10 years of RFID solutions
September 1st 2007 For many companies RFID has
only been feasible for real-life
applications for about four years.
DataScan Systems, however, says
it installed its first RFID system 10
years ago.
The system was installed on
what was the new MG Rover V6
engine line. It was designed to
provide a detailed birth certificate
and complete work-in-progress
information for each engine built.
Although the V6 was available in
two main models, there were many
variants, and each unit was built to
order, which often resulted in batch
build quantities of one.
DataScan implemented 40
stations on a flexible
manufacturing system
using EMS
HL series
active
tags capable
of 8k bites of memory,
65 EMS antennas and
33 EMS CM1746
interface modules for
Rockwell SLC500 series
PLCs.
Each assembly jig (pallet) was
fitted with an RFID tag which was
written with the information of the
type of engine than needed to be
built. As the pallet moved around
each station, the tag would be read
and the relevant parts and safety
test for that particular engine would
be carried out and the results of
tests would be written to the tag.
Over the last 10 years, DataScan
has installed a variety of RFID
systems, from improving safety in
Coke production to tracking items
through the production process in
an array of industries.
The company's RFID technology
includes low frequency, high
frequency and ultra high frequency
systems. More articles from DataScan Systems Ltd: | 
