Smart labels for easy logistics

BANGALORE: Europe’s largest semiconductor manufacturing company, Infineon Technologies AG has opened its RFID Solution Excellence Center and System Lab in Graz, Austria, thereby introducing a keystone of the company strategy to provide solutions and presenting a complete RFID system for logistics applications. From the 140 employees of the Graz Development Center, around 40 people will be occupied with RFID activities.

Infineon is implementing a comprehensive approach to the RFID-based logistics segment, incorporating smart label technology, which consists of the RFID chip and the antenna both integrated into paper or plastic, smart label readers, the system platform to integrate RFID-supported logistics applications into a company's operations, and accompanying services for development, roll-out and maintenance of logistics systems. Infineon RFID system solutions can be adapted, for example, to applications in the automotive and textile industry, meeting sector-specific requirements for logistics processes in production and supply chain management.

"This comprehensive approach will allow us to significantly simplify installation and operation of RFID infrastructure in existing logistics systems," said Bodo Ischebeck, Senior Director and General Manager, Ident Solutions business activities at Infineon Technologies AG. "The success of RFID technology in logistics applications will depend on its optimum integration, with all its advantages and restrictions into existing logistics infrastructures. Through our competence in the radio frequency interface, information technology and RFID-relevant process management in logistics, Infineon can be a single source provider of RFID system solutions suitable for a broad IT landscape and designed for the simple and trouble-free introduction of RFID technology into existing logistics systems."

The Infineon Development Center in Graz already plays a key role in the RFID area. Developers here conceived an RFID system integration platform called the You-R OPEN (Operating Environment) platform. This is an operating system environment, developed specifically for RFID technologies, that links a company's existing logistics IT landscape to the RFID-supported logistics system. You-R OPEN supports the entire RFID infrastructure - from smart labels to readers, PC and severs, and links to IT networks. It makes it possible to integrate RFID systems into a company's internal IT landscape using J2EE, Microsoft .net, http, C++, XML or PML programming. This allows existing corporate logistics systems to be converted to RFID-supported processes using standard development tools. The platform You-R OPEN also makes it possible to perform maintenance, diagnose faults and update the software for the RFID hardware via a remote connection.

CIOL Bureau