RFID Steel Slab Identification

ThyssenKrupp Steel uses RFID Anywhere for slab identification. Accenture felt that RFID Anywhere is appropriate for ThyssenKrupp Steel's application, which requires a range of mobile and fixed RFID devices and printers to be deployed globally and integrated into corporate systems. ...

... "The software infrastructure will be used in ThyssenKrupp Steel's new steel mill in the Bay of Sepetiba, Brazil, as well as at the European sea harbor and local harbor in Duisburg, Germany, to automatically identify steel slabs and to speed up the unloading process. Working with consultants from Accenture, ThyssenKrupp Steel recently completed successful pilot trials with 1,000 slabs sent from Brazil and marked with RFID tags. Custom-made software applications based on RFID Anywhere were used to tag the slabs in Brazil and identify them at various points throughout their journey. At the harbor in Duisburg, slabs hanging on a crane were identified in a fully automated fashion while being unloaded. The Brazilian steel mill is currently under construction and is scheduled to start production of five million metric tons of steel per year in 2009. Overall, a total of 250,000 slabs will be transported every year, 100,000 of which will be processed at ThyssenKrupp Steel's German plants -- a highly complex logistics process for which ThyssenKrupp Steel will rely on Sybase iAnywhere RFID technology. " ...

Via Sybase iAnywhere: ThyssenKrupp Steel Selects Sybase iAnywhere RFID Technology For Multi-Site Slab Identification

Metro Supplier RFID Tag Pilot

METRO Group's Tag It Easy! pilot uses Checkpoint RFID labels to manage the inbound supply-side of its supply chain in Asia to Germany. ...

... "The METRO Group expects that the RFID pilot will optimize efficiency and transparency in the international flow of goods. Access to more-accurate, real-time shipment data will help the retailer improve control over its international supply chain, resulting in lower warehousing costs and reduced out-of-stock situations.

METRO Group has standardized on UHF EPC Gen 2 tags for compliance to all regional requirements: 917 - 922 MHz for China; 920 - 925 MHz for Hong Kong; and 865.6 - 867.6 MHz for Europe. The RFID tags on the labels provided by Checkpoint will store the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), which will be read at several points along the supply chain from Hong Kong to Unna, Germany. The METRO Group will receive an electronic delivery note in advance of the shipment, detailing the container content. The supplier also benefits, by gaining detailed proof of package delivery. The pilot will run for three months, and the METRO Group expects to extend the project to include several other Asian suppliers at a future date if the concept proves to be feasible. " ...

METRO Group and Checkpoint Systems Partner to Help Suppliers Tag it Easy

Checkpoint RFID Metro Pilot Implementation Solves Technical Challenges

Checkpoint Systems is involved in pilot of UHF RFID technology at METRO Group's Distribution Centres near Hamm, Germany, under supervision of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) task group 34 (TG34). The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) plays a major role in the global standardization of Information and Communication Technologies. This pilot has been created to improve the read performance of RFID tags in a high-density UHF reading environment and validate the performance of portal dock door solutions. The successful pilot solves UHF RFID challenges and supports Metro's plan to implement RFID more broadly in 2007. The Metro RFID implementation is aimed at enhancing customer service and increasing the efficiency of its supply chain. METRO Group is an international retailing company with 2005 sales of EUR55.7 billion. The company has a headcount of about 250,000 employees and operates more than 2,200 outlets in 30 countries. ...

... "Utilizing equipment from numerous RFID suppliers in Europe and North America, Checkpoint served as a hardware integrator for the trials. In this capacity, Checkpoint helped with the design work for the hardware solution and procurement, configuration and installation of the 36 RFID-enabled dock door portals which were used to validate successful simultaneous operation of multiple dock doors using a 4-channel synchronized approach under the ETSI 302 208 standard. Pallets containing 62 individually tagged cases largely containing RFID unfriendly materials (such as cans, liquids and metal lined items) were simultaneously transported at warehouse speeds through 36 adjacent loading dock doors. Some 4.5 million individual reads were recorded over the course of the trials. Complying with the ETSI listen before talk (LBT) requirements, the tests achieved a 98.5%+ read rate simultaneously from multiple pallets as they were wheeled through the dock doors. " ...

Via Checkpoint Systems: Checkpoint Systems Partners with Metro Group to Successfully Deploy UHF RFID Dock Door Solution: 98.5%+ Read Rate Represents Milestone in European RFID Deployment ...

RFID Technology Enables Asia Logistics for Metro Supply Chain

The METRO Group and Savi Networks will collaborate to implement the Advanced Logistics Asia (ALA) project. The project will deploy RFID radio frequency identification technology to monitor the location and security of inventory shipped from Asia to Europe in real-time through the supply chain. ...

... "The ALA project, managed by METRO Group Buying Hong Kong (MGB Hong Kong), will utilize SaviTrak(TM), a web-based, real-time information service that leverages automatic data transmissions from Electronic Product Code (EPC) - compliant passive and active RFID tags, among other wireless devices, on shipments transported throughout the global supply chain. MGB Hong Kong manages METRO Group imports from sourcing to delivery at Distribution Centers in Germany. Under the ALA project, SaviTrak will monitor a variety of retail products while they are transported through a global RFID reader network, stretching from a consolidation center in Hong Kong, through the Port of Hong Kong, to the Port of Rotterdam, the inland Port of Duisburg in Germany and finally to a METRO Group distribution center in Unna, Germany.



Active, battery-powered RFID tags on containers will be utilized to automatically transmit information into the SaviTrak information service. As a six-month pilot, the ALA project is designed to evaluate improvements in the visibility, management and security of inventory while it is transported end-to-end. The project will further evaluate investment returns in reduced lead times and inventory, improved customer service as well as supply chain and financial performance." ...

Via Savi Networks: The METRO Group and Savi Networks Launch Real-Time Information Service on Inventory Shipped From Asia to Europe

RFID Germany: Printing ...

Printronix sponsors RFID Germany ...

... "RFID Germany is an educational business and technology conference organized to deliver practical answers and realistic information about the implementation of RFID technology in any type of application. Where: Frankfurt Marriott Hotel, Hamburger Allee 2-10, 60486 Frankfurt, Germany. " ...

Via Printronix: Printronix Sponsors RFID Germany to Help Spur Adoption of RFID Printing Technology

RFID Secure US Passports: Order Placed ...

Infineon receives RFID-enabled electronic-Passport order from US government, as all new passports will require the technology by end of this year. Infineon has experience with a number of countries and their e-passport implementations. ...

... "Infineon Technologies AG announced that it received a multi-million piece purchase order from the United States government to supply its highly-secure integrated circuit technology for the new electronic passport. Designed to facilitate international travel by allowing automatic identity verification, faster immigration inspections and greater border protection and security, the new passports include a computer chip in the back cover that securely stores the same information that is printed on the document. The US began issuing electronic passports to diplomats and other government workers in late 2005, and is now expanding the program to include the widely issued tourist passport used by private citizens. By the end of this year, the government expects that all new US passports will be issued as electronic passports.

Infineon supplies its secure identification chips to more than 20 countries that have begun to use electronic passports or have begun to test this technology, including Germany, Hong Kong, Norway and Sweden. In addition, Infineon provides the secure chips inside electronic identity documents used in such countries as Italy, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Belgium, and also for Hong Kong, as well as the chips used for secure identification cards issued by the US Department of Defense. As a security measure, the US Congress passed legislation requiring that countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Program must issue passports with secure chip technology by October 2006. Concurrently, the US adopted this technology to conform to specifications for electronic passports developed by the international standards body for travel documents, the International Civil Aviation Organization. " ...

RFID Secure US Passports: Order Placed: Via Infineon Technologies: New US Passports Contain Secure Identification Chips ...

RFID e-Passports Vulnerable ...

ePassports based on RFID technology have vulnerabilities as recently demonstrated. ...

... "The demonstration, given late Friday night by German computer security expert Lukas Grunwald, showed how personal information stored on the documents could be copied and transferred to another device. " ...

RFID e-Passports Vulnerable: Via San Jose Mercury News: Researcher warns of security problem in electronic passports ...

DN-Systems: "DN-Systems is an international consulting company. Our expertise is primarily in the field of information security and Internet/e-commerce solutions for medium to large enterprises of all industries. The company was founded by Lukas Grunwald in Hildesheim, Germany "

RFID Garment HangTags Manage Inventory ...

Checkpoint implements RFID garment hangtags for Lemmi to management apparel inventory in the supply chain. ...

... "Checkpoint Systems, Inc., one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of RF and RFID based solutions for security, identification, tracking and merchandising applications in the world, announced they were chosen by Lemmi Fashion, a Fritzlar, Germany-based producer of children's apparel, to supply the company and its strategic partners with RFID (radio frequency identification) hangtags. The RFID consumables will be used as part of a strategic initiative to help improve Lemmi's speed to market, inventory management, and order accuracy. Checkpoint Systems is supplying Lemmi's manufacturing partners in Asia and Europe with Performa(R) 13.56 MHz RFID-enabled hangtags. The hangtags, which include a visible version of the RFID tag and a traditional bar code, contain data such as article number, size, and color. The tagging process begins when Lemmi's partners apply Performa RFID-enabled garment tags to items at their production sites. The goods are recorded when they are shipped from the manufacturer to Lemmi's distribution center (DC), and upon receipt at the DC. Movements within the DC are also recorded, and Lemmi reads the RFID tags a final time at the shipping area to confirm that all items required for the shipment have been packed." ...

RFID Garment HangTags Manage Inventory: Via Checkpoint Systems, Inc.: Lemmi Fashion Selects Checkpoint Systems RFID Hangtags to Improve Customer Service and Delivery Reliability; Apparel Manufacturer Partners with Checkpoint to Ensure RFID Tag Performance, Production and Fulfillment Requirements ...

RFID CeBIT Forum ...

RFID technology will be showcased at CeBIT ...

... "The upcoming computer trade fair CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, will for the first time feature an Auto ID/RFID exhibition section. The accompanying CeBIT Forum RFID, which will take place from March 9 through 15 in Hall 6 at Stand G48 ... " ...

RFID CeBIT Forum: Via Social Business Club: RFID chosen as a main topic of upcoming CeBIT 2006 ...

RFID Hospital Blood Supply Management ...

Siemens supports RFID technology implementation for management of hospital blood supply ...

... "Back in 2005, Siemens Business Services chose Saarbruecken as the first hospital in Germany to try out an RFID project for patient identification by fitting all patients admitted to the clinic with a bracelet containing an RFID chip. In the future, this system will be extended to blood bank supplies for around 1,000 patients. When the blood bags reach the hospital, they are each equipped with an RFID chip on which a unique number has been stored. This number corresponds to an entry in a protected database containing information on the origin, designated purpose and recipient of the blood. When a nurse fetches a blood bag for a patient, she uses a PDA to read in both the chip on the packaging and the data on the patient's RFID bracelet. Only if the data matches will the blood actually be used for this patient. This ensures patients always receive the right transfusion in the right quantity. The data involved is immediately added to the clinic's process workflow and the patient's data records. Siemens Business Services acts as prime contractor. The technological equipment involved in the RFID solution includes notebooks from Fujitsu Siemens Computers with access to the clinic's patient system, as well as Pocket Loox PDAs and Stylistic tablet PCs with Intel mobile technology. RpDoc Solutions is in charge of the software for medication plans and storage, as well as for checking the dosages involved in various treatments, including blood transfusions. " ...

RFID Hospital Blood Supply Management: Via Siemens Business Services: Saarbruecken Clinic adds stocks of stored blood to its RFID pilot project

RFID Network Information Service ...

Savi Networks ramps up RFID information service in Asia ...

... "Savi Networks, operator of the RFID-enhanced global information service for container shipments, announced that SaviTrak information services is now fully operational at major port facilities in Asia. The SaviTrak information service that enables automated tracking, management, and security is now commercially available at two of the world’s busiest ocean terminals -- in Hong Kong and Shenzhen (China). Savi began developing the SaviTrak solution commercially in 2002 as a provider of networking technology to the Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative, which included thousands of RFID-tagged container journeys from origins in Indonesia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany and South Africa. The system was further refined in several other global transportation security initiatives, including the STAR BEST program conducted in cooperation with the Asia Pacific Economic Coalition (APEC) , and with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) in a South Africa-to-Europe program. " ...

RFID Network Information Service: Via Savi Technology: SAVI NETWORKS EXTENDS RFID-ENHANCED SAVITRAK™ INFORMATION SERVICES TO PORTS IN HONG KONG AND CHINA: SaviTrak and RFID Network Infrastructure Now Fully Operational at Key Asian Ports to Track, Manage and Secure Global Container Shipments in Real-time ...

RFID: Volvo Asset Tracking ...

Volvo continues to embrace RFID technology and drive its adoption in various opportunity areas. ...

... "Truck and bus manufacturer Volvo is considering using radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging to track equipment in its warehouses. " ...

RFID: Volvo Asset Tracking: Via IT Week: Volvo studies RFID for tracking assets ...

Additional references on Volvo and RFID ...

Via Volvo: Mats Boll to speak at the RFID Europe conference: "Mats Boll, Business Develop Project Manager at Volvo Logistics, will speak at the RFID Europe conference in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 21. Mats Boll will discuss some of Volvo's case studies involving containers and packaging, security, distribution of finished vehicles and distribution of hazardous material. He will also review a solution introduced within manufacturing facilities of Commercial Vehicles. "

Via RFID Journal LIVE! Europe: Agenda 11 October: "Volvo has been using RFID in production and logistics for a long time and continues to launch new pilot tests on a regular basis. This session will communicate how RFID has improved Volvo's visibility, traceability and lead-time reduction. Besides demonstrating where Volvo is today, the leaders of the company's RFID projects also will look into Volvo's future, where RFID seems destined to enhance its entire supply chain. Speaker: Stina Apel, RFID Project Manager, Volvo; Annika Johansson, RFID Project Manager, Volvo "

Via IT-universitetet i Goteborg | Nyheter: Students in successful pilot project for Volvo logistics: "They carried out an RFID - Radio Frequency Identification pilot project at the cross-docking terminal at Arendal. Volvo Logistics were very pleased with the result of the project and all three of these students are today employed at Volvo Logistics. "

DataRich Active RFID: Nato SupplyChain ...

NATO awards Savi contract to sustain operations of its RFID-based network, built to track the supply chain between Europe and Afghanistan. ...

... "The contract followed a year-long assessment of the RFID backbone Savi deployed for NATO. The contract calls for purchase of additional data-rich active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and readers as well as network wide software enhancements to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) supply chain, stretching from the Netherlands and Germany through Uzbekistan to Kabul in Afghanistan.

The contract calls for purchase of additional data-rich active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and readers as well as network wide software enhancements to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) supply chain, stretching from the Netherlands and Germany through Uzbekistan to Kabul in Afghanistan.

The new NATO contract calls for additional units of Savi’s readers (Savi Reader SR-650) to be placed at key transportation nodes along the ISAF Network, more Savi tags (ST-654) to be affixed to containers and air pallets, and for a network wide software upgrade to CMS 1.0, which will be hosted at NC3A’s facility in The Hague, Netherlands, where CMS will interface with the NATO LOGFAS Logistics IT system. " ...

DataRich Active RFID: Nato SupplyChain: Via Savi Technology: NATO AWARDS SAVI TECHNOLOGY A NEW CONTRACT FOR RFID NETWORK UPGRADES TO TRACK DEFENSE CONSIGNMENTS: Savi’s New SmartChain® Consignment Management Solution Brings Real-Time Visibility of Joint Force, Multi-National Shipments from Europe to Afghanistan ...

Additional references on the NATO RFID supply chain network:

Focus on DLA: "In fact, asset tracking has become a NATO interest item with the recognition of the inability of traditional materiel management techniques to trace individual assets accurately. The 1998 NATO Ministerial Guidance prioritized the achievement of a common standard asset tracking system through the establishment of the Asset Tracking Interservice Working Group. "

International Asset Tracking & Materials Handling Standardization: "The aim of NATO standardization is to enhance the Alliance's operational effectiveness, achieve the closest practicable cooperation among forces, and to improve efficiency in the use of available resources. LOGSA PSCC supports NATO standardization under the NATO Standardization Agency for asset tracking and materials handling as to increase multinational force compatibility (MFC). As our defense resources diminish, we can make more efficient use of resources through MFC. Our prime goal is to establish Standardization Agreements (STANAGs), which are agreements among several or all 19 member nations to adopt like or similar military equipment, ammunition, supplies, and stores; and operational, logistic, and administrative procedures. "

Supply Chain Systems Transformation - Portfolio Management - Milestones: "IUID STANAG ratification by NATO Asset Tracking Working Group"

RFID Inlay Acquisition By Sokymat

RFID Inlay Acquisition By Sokymat: Via Sokymat: Sokymat acquires IMASYS ...

... "Sokymat SA, the world's leading supplier of RFID transponders, announces today that it has acquired IMASYS, a leading German supplier of RFID inlay manufacturing equipment based in Pfronten, which joined the Sokymat Group effective November 1st, 2005. IMASYS is a designer and manufacturer of high frequency (HF) transponder inlay production machines based on the wire-embedding process. IMASYS current goal is to significantly increase the production capacity of its 13.56 MHz RFID inlay manufacturing machines, in order to respond to the tremendous growth of the markets for e-passports and contactless payment cards. " ...

Sokymat, the world’s leading supplier of RFID transponders, is present in all major market segments that express a strong interest in the benefits of RFID technology, namely access control and security, industrial automation and supply chain management as well as animal identification. Thanks to its 15 years of experience in transponder manufacturing technology and its know-how in packaging technology, Sokymat can design and manufacture virtually any type of custom-made transponder suited to the specific operating environment and packaging material requested by the customer – including metal. Alongside with its expertise in 125/134.2 kHz and UHF RFID technology, Sokymat boasts the most complete know-how in 13.56 MHz technology and serves fast growing industry segments such as the emerging market for government-issued electronic passports and travel documents. The group employs more than 300 people worldwide, has both research and development centers and manufacturing plants in Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Malaysia.

RFID Germany ePass: US Passport Compliance ...

Germany is the first European country to comply with the US RFID passport requirements. Teresa Küchler explores the new German passport, the ePass, which includes RFID technology. ...

RFID Germany ePass: US Passport Compliance: Via EUobserver: Germany introduces US-required biometric passport ...

... "The updated German passport comes with a concealed radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that stores personal information such as name and date of birth, as well as a digital facial image of the holder. " ...

Ubisense Sensors: RFID Active Tags

Ubisense support accelerated customer growth in RFID and associated UWB sensor technology with process efficiency, tracking, and security. ...

Ubisense Sensors: RFID Active Tags: Via Ubisense: UBISENSE REPORTS 60 NEW CUSTOMERS AS DEMAND FOR HIGH ACCURACY INDOOR LOCATION TECHNOLOGY INTESIFIES: Ubisense enhances process efficiencies, space utilization and security for, healthcare, industrial, military and more ...

... "Ubisense provides innovative, sensor-driven technology that utilizes UWB to report person and asset location within one foot of accuracy. Small sensors are placed within the indoor environment and active tags worn by people or attached to assets provide location information that can be viewed in 3D. This location data can be used to determine the efficiency and security of any indoor space or training scenario. For instance, US-based DSCI provides live, virtual training scenarios for the Department of Defense (DoD) training centers. DSCI needed high resolution indoor tracking capabilities for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training. Finding that WiFi and Radio Frequency ID (RFID) systems do not offer the near-precise accuracy and reliability required by the DoD, DSCI turned to Ubisense. " ...

Ubisense provides location-aware, sensor-driven technology that increases the usability and security of space. Ubisense utilizes advanced ultra-wideband (UWB) to deliver real-time location data within one foot of accuracy to more than 60 customers spanning workplace, healthcare, industrial and military organizations worldwide. The company is headquartered in Cambridge , England with offices in Denver , Colorado and Dortmund, Germany.

RFID Intelligent Containers: Cypak ...

Sweden IT firms are delivering the goods. Examples: Skype and Cypak (intelligent RFID containers). ...

RFID Intelligent Containers: Cypak: Via SWEDEN.SE: Swedish IT lives up to hype ...

... "Using advanced radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology and simple microchips affixed to paper or plastic, Cypak's intelligent containers will be able to detect tampering or remind people to take their medicine. The packages are being tested in the US, Sweden and Germany, and could make their commercial debut as early as next year. " ...

Picture courtesy of Cypak.

Cypak is a Swedish technology innovator and pioneer in embedding microcomputers into paper. By combining RFID, microprocessors and printable sensors we transform simple objects and packaging into secure data carriers, capable of collecting and transferring time-tagged event data. Up to date the technology ha enabled intelligent pharmaceutical and diagnostic packaging, electronic seals with tamper detection and access cards with integrated keypad – all today in use by customers. Our business is to provide core components, integration services and licensing rights.

RFID Sweden National Electronic Passport Initiative ...

RFID support the Swedish Police Department in their national electronic passport initiative. ...

RFID Sweden National Electronic Passport Initiative: Via Arcontia: ACG ID and Arcontia roll out the new passport reader chosen by the Swedish Police Department: 320 contactless readers will form the backbone of the Swedish Police Department’s electronic passport infrastructure ...

... "ACG Identification Technologies, a leading component and technology supplier in the smart card and RFID markets, and Arcontia AB, a contactless smart card reader supplier in RFID markets, announce that their customized passport readers were chosen by Setec and the Swedish Police Department for use within the country’s nationwide electronic passport project. In total, 320 units were installed in local police stations across the country to be used by citizens when collecting their newly issued electronic passports. " ...

ACG Identification Technologies is an independent component and technology supplier serving the entire value chain of smart card and RFIDbased systems. Headquartered in Walluf (Germany), ACG has 21 locations throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Arcontia has been active in the RFID technology since 1996 and is today a developer of a comprehensive range of contactless smart card readers and terminals, complying with ISO14443 A/B and MIFARE standards. The product range addresses e-ticketing and e-government markets as well as the supply chain management and logistics market. Local office is based in Gothenburg, Sweden.