared across national boundaries, but industries as well, with representatives from transportation, logistics, and apparel taking part.
The pilot in Asia will represent one the largest EPCIS tests to date, according to Whitney. One of its key characteristics will be the EPCIS communication between multiple trading partners, rather than just two. Now a specification, EPCIS eventually will become a standard.
In addition to EPCIS, semi-passive RFID technology will be evaluated, as will the use of RFID data for automation of import/export declaration. Those aspects will receive more focus in the second phase of the pilot, which is set to be completed next September. That phase will assess tagged cargo shipped between Shanghai and Los Angeles.
A number of organizations from government and industry will participate in the pilot, including EPCglobal's Transportation and Logistics Industry Action Group; GS1 Hong Kong; the Japanese Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry; and shipping companies DHL, Maersk, NYK, Schenker, and Schneider National. There are also a number of unannounced participants, including RFID hardware and software vendors.
http://www.usingrfid.com
Heineken Project Tests Technology, Interoperability
Another project testing similar aspects of cross-border shipping, called the "Beer Living Lab," will track cargo container shipments of Heineken beer from Europe to the United States using satellite and cellular technology. The goal is to create paperless documentation through better system interoperability, resulting in faster deliveries and reduced costs for international trade.
Heineken's partners in the project are IBM, international shipping company Safmarine, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (University of Amsterdam). Also participating are Dutch Customs, UK Customs and US Customs and Border Protection.
IBM's Secure Trade Lane solution will provide real-time visibility and interoperability through an advanced wireless sensor platform and Services Oriented Architecture (SOA). The project's SOA, called the Shipment Information Services, leverages the EPCglobal network and EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services) specifications, so rather than build and maintain a large central database with huge amounts of information, distributed data sources are linked, allowing data to be shared in real time between Heineken, Safmarine and customs authorities in the Netherlands, England and the U.S.
In this project, Safmarine will ship ten containers of Heineken beer from locations in both Netherlands and England to Heineken's U.S. distribution center. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will coordinate the project and provide best practices documentation to share across the European Union.
"Because efficient collaboration is a paramount requirement to making this work, IBM built the Shipment Information Services to address interoperability. If governments around the world are serious about electronic customs and paperless trade, they need to encourage each country to adopt open standards environments to enable collaboration and data sharing throughout the trade lane," said Stefan Reidy, Manager, Secure Trade Lane, IBM. "The Beer Living Lab project is the first step in building the Intranet of Trade, which will help to substantially improve efficiency and security in the global supply chain."
This pilot project is part of the Information Technology for Analysis and Intelligent Design for E-government (ITAIDE) research project funded by the European Commission, in an effort to help reduce security concerns and tax fraud.
Efficiency and Security for Aerospace and Defense Supply Chains
Aerospace and defense companies are increasingly looking to RFID as a way to gain competitive advantage through the enhanced management of supply chains and assets. By 2011, the A&D RFID market is expected to realize revenue in excess of $2 billion, according to ABI Research. One area that shows particular promise for the use of RFID in A&D manufacturing environments is "MRO": maintenance, repair and overhaul.
"The MRO supply chain is about safety and security, as well as efficiency," says ABI Research director Michael Liard. "A&D companies have evolved a new supply chain equation: maintenance strategy + supply side strategy = supply chain strategy. RFID can fulfill many MRO event requirements by enabling real-time track-and-trace and unique identification."
Integrated MRO strategies based on RFID tagging can deliver marked efficiencies to the processes of locating parts, tools and materials, and to producing the significant amounts of documentation required to meet regulations in the aerospace and defense industry, notes Liard. "RFID is an enabling technology that can facilitate a shift from corrective to predictive maintenance strategies," he says. The new ABI Research study, "The RFID Aerospace & Defense Market" provides an assessment of the opportunities and business benefits of RFID in A&D markets.
http://www.abiresearch.com
First Software Companies Earn EPC/RFID Certification
Eleven companies and 13 products are the first to receive the new EPCglobal Software Compliance Certification Mark. The compliance certification and testing program is for products based on EPCglobal Gen 2 standards. "The new EPCglobal Software Certification program provides companies with confidence that the software they implement will work in predictable ways as defined by EPCglobal standards.”says Chris Adcock, president, EPCglobal Inc.
Compliance testing was conducted by MET Labs, a vendor-neutral lab located in Baltimore, Md. The lab certified products for conformance with the EPCglobal Reader Protocol (RP) Standard and the EPCglobal Application Level Event (ALE) Standard. As additional standards are ratified, certification for other software products will be available. Certified companies are: 7iD Technologies, Supply Insight, BEA Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, GlobeRanger, MetaRights, NEC, NTT Comware, Skandsoft Technologies, TIBCO Software and Vue Technology.
The new software certification program is offered in addition to EPCglobal's hardware crtification program. Nearly 30 readers, tags, and printers/encoders have now been certified for compliance and/or interoperability under the hardware program.
http://www.rfidjournal.com
Psion Teklogix, GlobeRanger complete RFID deployment at Defense DCs
Psion Teklogix and GlobeRanger have completed deployment of GlobeRanger's iMotion EdgewareT to support the Defense Logistics Agency's newly expanded passive RFID infrastructure. GlobeRanger's iMotion provides device management, data management and legacy system connectivity in order to extract, interpret and transmit passive RFID data for the DLA's receiving operations.
DLA has been using iMotion at its Defense Distribution Centers (DDCs) in Susquehanna, Pa., and San Joaquin, Calif., since December 2004. The recent expansion added portals at these facilities and deployed new portals and conveyors at other DDCs in the U.S.
iMotion is based upon the Microsoft .NET platform, which provided the scalability and flexibility to ensure a rapid deployment at the DDC facilities. The .NET platform also complements the Windows CE.NET technology powering the operating system in Psion Teklogix handheld devices.
http://www.psionteklogix.com
http://www.globeranger.com
NETGEAR Outsources RFID Tagging to APL Logistics
APL Logistics will provide RFID tagging for NETGEAR, a provider of wireless networking equipment, to meet requirements at Best Buy stores in the U.S. APLL won the business because of a low-cost tagging process it has developed that is based on a bar code labeling system. Known as the ASN Tool Kit, this solution already has been deployed internationally to support bar code label printing and scanning for a variety of APLL customers. The process was tested at APL Logistics' Advanced Technology Centre in Singapore.
“This is significant because we can now deploy an RFID tagging solution at any factory or warehouse globally,” says Brian Lutt, APLL president. “We can leverage our existing software and implementation infrastructure—just as we did for NETGEAR.”
http://www.analytica.com
Alien Technology Expands Family of Gen 2 Tags
Alien Technology has extended its portfolio of RFID tags with the new 'World Tags,' designed for uniform use around the globe, and small form-factor tags for item level tagging.
Alien World Tags operate globally within a narrowly defined performance band from 860 to 960 MHz, which enables each individual tag to be used across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. The World Tags were created to enable companies to manufacture products on one continent and ship them worldwide using a single RFID tag that delivers consistent performance regardless of its destination.
When used with Alien's Enterprise RFID Readers, this means companies can deploy a common RFID infrastructure globally, reducing the number of infrastructure designs, software interfaces, development projects and equipment models they need to implement. As a result, upfront implementation and ongoing maintenance costs can be minimized, and returns on RFID investment can be accelerated.
Keith McDonald, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Alien, said use of a global tag also enables Alien “to develop economies of scale that result in lower tag and infrastructure costs for end users.”
The three new tags in the World Tag family include:
• Gen2 M Tag: optimized for plastic reusable containers and other difficult-to-tag applications;
• Gen2 Castle Tag: optimized for corrugate packaging and 3-inch labels;
• Gen2 2x2 Tag: optimized for apparel and baggage tag applications and 2-inch labels.
The two new small form factor Gen2 tags—both optimized for 902 to 928 MHz operation for use in the Americas and Asia, and both able to operate in near-field and far-field operation modes—can be incorporated in packaging in such a way that they can actually make use of metal components within the packaging to help extend their read range. The new tags include:
• Gen2 Mini-Squiggle: Ideal for item level tagging;
• Gen2 1x1: Optimized for plastic packaging such as pharmaceutical pill bottles.
The new Gen 2 tags are available immediately in commercial quantities, the company said.
http://www.usingrfid.com
EPCglobal US Conference 2006 Puts the Business Value of EPC/RFID in Focus
At its annual conference in Los Angeles last month, EPCglobal US announced the launch of EPC Implementation Advisor, a new self-help tool designed to support RFID efforts of small to medium sized companies. This easy-to-use online tool provides step-by-step guidance, resulting in a clear path to connecting with trading partners and sharing EPC information.
The EPC Implementation Advisor takes subscribers through a five-phase approach to EPC/RFID implementation with a point-and-click interface. It not only helps businesses when they are ready to tag products, but also helps them uncover new benefits, such as program management, physical implementation, internal information planning, and connecting with trading partners.
Representatives from more than 20 companies worked with EPCglobal US to create the new tool, which also provides access to white papers, financial planning tools, and experiences shared by the EPCglobal community.
http://www.EPCglobalUS.org
Senior Executives Tout RFID Technology
Senior executives from a variety of industries told attendees at last month's EPCglobal annual conference in Los Angeles that RFID and EPC technology already are demonstrating value for their businesses and have tremendous potential for the future.
“Industries are increasingly turning to EPC/RFID to drive topline business growth, improve product availability, protect supply chains, and reduce supply chain costs,” said Mike Meranda, president of EPCglobal US, as he opened the general session.
“The more companies, industries, and trading partners that use this technology, the greater the collective benefits for every company investing in this effort,” said Carolyn Walton, vice president of Wal-Mart. "Today, we truly have a realistic opportunity to achieve end-to-end supply chain visibility. We can cut our expenses. We can reduce the concerns about counterfeit products through powerful item identification and authentication. We have the means to create a safer and more secure supply chain. And most important of all - we can do a better job of taking care of our customers."
David Kepler, chief information officer and senior vice president of shared services at The Dow Chemical Company, discussed the chemical industry's move to EPC/RFID. “Not unlike other industries, the chemical industry is dependent on its ability to operate and deliver its products reliably, safely, securely and in a sustainable manner,” said Kepler. “I am proud to say that Dow has a very good record. However, we are committed to continuous improvement and our experience to date has proven that enabling technologies such as RFID will play a very important role in our supply chain sustainability strategy by helping to provide enhanced shipment visibility and information sharing with our supply chain partners.”
Thomas Pizzuto, director of RFID technology and strategies at Wyeth spoke about the benefits EPC/RFID brings to the pharmaceutical industry, while Dick Cantwell, EPC Team Leader at Procter & Gamble called it a “transformational initiative.”
“We finally have the means to see our products move from the point of production to the point of sale and everywhere in between,” Cantwell said. “Accuracy, unmatched visibility, real supply chain safety and security - these are no longer things that companies can only imagine. We can achieve them and transform our businesses.”
http://www.EPCglobalUS.org
Metro Group Announces Roll Out
After testing five generations of the technology for more than two years, German retailer Metro Group is ready to roll out so-called dock-door RFID technology. The rollout is slated to occur at about 150 locations by the middle of next year, said Christian Plenge, head of research and innovation at MGI Metro Group Information Technology. "We have achieved a level of maturity in the technology that has so dramatically improved in the last six months that we at Metro have decided to roll out the technology on dock-door receiving gates next year," Plenge told attendees at the RFID Journal LIVE! Europe conference, held near Amsterdam. "We have communicated this to some of our suppliers."
Dock-door RFID technology is used at the point where goods are unloaded from a truck's dock and through the door of the warehouse-for example, the gate for incoming and outgoing goods. Readers at the gate interrogate tags on pallets and pass the information to Metro's merchandise-management system. This allows the retailer to reconcile automatically the ordered goods with those actually delivered, rather than using an error-prone manual system.
Metro, one of the world's largest retailers and an RFID leader in Europe, is using Gen 2 Electronic Product Code (EPC) interrogators from Intermec and Sirit Technologies. Plenge said Metro employs RFID tags from a number of different suppliers, depending on the project, but wouldn't specify which ones.
http://www.rfidjournal.com
Virginia Ports Deploy Savi/GE Solution
The Virginia Port Authority is deploying RFID systems from Savi Networks and GE Security to improve the security and efficiency of the processes surrounding its cargo container shipments. The authority is joining a growing number of ports worldwide that are deploying RFID technologies for this purpose.
GE Security's CommerceGuard Container Security Device (CSD) includes an RFID tracking system that transmits data to CommerceGuard readers operating at 2.4 GHz and stationed within a 100-foot range. The CommerceGuard system also contains sensors designed to detect whether cargo-container doors have been opened, as well as other events that might indicate tampering has taken place; such data can be recorded onto the RFID tags.
Savi Technology's offerings include Savi Tag ST-676 ISO Container Security Tags for RFID tracking, which transmit data at 433 MHz to its readers stationed within a 100-foot range. Sensors are optional, but if used, the RFID tags can record whether a container door has been opened or closed, or whether there has been any shock to the container. These sensors can also detect changes in humidity or temperature measurements, just as they can with the CommerceGuard system.
Savi, in partnership withHutchinson Port Holdings, has either deployed or begun deployment of its RFID system in 80 port terminals throughout the world. Savi Networks is currently focusing on introducing RFID technology at the highest-volume ports, as well as those with special security issues, such as high smuggling or crime rates. The Port of Virginia is the third-highest-volume port on the U.S. East Coast, moving about 96,000 containers monthly. The trend toward RFID use for port security may be further fueled by the Port Security Act of 2006, signed into law on Oct. 13. This act provides regulatory incentives and clarifies best practices and adherence to international standards that enhance the security of containerized cargo shipments bound for the United States.
http://www.rfidjournal.com
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