The Hong Kong Article Numbering Association (HKANA) set up EPCglobal Hong Kong to administer and promote the use of EPC/RFID (Electronic Product Code /Radio Frequency Identification Technology) in the territory. The following is the fourth in a series of articles supplied by EPCglobal Hong Kong containing information on the rising technology and its implications on shippers and logistics operators.

More adaptive solutions

This new wave of change is further fuelled recently by the ratification of the royalty-free EOCUHF Class 1 Gen 2 air interface protocol by EPClglobal in early January. The confirmation clears the way for technology manufacturers to start producing the chips, readers and tags. It suggests that the development of EPC/RFID has proceeded to the fast track.

Unlike the UHF Class 0 protocol which offers the read function only, and the UHF Class 1 Generation 1 protocol that supports 96 bits of data and the 860-930 MHz range, the newly confirmed Class 1 Generation 2 protocol caters variable storage with the EPC length range up to 496 bits and adopts 860-960 MHz. The enlarged capacity, improved read range (5-10 meter) and speeds, coupled with the flexibility of being able read in single, multi and dense environments make the technologies accommodate better real-life supply chain setting.

With the great leap forward, hardware manufacturers will begin launching products that are Gen 2 compliant. More EPC compliant solutions will be available in the market very soon at lower cost. To prepare for this development, EPCglobal is working on its Hardware Certificate Programme. The EPC administration body will issue official EPC marks attesting to the hardware's conformity and interoperability with other EPC technologies for the interests of end-users.

Hurdles

Scanning Environment

• Reports are made about read rate being defected when the tag is scanned in an environment where conductive materials are present. Pilot conducted by Hewlett-Packard Development Company (HP) in its Chester plant found that interference with the RD signal occurred when the reputable printer manufacturer tried to read the RFID label attached on its inkjet cartridge. By repeated experiments, the Company learned that is a gap can be created between the cartridge which contains both metallic material and water, the place on the carton where the tag was attached, interference can be avoided.

Making RFID work with shrink-wrap

• Another p by HP in its Memphis plant also identified electrostatic discharge (EDS) can kill the tags in the process of shrink-wrapping pallets. After repeated trials, the Company finally overcame the problem by using EDS-sensitive wrapping, installing antistatic flooring where pallets are shrink-wrapped, and using other discharge device.

Tag Position and Orientation

• Feasibility study on carton level tagging by China Elite Technology Co. Ltd reported that the tags placed perpendicular to the antenna are harder to be read than tags facing the antenna. For accurate read rate, traders should consider putting antenna on each side of the pallet and rotating it. All tags can be read successfully with proper antenna orientation, the Company later found out.

Frequency Used

• RFID systems can be susceptible to electromagnetic interference from other systems using the same frequency which may end up in multiple data capture.

To create a better environment for the long-term development of the technologies, major markets have confirmed dedicated frequency band for RFID application. For example, in the US and Canada, RFID equipments are operated in 902-928 MHz, in Australia, the 918-926MHz range is dedicated to RFID application, versus 950-956 MHz in Japan, 922-928 MHz in Taiwan. Europe, which is using 869.4-869.5 MHz for RFID products currently will migrate to 865.6-868 MHz in the coming years. Locally, OFTA has spared 865-868 MHz & 920-925 MHz for the technologies.

None of the issues mentioned are insolvable. As the experience of HP, given more trials and time, feasible solutions are always available. In fact, HP has gained valuable insights from these field tests in developing its implementation roadmap. The key lesson learnt, according to the Company's Principle Solution Sales Mr. Sam Tan is to start early with the EPC/RFID revolution. By taking small but quick steps, and learning, it has been able to realize value early and more importantly gain invaluable experience in the process. "So don't wait, start now, and take rapid incremental steps," advised Mr. Tan to local business leaders in the HKANA Supply Chain Management CEO Summit.

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