 | Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Issue 892 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story is a new system for identifying and tracking pre-fabricated concrete products that features a plastic-encased passive RFID and bar code tag that is embedded during the production process. The developer says the system can be used for concrete products ranging from small tanks to pre-fabricated building walls.
Popular technology blog TechCrunch has posted a graphic of the most recent version of research firm Gartner's 2008 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies. (The new version was published in July but only appears to have surfaced in the public now.) Gartner puts RFID at just about the bottom of the "trough of disillusionment," indicating that expectations for the technology are about as low as they will get and can only improve from here as RFID proves itself. It is a surprising assertion by Gartner, given that most in the industry would probably agree RFID adoption passed through the very worst a year or so ago, and since has shown consistent signs of an upward (if very gradual) trajectory.
Lastly, note the new classified listing below for ODIN technologies, which will be exhibiting its "STRESS FREE RFID" solution at booth 501 during RFID World in Las Vegas from September 8th through 10th. |
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RFID Could Cure Concrete Tracking Woes
By John Burnell
Fabricated concrete structures are built to stay in one place for a long time, yet have proven difficult to track. Construction sites and materials storage areas are challenging environments for traditional asset tracking methods, and data collection is often an afterthought for busy construction crews. International Coding Technologies (ICT) is trying to remove the barriers to concrete identification with an RFID system it announced recently.
The system, called TrackCon, includes a patent-pending method of embedding durable RFID tags into concrete products during the pre-casting process. The embedded Cast-a-Code tags encode a unique serial number and other information to identify the product in a passive UHF RFID inlay, and also in a bar code that remains visible after the product is produced. The RFID inlay and bar code are encased in a plastic tag designed to provide lifetime identification.
"Pre-cast concrete products can be anything from septic tanks to parking garages," International Coding Technologies' CEO Tom Tilson told RFID Update. "They're like other manufacturers because they need to track their products for quality assurance, picking and shipping, inventory control, and delivery. The pre-fab industry has spent millions of dollars on new plants in the past few years, and very little on technology."
International Coding Technologies is a data collection solutions provider in the Boston area that has worked with the concrete and construction industries for years. Tilson said he has investigated bar code-based identification systems for several clients, but dirty usage conditions make it difficult to get accurate bar code reads. He turned to RFID to solve the challenge. The Cast-a-Code tag includes a UPM Raflatac "Dog Bone" passive UHF inlay that is sealed into a plastic case. The durable plastic also enables ICT to include a low-cost bar code label, which provides protection against damage. The bar code and RFID inlay are each encoded with a unique serial number, which the concrete product manufacturer can use to identify the item. The tags are molded into the concrete product during the production process.
ICT's TrackCon software supports several common tracking processes. Products are typically logged into the system by reading the RFID tag with a handheld reader after production and entering any desired batch or customer information to the record. The software supports tracking products through quality inspection operations, storage, shipping and delivery. Large items are often placed into storage with a forklift. The system automatically records the putaway location by prompting the forklift driver to read the RFID tag when the product is stored. Forklifts are tracked by GPS. System software marries the GPS location data with the RFID scan to record where the item was placed. Forklift drivers can then be directed to the appropriate location to pick up items for shipping.
"There are a lot of look-alike concrete structures that aren't exactly the same because they are produced for different customers' specifications," said Tilson. "There have been a lot of errors because the wrong product was picked and shipped to the customer. In construction, materials are often delivered to a staging site. The RFID tag can be scanned there to build a record of where things are. That's very valuable, because storage areas can cover acres and acres."
Tagged items can be read from about six feet away with forklift readers and three feet away with handhelds, according to Tilson. Tags can also be successfully read through one foot of concrete. Cast-a-Code tags are always embedded on the outside of an item, not buried within, but the ability to read through concrete is helpful because the tagged items may be stored behind other concrete material.
ICT recently launched the TrackCon system following its successful use at several beta sites. The system is currently running at three sites, with implementation planned for two more.
Concrete and construction appear to be growing areas for RFID use. An active RFID technology system is monitoring concrete conditions at the World Trade Center construction site in New York City (see RFID Puts New World Trade Center on Solid Foundation), and Intelleflex separately announced an RFID-based solution for monitoring asphalt.
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| RFID World 2008 Exhibitors | STRESS FREE RFID with ODIN technologies at Booth 501
Join us at RFID World -- Booth 501 and enjoy the ODIN technologies "STRESS FREE RFID" solution. As you know, we know how to make RFID EASY for you! Also, REGISTER TODAY for the "RFID for Managers" seminar presented by ODIN experts on Monday, September 8th. For more information contact hschuster@odintechnologies.com. | MTI Wireless Edge - see our antennas - Booth 608
MTI Wireless Edge is the world's cutting edge antenna technology manufacturer and is dedicated to providing antenna solutions for any RFID application, including: Portal, Near-Field, Hand-held, Forklift, Passive/Active, Indoor/Outdoor and others. MTI offers a very large portfolio of over 100 antenna models. See our antennas at www.mtiwe.com | | | Upcoming Events | RFID World | Sept 8-10, 2008 | MGM Grand | Las Vegas, NV
Now in its 6th year, this industry leading event is recognized as the gathering place for the builders, buyers and sellers of RFID and other Auto-ID technologies. Registration now open! Special Early Bird Savings: Save $300 off registration. Offer ends July 31st. Don't miss out! | North Texas RFID Happy Hour at the MGM - September 9th, 2008
The September North Texas RFID Happy Hour will be held in conjunction with RFID World at the MGM Grand Hotel Conference Center. Sponsors of the RFID Happy Hour will be handing out RFID tagged swizzle stick invitations, which will give the holders a chance to win a Free Drink. www.northtexasrfid.com | Active RFID, RTLS & Sensor Networks 2008 | Nov 5-6 | Dallas
IDTechEx presents the only event in the world dedicated to the technologies of Active RFID, RTLS and Ubiquitous Sensor Networks. The conference will look at the key applications that are driving growth including manufacturing, healthcare, the military and security, postal and courier, and logistics. Find more information here www.IDTechEx.com/Active. | RFID Health Care Industry Adoption Summit, Nov 16-18, D.C.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) are pleased to co-sponsor this comprehensive overview of RFID and track-and-trace operational and implementation strategies for the healthcare supply chain. For more information, or to register, please visit -- http://meetings.nacds.org/rfid/2008/registration.cfm | RFID Executive Forum - Impact RFID, October 15, 2008 at UCLA
UCLA WINMEC will host its 2008 RFID Executive Forum. This Forum will bring academics, industry practitioners to discuss industry-specific modality of use of RFID and the application of RFID in their industry. For more information, please visit: www.winmec.ucla.edu/rfid/2008 | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | RFID Tags & Labels | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Products & Services | Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks
Meet the industry's most innovative award winning RFID solution that enables complete work-order traceability in manufacturing. Real-time web-based dashboards and multi-site monitoring for work-order pedigree and traceability, including proactive bottleneck management and real-time performance analytics optimizing shop-floor efficiency. All at the lowest TCO in the marketplace. www.omnitrol.com/WIP. | Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers
the American Management Association reports. 95% of businesses are victimized by employee theft. Managers are reluctant to ask questions, because trusted employees may feel offended, leaving business owners in a difficult situation. What can you do? Nox: Intelligent Perimeter Defense from Simply RFID provides advanced security and protection for business assets. | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now |
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