Unitech HT680

Had a chance to test out the new units of Unitech HT680 with barcode scanning, running on Win CE before ship out to customer after charging for 16hrs on first time. Handles very nicely.

Tracking tyre using rfid

Since Malaysian logistics firm Lee Ting San (LTS) Group began trialing an RFID-based tire-management system a year ago on some of its 400 trucks, the company has found that tagged tires are better maintained and have fewer blowouts than those without RFID tags, according to Ahilan Thiyagarajah, the managing director of Auto RFID Solutions, which installed the system. The tire-management solution, known as e-Tyre and provided by Malaysian RFID company FEC International, consists of an EPC Gen 2 passive RFID patch tag, a tire probe for determining a tire's tread depth and air pressure (the patch tags and tire probes are manufactured by Translogik), a handheld RFID reader and e-Tyre software.

The company began testing the technology in January 2010, during a trial involving three 14-wheeler trucks, for a total of 42 tires. LTS' staff permanently attached an RFID patch tag (an RFID inlay encased in protective layer of rubber) to the exterior of each tire, on the sidewall facing the center of the vehicle. Auto RFID Solutions provided training on how to attach the tags via an adhesive. The unique ID number encoded to each tag is then read using an RFID-enabled AT870 RFID handheld computer made by ATID, and that ID is linked, in the e-Tyre software installed on LTS' back-end system, with tire information input into the handheld reader, such as brand and model numbers. Once the tire is installed on a truck, workers use the handheld to read the tire's tag, then input such information as the truck's vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, make, model and depot name, as well as its odometer reading, to link the vehicle to that particular tire.

The RFID system has solved their problems, Ahilan says, by providing the company with alerts whenever tires are due for maintenance, as well as an electronic record of each inspection and its results. LTS had hoped to eliminate the risk of errors during data collection, he explains—such as the incorrect recording of a tire's ID number, or the omission of important details—and to increase visibility into whether the firm's tires were being properly maintained and inflated. The company also hoped to reduce the number of blowouts resulting from improperly inflated tires.

When tire inspections are planned, the e-Tyre data is loaded onto the handheld reader. Staff inspectors go to each truck, and first update mileage and other vehicle data on the handheld terminal, then read each tire's RFID tag. After reading the tag, the inspector uses the tire probe to measure the tire's tread and pressure, and that information is transmitted to the handheld reader via a Bluetooth connection. The operator can then view the results of each measurement on the handheld's screen as the data is received. The reader is then placed in a cradle attached to a PC, and all reader data (tag IDs linked to inspection data) is stored with the tire and vehicle details.

The RFID patch tag, which measures 120 millimeters by 35 millimeters by 5 millimeters (4.7 inches by 1.4 inches by 0.2 inch), has 96 bits of memory for the Electronic Product Code (EPC) number, and an additional 512 bits of user memory; however, LTS is using only the encoded RFID number on the tag. To date, Ahilan says, the greatest benefit that the company has seen from the system has been in ensuring that tire pressure is checked regularly, and that tires are inflated properly when needed. Prior to the system's installation, he explains, about one tire blew out every two months.

RFID World Asia 2011 Expo

RFID World Asia 2011 is back again with more information.

Working closely with EPCglobal and GS1 Singapore, RFID World Asia has been produced with thorough research. It is Asia's longest running RFID-focused conference that is a must-attend for all interested in this technology. The speakers represent the leaders in their fields and will be sharing their thoughts, success and even lessons learnt with the audience.

Date: 13-15 April 2011
Place: SUNTEC Singapore
www.rfidworldasia.com.sg

JUPEM Malaysia tracking maps using RFID

Jupem doing digital maps, now, tracking products using passive RFID. This is to prevent original products from being copied . And if customer is found to have the map without the rfid, they will be fine. Visit www.jupem.gov.my

Resorts World Sentosa using RFID track garments

Garment tracking at RWS Singapore

According to Chan, RWS invested S$5 million (US$3.6 million) in the uniform management system and laundry service which has allowed the integrated resort operator to reap savings from reducing its staff requirements by two-third and floor space by 50 percent.

An example of manpower and cost savings lies in the uniform management platform installed at RWS, which has a “two-way interface” with the laundry vendor’s own IT system, he said. This setup allows his staff to monitor the amount of laundry entering its facility without having to go down to the resort.

Furthermore, the system automates the delivery order (DO) receipt for each day’s garment delivery–sent and received–which helps free up time and manpower for his staff to focus on other areas of business, he added.

With regard to the sorting of garments, Chan revealed that RWS had installed RFID readers at the opening and end of the chute, where employees dispose their used uniforms, to track the movement of the clothing.

To achieve “99 percent accuracy”, readers were installed in two directions so that they can better capture the signal emitted by an RFID tag even if the garment is crumpled as this would distort the signals, he said.

Garment tracking starts and ends at the uniform collection room so employees need not worry that their movements will be monitored throughout the resort, Chan said.

He said the RWS deployment is a “proof-of-concept” that illustrates Laundry Network’s expertise and technical ability to launder and manage up to 20,000 pieces of garment daily. The company is able to handle loads of up to 60,000 garments daily, he added.

Laundry Network also has plans to set up two RFID-based self-service kiosks for consumers at both Anchorpoint and Parkway Parade shopping malls “later in the year”, Chan revealed.

He said this service will be extended to a pool of “VIP customers” that will be given a RFID-enabled “prestige card”. These consumers need only to drop off their soiled clothing at the kiosk, swipe their card through the reader and, once their garments are processed, have their clothing sent back to them.

Each kiosk will set the company back around S$20,000 (US$14,566) and S$30,000 (US$21,849), he added.

Asked about plans to use RFID to track individual consumers’ garments, Chan said the company will only look to implement that in a year’s time. He cited the high investment cost of around S$100,000 (US$72,830) and S$200,000 (US$145,660) as the reason why Laundry Network is reinventing its business in stages.

BN Youth Job Fair 2011

With 20,000 jobs on offer from 650 companies, job-seekers will have a field day at the inaugural Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth Job Fair 2011, held from March 25 to 27 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

Touted as Malaysia’s largest career fair ever, 500,000 job-seekers – from school leavers to fresh graduates – are expected to visit the three-day job fair.

“BN Youth’s main agenda in 2011 is to ensure the young generation are provided with enough job opportunities,” said BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin at the soft launch of the job fair at PWTC this morning.

“Unemployment is one of the main problems facing today’s youth,” said Khairy, who is also Umno Youth chief. “There are also many graduates who find it difficult to attain jobs that complement their qualifications.”

The companies participating in the fair would be from various industries including manufacturing, agriculture, services, hospitality, banking, engineering, IT and medical.

Khairy added that posts in the civil service would also be available at the job fair.

The job fair will also introduce an innovative barcode system designed to help create real-time submission of resumes to all prospective employers.
“The barcode system eliminates the need to print out many resumes for many booths. The job-seekers will only need to present their barcode to the prospective employer,” Khairy explained.

Apple Malaysia Store pricing

Attach the pricing for Apple Stores Malaysia