Integration challenges continue to fall for
manufacturers and supply chain managers rolling out Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) systems. Most recently, Siemens Industry has
broadened its RFID offering with a pair of new compact RFID readers —
the Simatic RF620R and RF630R — equipped with a data and diagnostic
interface specifically designed for connectivity back to PLC control
systems.

“This bridges the gap between the retail supply
chain's use of UHF, RFID technology and the factory floor,” says Michael
LaGrega, a Siemens RFID product engineer. “Manufacturing can reap the benefits
of not only industrial UHF tags, but they now have UHF readers that are truly
designed to be integrated into a manufacturing environment.”

Designed to fit into
tight spaces, these stationary readers have an IP65 protection rating and are
suitable for use in harsh industrial environments. The RF620R boasts an
integrated UHF antenna, while the RF630R can accommodate up to two external UHF
antennas. With Simatic RF communication modules, these readers can be
integrated directly into Siemens’ S7 PLCs as well as in many common
communication networks based on Ethernet (PROFINET, EthernetIP, and TCP/IP) and
PROFIBUS protocols.  The new
readers are capable of reliable selective tag identification, secure data
communication, and are suitable for directly identifying objects at read/write
distances of up to three meters.

“This allows standard UHF tags to be
tracked along the entire process chain from receipt of materials, through production,
to finished goods. We feel
that this differentiates the Siemens solution at this time,” says LaGrega.

Ideally, these readers will be deployed in
the discrete manufacturing space in assembly and materials handling situations,
adds LaGrega. “Food and Beverage and packaging are obviously strong fits, but
they will add value in any industry that is interested in traceability of work
in progress or asset management, including supply chain management, operations,
quality control, facilities management, and IT.

“Companies can now benefit from the EPC UHF
standards which allow for higher data transmission speeds, longer read
distances and lower cost EPC Gen2 inlays while receiving the advantages of
industrial RFID algorithms such as command chaining, high-speed digital control,
and queued-data scan modes”

For more information, including the RF620R /
RF630R Press Release and RF600 System Brochure, please click here.

For more the RF600 System Manual, please click here.

::Design World::

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Filed Under: Factory automation, Networks • connectivity • fieldbuses, PLCs + PACs

 

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