Intelleflex Showcases Extended Capability RFID Cattle Tracking Solution at Canadian Auction
Intelleflex Corporation announces the successful demonstration of live cattle tracking using its battery-assisted RFID solution at the Calgary Stockyards. Members of various agriculture and food organizations, including Alberta Livestock Industry, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agriculture Alberta and Food, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency and Livestock Identification Services Ltd., observed how live cattle can be effectively tracked in a real-time, fast-moving auction environment.
Prior to using Intelleflex's solution, cattle needed to be temporarily halted and identified using manual or close proximity data capture methods. This process does not accommodate the speed of commerce in the cattle industry and can be prone to missed reads. With upwards of 6,000 head of cattle per day moving through individual auction markets, the single filing of livestock is not practical and simply not cost effective.
"The accurate accounting and record keeping of cattle in the industry is an on-going challenge," says Brent McEwan, Executive Director, Traceability with Alberta Agriculture and Food. "With solutions such as Intelleflex's, the industry can not only increase operational efficiency and accuracy, but also ensure the best quality product is delivered to consumers."
Using Intelleflex's battery-assisted passive RFID platform, livestock can be identified and tracked over long distances and with multiple reads per second across multiple heads of cattle. Intelleflex's demonstration at the Calgary Stockyards shows how multiple cattle are able to move through the auction process at the speed of commerce, tracking 100% of the cattle consistently. In addition, with Intelleflex's extended on-tag memory, an entire history, including ownership, inoculation history and location, can be permanently and securely stored with the tag.
"The tracking of cattle presents a unique challenge for RFID. Typical RFID solutions have a difficult time reading around animal bodies, due to physical contact and exposure," says Steve Smith, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Intelleflex. "To overcome these obstacles, Intelleflex works closely with industry organizations, customers and partners to optimize solutions such as this one around the specific needs of their varying application environments."
WinWare Releases Accu-Drawer RFID Inventory Management Modular Drawer
WinWare Inc. announces the addition of the Accu-Drawer RFID Modular Drawer System used to manage tooling, spare parts or any indirect material at point-of-use in FOD (Foreign Object Debris) critical and tightly controlled environments. Over 160 units are currently being deployed in the aerospace industry to support FOD initiatives.
"In our business, RFID is being utilized for a specific purpose, and it works," states Larry Harper, WinWare President. "The Accu-Drawer is an example of an RFID device we designed for a specific purpose." Driven by CribMaster software, the leading inventory management application for indirect materials in manufacturing and productive environments, the Accu-Drawer adds yet another inventory management option to an already extensive line of solutions.
Harper adds, "The Accu-Drawer uses RFID in a way to solve compliance and FOD issues in tightly controlled environments. RFID technology has become an effective means of enhancing inventory management processes in many instances and with the Accu-Drawer we looked to enhance the processes associated with indirect material in these environments."
The Accu-Drawer consists of a heavy-duty modular drawer cabinet internally equipped with four RFID Antennae and an electromagnetic door lock. When a user walks up to the Accu-Drawer, he or she must identify themselves prior to the drawer being released. They can do this by using a touch screen monitor located on the top of the cabinet or with a barcode or proximity badge scan. Once the drawer is released, the user opens the door to find inventory sitting in a defined location. Either the inventory is tagged or the bin location is monitored by a patent pending RFID switch. The user removes the inventory and shuts the door.
The inventory is automatically adjusted and is properly accounted. On the touch screen an "Items Out" icon appears to let the user know that something is missing from the cabinet. If items are missing, the user simply touches the "Items Out" logo on the touch screen and is provided the information as to what is missing, who took it, and when and where it is being used.
The CribMaster software that drives the Accu-Drawer provides all the functionality needed to manage any type of indirect material. From tooling, spare parts inventory, PPE, MRO, etc., CribMaster is a robust and flexible inventory management application that was built by supporting the processes associated with this type of inventory.
Sirit Introduces RFID Reader Swap-Out Program
Sirit Inc. introduces its Reader Swap-Out Program featuring a $250 product pricing incentive for users that replace currently installed RFID readers with Sirit's INfinity 510. This Program covers any competitive or Sirit manufactured fixed reader and runs from November 8, 2007, through March 31, 2008. The Swap-Out Program will be executed through Sirit's worldwide distributor and reseller network.
"Over the past few years, many RFID programs have been limited in scope to lab or small test environments. As the market continues to mature, many first generation readers and subsequent versions simply cannot meet the performance promises in real world applications," states Tony Sabetti, Vice President, RF Solutions, Sirit Inc. "The goal of our Swap-Out Program is to help customers upgrade to the industry's leading RFID reader, Sirit's INfinity 510, so they can benefit from the superior performance and technology advancements within this next generation reader. With faster, more accurate tag reads, Sirit's INfinity 510 delivers highly reliable data which in turn translates to a more effective implementation of RFID technology."
"After much progress in terms of product availability, performance, and cost-reduction, many users in the passive UHF reader market would benefit from a technology refresh," notes Michael Liard, Research Director for RFID and Contactless at ABI Research. "A program such as the one Sirit is introducing offers existing and new customers assurances on price, performance, and overall satisfaction with the opportunity to embrace the latest technology advancements."
The INfinity 510 continues to receive accolades for its outstanding performance as the top-rated RFID reader as confirmed in the recent ODIN technologies European RFID Reader Benchmark report. METRO Group, Germany's largest retailer, also performed extensive reader testing and selected the INfinity 510 as their primary reader for its RFID implementation at REAL hypermarket stores currently being deployed across Germany.
"We feel confident that once users are exposed to the high performance of the INfinity 510, they will see and appreciate why it is recognized as the leading RFID reader," adds Mr. Sabetti. "When you combine our proprietary tag acquisition technology with the most advanced reader management tool-set on the market, you have a reader which can unlock new value and drive efficiencies to the organizations that look to use RFID to improve their operations."
A Swap-Out Reference Guide detailing hardware and software considerations in moving to the Sirit INfinity 510 along with full details on the Swap-Out Program can be found at www.sirit.com.
Innovatier Announces the Development of ProTeCut™
ProTeCut™, Innovatier's cut resistant technology, has been developed to deliver maximum component protection and uncompromised safety and can be integrated into active RFID and smart card platform designs utilizing Innovatier's Reaction Injection Embedding®. ProTeCut™ provides a protective perimeter for components, making smart devices difficult to cut without professional tools.
"Consumers typically cut through their cards to feel more secure about disposing of them, but may sever hazardous components in the process," states Robert Singleton, Innovatier's President. "Incorporating ProTeCut™ technology into smart card designs can protect all interior components, or provide the consumer the option of cutting through their cards safely by protecting select components such as lithium batteries."
Innovatier offers superior packaging solutions for active RFID and powered cards. Its Reaction Injection Embedding® technologies have positioned the company as the leader in embedding powered electronics in a variety of form factors. The company's simple and scalable manufacturing processes are easy and inexpensive compared to more conventional methods. In addition, the processes have the capability of realizing any 3-dimensional shape such as exact-parameter cards, circular wrist bracelets, or any desired form. In addition to its own proprietary technologies, the company has a world-wide license with CARDXX, Inc., which provides the company with both exclusive and non-exclusive rights to use the CARDXX RAMP technology as it relates to the manufacture of smart devices.
