10 years of real-life RFID applications by DataScan Systems
31 August 2007
DataScan have been designing RFID systems in the real world for over 10 Years.
DataScan Systems based in Bromsgrove, has a long history of working with RFID. For many RFID has only really been feasible for real-life applications over the last 4 years however DataScan installed their first RFID system 10 years ago.
Their first major RFID project was back in 1997; the system was installed on, what was, the new MG Rover V6 engine line. The system was designed to provide a detailed birth certificate and complete work in progress information for each engine built. Although the V6 engine was available in 2 main models; 2 litre and 2.5 litre petrol, there were many variants on each and each unit was built to order, which often resulted in batch build quantities of one.
To achieve this DataScan implemented 40 stations on a flexible manufacturing system using EMS HL series active tags capable of 8kbs of memory, 65 EMS antenna’s and 33 EMS CM1746 interface modules for Rockwell SLC500 series PLC's.
Each assembly jig (pallet) was fitted with an RFID tag, which was written with the information of the type of engine that 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.
Although a compulsory part of automotive manufacture today, 10 years ago detailed information of tests carried out on individual engine parts was ahead of its time. The RFID project at MG Rover proved to be very successful and helped establish DataScan’s reputation as ‘The RFID providers’ for the automotive industry.
Most of the original MG Rover engineers who worked on the project are still working in the automotive industry and have remained loyal customers of DataScan. Over the last 10 years DataScan have 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 systems installed over the last 10 years have covered the spectrum of RFID technology including low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) systems.
Such is DataScan’s expertise and familiarity with RFID and it’s capabilities, customers look to DataScan to advise which frequency is most suitable for their application as DataScan are a truly “frequency agnostic” company.
Over the years, DataScan has grown and so has their reputation with RFID, this reputation was recognised by Escort Memory Systems in 2005 when they awarded DataScan as their number 1 distributor in Europe and this title was held in 2006. “We are very pleased to be recognised as EMS’s number 1 Distributor in Europe for the second year, as RFID is becoming a highly competitive market, however we feel confident that we can make it a hat-trick in 2007.” Says Paul Mason, Managing Director.
