Even though electronic components are at the core of RFID technology, it takes a whole lot more to implement an RFID project successfully. Many applications have already demonstrated the concrete benefits of RFID technology. What all those applications have in common is that the business and/or manufacturing processes involved were subjected to detailed analysis prior to their implementation. That is the only way to find the optimum system solution and so generate the maximum benefit for the process as a whole.
The complexity of RFID applications has led to RFID being frequently viewed as a top-down technology, driven primarily by major industrial concerns and trading companies. However, in recent times RFID has also been successfully implemented by small and medium-sized enterprises, either in the production environment – where tags are often re-used in the loop – or as open-loop applications using disposable tags. In the logistics sector in particular, RFID technology opens up the possibilities offered by ‘intelligent logistics’. The commercial barriers are falling rapidly, meaning that even SMEs are increasingly able to enjoy the benefits of efficient logistics.
RFID has also demonstrated its efficiency in the manufacturing sector. Many companies in the metalworking industries, for example, are today using RFID to manage their tooling. In quality control, RFID permits seamless monitoring of all prescribed tests and checks. As each successful project is logged, the acceptance of the technology also increases. Consequently, rapid growth is being seen in the RFID market.
EBV offers RFID solutions
Plug-and-play RFID solutions are rare; the starting point for any RFID application is a detailed analysis of the business processes involved and cross-checking against the possibilities offered by transponder technology in each individual case. That demands know-how – both in terms of the processes and the technology.
EBV Elektrolink is positioning itself as an enabler in implementing RFID, since the company is not just a distributor of the necessary electronic components, such as RFID chips and antennas, but also offers complete system solutions, including all the relevant expert advice and support. The company began working on large numbers of RFID projects as early as 10 years ago. Current projects include supermarket staff identification by RFID as well as a near-field application enabling payment at a point-of-sale terminal using a Nokia mobile phone. The expertise of the company’s applications engineers is extensive, in line with the wide-ranging projects on which they work. And they are continually undergoing refresher training in RFID technology.
In realising their projects, customers can call upon a dedicated, competent team of RFID specialists in addition to the company’s well-established network of 118 field application engineers (FAEs) and 225 field sales engineers (FSEs). In each sales region there is a lead expert on hand, with key technical know-how and the skills to analyse the potential commercial benefits of deploying RFID. The company’s specialists are able to call upon technology from leading manufacturers of RFID components in developing custom solutions. Component manufacturers whose products are distributed by EBV include RFID suppliers such as NXP Semiconductors, Texas Instruments and Atmel. EBV is also currently in talks with STMicroelectronics, Fujitsu Microelectronics and Samsung regarding collaboration in the field of RFID.
EBV is able to cover a large part of the overall solution itself. As a distributor, it also cooperates with design partners and specialists in RFID applications such as Xident, which RFID-tagged the tickets for the 2006 football World Cup, and RF-iT. Such specialists provide technical support for highly complex applications. Collaboration between the users, EBV, the manufacturers and design partners delivers a complete custom solution, regardless of what industry the user operates in, the actual application and the RFID tags required.
RFID applications in the logistics sector are frequently implemented on an international scale. With 59 offices in 28 countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, EBV is able to provide support on projects across borders and continents. EBV provided impressive proof of its expertise in RFID technology at the Electronica fair in 2008, with live demonstrations of a range of RFID logistics applications. In the medium term, EBV will be offering customers an RFID service, shipping goods with customer-specific RFID tags on request.
During a question and answer session, Richard Sonnleitner, business development manager: RFID & Infotainment, elaborated on EBV’s live RFID demonstration:
Q: What was the aim of the live demonstration at the fair?
A: Acceptance of RFID has grown rapidly in recent months, especially among SMEs. With this project we were pursuing two aims: firstly, to enable our customers to experience live and in person the kind of flexible RFID service we will be offering them in the medium term; and secondly, we wanted to show customers the wide range of possibilities the technology offers. RFID enables more information to be communicated and utilised. It makes data management and processing easier after customers have received their goods, resulting in leaner processes, which in turn helps cut costs.
Q: What role do warehousing and logistics solutions play within the EBV network?
A: Avnet Logistics, EBV’s in-house logistics service provider, ships all over the world from the distribution centre in Poing. Using specially tailored tools and service modules, such as Forecast Management, Just-in-time/Kanban logistics systems and maintaining of buffer stocks, we deliver custom supply chain solutions. The aim of our presentation was to demonstrate that we are now adding RFID technology, with all its many processing and usage possibilities, as a supplement to the existing barcode system. We are not just selling RFID chips, but will be deploying the technology on-site in our own operations.
Q: What happened during the live demonstration?
A: At the start of the demonstration all customers were assigned their own RFID. Independently of our materials management system, specimen parcels were dispatched on a conveyor belt. The belt is about three to four metres long, and at one point branches off into two gates. Using the personalised cards affixed to the parcels, we demonstrated the transportation process and RFID-controlled routing based on reader antennas linked to display units or PC screens. At the end of the demonstration, each customer collected his or her parcel at the gate indicated on the display.
Q: What were you trying to show in this demonstration?
A: The interaction of the various factors and the participating companies is important to us. The quality of the chips and cards, the conveyor hardware and programming, the operation of the antennas and the software must all be closely matched.
Q: Who was taking part in the project?
A: We were able to engage leading suppliers such as RF-IT Solutions for the software, Dematic for the conveyor belt, Sick for the antenna systems and X-Ident for the labels. The companies involved have in some cases been partners and customers of ours over many years.
Q: How do you define your role within this interaction?
A: With this demonstration we first and foremost wanted to show the importance of RFID to us. We also offer our customers system solutions and the necessary expert advice. In doing so, we rely on the RFID specialists mentioned to provide the necessary technical support. The culmination of all these efforts is always a customised overall solution.
For more information contact EBV Electrolink, +27 (0)21 402 1940, capetown@ebv.com, www.ebv.com
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