RFID reader and data
services: Real-time
data about product
temperatures in
transit can now be
accessed on demand with the
Intelleflex CMR-6100, a cellular-enabled, GPS-equipped multi-protocol RFID reader, and Intelleflex Zest Data
Services, a secure, multi-tenant cloud-based data-collection platform for aggregating permission-based sharing of information.
Intelleflex’s solution is suitable for temperature-controlled products like food and pharmaceuticals. When combined with the
company’s TMT-8500 reusable temperature-monitoring RFID tag,
the system provides automated data capture without unpacking
or opening the product packaging—down to the individual pallet
and carton level within a truck or container. Because the time-stamped location and temperature data are transmitted as SMS
messages via a cellular network, system users and their supply
chain partners can get real-time updates on location and product
condition even in areas that lack network connectivity. There’s no
need to wait until after a shipment arrives at destination to collect and analyze data, thus allowing users to act quickly to preserve product quality and safety, and reduce or eliminate spoilage.
The CMR-6100 requires a connection to an AC or DC power
source, or even a solar power source—useful for tracking food
harvesting and processing in remote areas—as well as the
attachment of RFID antennas. The system also includes support
for a separate battery backup. According to the manufacturer, its
XC3 battery-assisted passive RFID technology reliably reads and
writes at distances of 300 feet or more, as well as in and around
difficult environments, including pallets, inside containers, and
around metals and liquids. Intelleflex says the new system is the
first to fully integrate and support the ISO Class 3 battery-assisted passive and EPCglobal C1G2 passive standards. (Intelleflex,
www.intelleflex.com)
Mobile printer: Brother Mobile Solutions’ RuggedJet mobile
four-inch printer is specifically designed to allow manufacturing
and warehousing personnel to print various documents—such as
work-in-process labels, finished-goods labels, bin and shelf
labels, shipping labels, and inventory pick and return tickets—
from virtually any location.
The RuggedJet mobile printer uses wireless local-area network
(WLAN) connectivity to allow workers on the floor to produce
bar-code and serialized labels on demand. In the wireless warehouse, workers can log in and print labels for received goods,
cross-docking, and shipping from wherever they are, rather than
wasting time returning to a central printing station.
These battery-powered thermal printers are durable. They
have 6-foot drop protection and are certified to withstand dust
and moisture. They also have print speeds of up to 5 inches per
second. The company says the printers are light and can be comfortably hung from a belt for extended periods. Various power
and mounting options are available. (Brother Mobile Solutions,
www.brother-usa.com/mobile/)
Electric pallet jack: Forklift manufacturer Crown Equipment
Corp. has introduced a new, durable electric pallet jack, called
the Crown WP 3000 Series Walkie Pallet Truck. The Crown WP
3000 is designed to maneuver in tight spaces, withstand
impacts, and deliver power on demand.
The Crown WP 3000 incorporates AC traction and e-GEN
braking. The brushless AC motor technology provides responsive
acceleration, smooth direction changes, and consistent performance throughout the battery discharge cycle, according to
Crown.
Crown says it has designed the truck to be durable.
The pallet truck’s frame and forks are made from
heavy-gauge steel, and the truck has a
robust drive unit and highly engineered
stability system.
Crown has also designed the truck to
reduce the cost of maintenance. It has improved
the truck’s grade clearance at the fork heel by
30 percent over previous models. This change reduces wear on the
truck’s undercarriage, says the company. In
addition, the riser axle is positioned at the highest
possible point on the forks, eliminating frequent, costly repairs
that occur over time as a result of constant contact with dock
boards, pallets, and uneven floors.
The Crown WP 3000 also includes Crown’s X10 Control
Handle. The handle’s raise and lower buttons provide tactile
feedback and are positioned for blending lift/lower and traction
regardless of travel direction. When the truck is working in tight
spaces, the brake override mode enables the operator to position
the handle in the near vertical position while engaging traction
at creep speed for fine-tuned load positioning. The cast-alu-minum control handle with structural webbing is designed to
withstand routine impacts encountered while operators work in
extremely tight spaces.
The Crown WP 3000 Series comes with a five-year supplemental power unit and fork weldment guarantee. (Crown
Equipment Corp., www.crown.com)
Cloud-based import/export software: vForwarding provides
cloud-based software that helps freight forwarders manage the
import/export process. You just need a computer connected to
the Internet to work with vForwarding.
According to the vForwarding service provider, there are no
license costs, no hardware maintenance costs, no firewalls, no
third-party software vendors, and no complicated software
updates. (vForwarding, vforwarding.com)
