RFID based pallet management

Continuous tracking of products and automated management of empty pallets are steadily growing in importance in the retail industry. UHF-RFID can be used to make an important contribution to this. This paper describes the steps required to effectively roll out RFID-tagged plastic pallets – from the selection and integration of RFID transponders to the manufacture of pallets and their management. The Fraunhofer IFF supported such a rollout for a pallet manufacturer and a retailer. Based on the technical examinations and developments executed during this rollout a generalized methodology for the integration of passive UHF-RFID is discussed

Method for the planning of IoT use cases in Smart Logistics Zones

The paper is describing approaches for a method aiming at early planning for the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in logistics processes. Based on the technical properties of single technologies and process requirements a classification of IoT technologies provides the basis for a use case specific evaluation of their technical feasibility. This developed classification is further combined with cost-benefit evaluation approaches. The current status of these developments is observed in the context of a logistics use case. The paper concludes with an outlook on the further development and discusses the contribution of IoT solutions to the creation of Smart Logistics Zones

RFID in logistics and production - applications, research and visions for smart logistics zones

The demands on the automatic identification and localization as also the condition monitoring of logistics objects as sources of data for a secure supply chain's documentation and control are increasing. By using such technologies Smart Logistics Zones are created for logistics and production processes. This paper describes an approach to define such Smart Logistics Zones. As examples for Smart Logistics Zone applications two RFID bases use cases are described. By that the potential of using Smart Logistics technologies is shown. One example focuses on the RFID tagging of prototype parts for the automotive industry. The other example describes the use case and the methodology for the integration of RFID for a pallet management application

Wechselbehälter als kombinierter Frachtraum und Energiespeicher für kleinvolumige Wirtschaftsverkehre in der City-Logistik

Einen Lösungsansatz zur flexiblen und ökologischen Belieferung von Innenstadtbereichen stellt das Wechselbehälterkonzept dar. Durch Einführung elektrisch betriebener 3,5t-Verteilerfahrzeuge und die Substitution großvolumiger Fahrzeuge durch kleinvolumige Transporte können neue Bedienformen im Bereich der städtischen Liefer- und Wirtschaftsverkehre entwickelt werden. Das Fraunhofer IFF Magdeburg und die Otto-von-Guericke-Universität entwickeln entsprechende Logistikkonzepte und bauliche Lösungen, bei denen in die Wechselbehälter zusätzliche Traktionsbatterien eingebracht werden. Somit wird eine neue Art des kombinierten Ladungs- und Energieträgeraustauschs ermöglicht, bei der Traktionsbatterien an Umschlagpunkten in der City zusammen mit der Ladung getauscht werden. Der Beitrag geht diesbezüglich näher auf das Wechselbehälterkonzept, die Nutzung von Elektrofahrzeugen, entsprechende Nutzungsszenarien und neuartige Ansätze zur dynamischen Routenoptimierung ein

Planning Method for IoT Applications in Logistics

This paper discusses a method to support the planning of IoT applications in logistics processes in early planning stages. With regard to the specific characteristics and requirements of logistics processes, the method identifies feasible IoT technologies for specified use cases using a faceted classification. This developed classification is further combined with cost-benefit evaluation approaches, which are currently researched. The paper concludes with an outlook on the further development and discusses the contribution of IoT solutions to the creation of Smart Logistics Zones