New Style Durable RFID Tag Solution from Holland 1916

In recent months I have been getting an increasing number of requests for RFID tag solutions for oddly shaped, cylindrical objects like tees, flanges, pipe, etc. The common denominator to all of these inquiries are high impact resistance, corrosion and chemical resistance, the tag must be inseparable from the asset,  and in some cases there is even a requirement for the tag to be reusable. And of course, price is always a factor as well. This is a tricky mix of challenges, but we have a solution that has been met with a very high level of acceptance!

We are using a high density synthetic material with exceptionally long molecular chains and a molecular weight numbering in the millions! The long chain serves to transfer load effectively to the polymer backbone by strengthening intermolecular interactions. In short, this is an EXTREMELY tough material with the highest impact strength of any thermoplastics. In addition, it is 10x more resistant to abrasion than carbon steel!

Couple this with effective designs protecting the RFID transponder and allowing for powerful and efficient attachment options, you have an RFID tag solution ready for the Oil & Gas industry.

Durable RFID

RFID Over Barcode

Advantages of RFID Over Barcode

-          Line of Sight

• Barcode readers require a direct line of site to the barcode label. RFID readers do not

require a direct line of sight to the RF transponder

-          Read Range

• RFID tags are readable from a significantly greater distance in almost all instances

-          Read Rate

• RFID tags can be interrogated at a much more rapid rate than barcodes. If a barcode is not oriented optimally, it may take seconds to read a tag

-          Memory

• Barcodes do not have read/write capabilities. Barcodes are only an identifier, information can not be written to a barcode as it can with an RFID tag

-          Durability

• Barcodes are extremely limited in terms of durability. Since a line of site is required, the barcode must be on the surface of the product. Conversely, RFID tags can be embedded into a durable carrier allowing deployment into extreme, hazardous environments

Durable RFID

RFID Tag Attachment Considerations

Especially when implementing an RFID system in an industrial, hazardous environment, an organization must not overlook how important it is to make the correct tag attachment choices for the various assets they must account for in a fleet. Beyond tag durability and adverseness to separation from the asset, the organization must take into account; required labor hours, worker training, complexity of tagging system, among other potential issues.

Below is a simplified breakdown of  the more common attachment methods along with the strengths and challenges that each present.

- Rear Adhesive

• Strengths
  • Extremely fast method of attachment
  • No additional tools required to attach
  • No preexisting holes required on the asset
• Challenges
  • There must be a flat surface area to attach the tag
  • The surface must be free of dirt, oil and chemicals
  • If appropriate adhesive isn’t used for the specific asset’s surface there won’t be a strong bond
  • Not commonly perceived as a durable, industrial attachment solution

-         Rivet

• Strengths
  • Very strong attachment solution
  • Tag can be removed from  the asset, if the asset is to be sandblasted or subjected to extremely high temperature treatment, then reapplied
  • Simple to transition to if the asset already uses a nameplate that is riveted in place
• Challenges
  • Requires parts and tools to attach
  • Not an efficient option for assets already in the field
  • If holes are not predrilled in the asset, it becomes a laborious process

-         Weld

• Strengths
  • Generally considered the most durable and permanent attachment method
  • Will not be separated from the asset
• Challenges
  • Proper equipment is required along with a worker with necessary skills
  • Not an efficient choice for in field tag attachment

-         Hanging Tag

• Strengths
  • For many assets, this is the only way to tag it due to the shape of the asset
  • If the tag has the ability to be read from both sides, you can get a 360 deg read
  • If using a zip tie like cable product, tagging a fleet of assets can be done quickly and efficiently
• Challenges
  • Hanging tags are more likely to be separated from the asset though that is typically the nature of tagging that particular asset group
  • If not using a zip tie like cable product, the worker must use a cable and duplex sleeve, and hammer the sleeve shut. Multiple components and error prone process

Durable RFID

Video From The Xerafy Booth at RFID Journal Live 2011

Guest Blog by Somen Mondal of Field ID: 3 Reasons Why RFID is Important for Safety Management

3 Reasons Why RFID is Important for Safety Management

Safety management is changing.  Traditionally people would use clipboards and pens, filing cabinets and spreadsheets to manage inspections and safety compliance.  Just like how email changed the way we communicate, inspection software is allowing people to completely digitize their safety processes from beginning to end.  At Field ID, we provide a leading inspection and safety compliance management system that people are using around the world to simplify safety management.  Field ID uses a combination of mobile devices and the web to completely digitize the safety process.  But the first step in conducting an inspection is identification.  Whether you are identifying a chain sling or a harness, manual visual identification is not accurate or convenient.

Safety managers and inspectors are getting a huge benefit from using inspection software, but many of them are going the next step and using electronic identification.  Companies like Holland 1916, are revolutionizing the way safety managers are identifying their assets by producing innovative tagging solutions that allow for electronic identification in combination with traditional identification.

Here are 3 reasons why Durable RFID is so important for inspection and safety compliance management.

Reason 1: Efficiency

Identifying something visually is extremely time consuming.  Imagine looking at a dirty chain sling tag and trying to read the serial number.  With RFID, all you do is wand the tag with a reader and you have the unique serial number right away.  It is magnitudes faster.  Think about scanning a barcode at your grocery store versus reading and writing down the barcode number.  There is just no comparison.

Reason 2: Accuracy

Sometimes a “5” can look like an “R” to someone else.  Visual identification is prone to human error, especially if there are multiple people and assets involved.  Without proper accuracy when identifying something there is no real way to manage and maintain a proper safety audit trail.  RFID completely eliminates this problem.  Not only that, most RFID standards (include high frequency, ISO 15693) specify a globally unique serial number.   You never have to worry about duplicate RFID tags.

Reason 3: Assurance

One of the big problems that inspection software solves is the ability to prove that an inspection was done.  Paper-based inspections can essentially be backdated and conducted from someone’s living room.  With inspection software, like Field ID, the system timestamps everything so you can’t backdate an inspection and you can capture the GPS location so you can prove the location of the inspection.  RFID adds another level of assurance, because you can prove that the right asset was inspected.

The bottom line is that RFID can help you increase safety, reduce liability and save money.  That is a win-win situation that just makes sense.

About Somen Mondal:

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Field ID, Somen is responsible for corporate vision, strategy, business growth and all-around customer satisfaction. With the help of his extraordinary team, Somen is committed to establishing Field ID as the global leader in inspection and safety compliance management (ISCM).

Somen holds a B.A.Sc. in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Queen’s University.

Embedded RFID

Follow this link to read a short interview with Holland 1916′s Zack Barron on , embedded UHF tag manufacturer, Xerafy’s blog page.

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Challenges of OLD Inspection and Safety Compliance Management Processes

Challenges of OLD Inspection and Safety Compliance Management Processes

-          Identifying the Asset

• Identifying industrial assets by a serial number is time consuming enough on it’s own. This involves cross referencing the number with a long list of serial numbers probably in a notebook. But the challenge becomes even more daunting considering that industrial assets in the field can be covered in mud, dirt, grease, oil, etc making the serial number difficult to read

-          Different Inspection Criteria for Different Assets

• In the real world, there are thousands of different assets that each requires a different set of inspection criteria by multiple regulatory bodies, manufacturer’s suggestions, etc. Depending on the inspector to know the specific criteria for a myriad of assets is not reasonable.

-          Scheduling Inspections

• Many companies have thousands of different assets at multiple locations. Each asset may require inspection at a different time interval than the next. Maintaining this schedule with paper based processes is insane.

-          Inefficient Inspection Processes Equal Unnecessary Cost

• In the field, the inspector must A- Identify the asset. B- Choose the inspection criteria for that specific asset. C- Hand write the inspection results for each specific criteria for each asset….. And we haven’t even gotten to the backend administrative side of handling inspection paperwork

-          Back End Paperwork

• A safety audit trail must be maintained for each asset. This includes internal inspections, 3^rd party inspections, safety certifications and manufacturer’s docs.  When audits take place (announced or unannounced), all of this information must be presentable or repercussions are handed out.

This stuff will make your head spin once you wrap your mind around all of the assets these companies must keep track of. Why wouldn’t a company that must maintain safety compliance move to an RFID/Electronic Inspection & Safety Compliance Management System?

Durable RFID

Best Practices for Embedding Xerafy iN Tags

Xerafy has an informative video out on Youtube offering best practices for embedding Xerafy iN tags that you can watch here.

Durable RFID

The UHF DataCinch Has Arrived

Samples now available of the UHF DataCinch from Holland 1916. Designed for industrial use, the DataCinch is comprised of an 1/8″ steel cable that is locks into place once passed through the head of the device. Pull capacity for the DataCinch is over 1,000 lbs. The Xerafy Pico UHF tag is embedded in the UHF DataCinch and provides an approximate read range of 3 ft.

Durable RFID

Steps for implementing an RFID System

1-      Establish the project goal- What is going to be accomplished with a RFID implementation and how will you accomplish this? Stream lining inspection/maintenance recording processes? Improving supply chain visibility? Improving worksite safety?

2-       Ensure executive ownership- Senior leadership must understand the strategic value of RFID and may need to attend some educational seminars prior to asking their organization to undertake such a a technically challenging project. It is critical to have an executive sponsor who sets short-term and long-term project goals and communicates to the organization that RFID will be deployed as a market differentiator, cost reduction initiative, supply chain collaboration, or customer compliance solution.

3-      Assign a project leader- The best project leader will often be either an operations leader who has a good grasp on technical projects or an IT worker with experience supporting manufacturing operations

4-      Conduct an operations and technology assessment- Typically, this step is done in conjunction with an RFID systems integrator. The assessment consists of detailed process mapping, staff profiles, facility layout, material flow, product profile, internal systems that will be impacted and key performance indicators. Additionally, compliance requirements as well as short and long term project goals. You should know software, product and site testing, and integration costs from this effort.

5-      Product, site and technology testing- It is important to carefully plan and test the hardware you will be utilizing at the site they will be applied. Different environments will affect how hardware will operate. It is also important to check that the software technology fits well with the operations processes that are in place

6-      Production pilot-  The detailed project schedule is the first requirement and will consist of major phases such as:

• Project Kick-off — Executive communication of project commencement, management support, and why the project is of strategic importance to the company.
• Detailed Design — Developing system performance requirements; software and interface specifications; hardware and tag specifications, and many other details.
• Sourcing — Developing and sending out Request for Proposals, selecting vendors, contract negotiation and execution.
• Integration — Actual hardware installation and configuration; network wiring; software and interface development, testing and de-bugging; software validation (in regulated facilities); and a conference room pilot with all technology partners.
• Testing and Deployment — Production pilot integration testing; volume testing; mock go-live; written procedure development; end user training; and go-live and support.

Durable RFID