Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

UPM Raflatac, ICT offer concrete solutions

Thursday, August 14, 2008

International Coding Technologies (ICT) has partnered with UPM Raflatac to create a new RFID solution for the concrete industry. The Track-Con system integrates RFID-enabled mobile computers with new, industry-specific Cast-A-Code RFID tags to provide cradle-to-grave traceability of manufactured concrete structures, including precast, prestress and architectural products.

The Track-Con system is intended to bring efficiency and supply-chain visibility to an industry which traditionally struggles with inventory management challenges, including manually handled quality control processes, difficulties in verifying customer receipt of materials and high logistical costs due to material returns and reshipments. Inventory management can be particularly complex in the large-scale building projects in which concrete suppliers are often involved.


By tagging all structures and offering real-time tracking information, Track-Con helps optimize production and distribution processes. The system uses data gathered from the RFID tags to ensure that the right materials are shipped to customers, automatically record the GPS coordinates of delivered materials and prepare accurate invoices, as well as help identify and trace concrete structures across their life spans to maintain their structural integrity and safety.

The Cast-A-Code tag features UPM Raflatac’s DogBone UHF tag and a water-tight, castable RFID inlay that affixes securely to concrete structures. The tags are designed to read through up to twelve inches of concrete. [end] 

SML Group Ltd announced the launch of its new “ViziT” RFID item visibility solutions for the retail apparel and item tracking applications.

The ViziT solutions include a range of RFID/EAS enabled paper and woven labels, as well as tickets and sticker that can be attached to garments and stacked items. Using the SML ViziT IT cloud based data management software also provides for semi automated inventory control, as well as improved loss prevention by triggering alarms and item identification at the store exit.

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TrackIT Solutions, an RFID solutions provider based in the Middle East, announced the launch of EnTrackAsset, a Web-enabled RFID tracking solution designed to streamline and automate corporate asset management.

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In ABI Research’s newest market study analysis, NXP Semiconductors has reportedly claimed the top spot in the contactless ticketing market with 74% of the market share.

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Chinese handset manufacturer ZTE has partnered with Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator, to offer a new SIM-based NFC mobile device for the Turkish market.

The Turkcell T11 handset (aka the ZTE Racer II) can be used to pay for both highway toll payments and items at the point of sale with a simple tap against a contactless reader.

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The National Research Council-Canada Centre for Computer-Assisted Construction Technologies (NRC-CCCT) has launched a joint effort to deploy RFID technology to track pre-cast concrete tunnel liner segments that will be part of a Toronto project expected to be complete in 2012.

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Albron, an independent caterer in the Netherlands, will offer biometric- and contactless-based payments in its restaurants thanks to a newly signed agreement with pan-European payment processor Equens.

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