EoW March 2010

technology news

RFID for spool management

Rewinding machine type DSA4 (system Hacoba) with integrated RFID read/write system ▲ ▲

Product variety and the need to record each step of a production process require reliable labelling of filled spools. Niehoff’s most recent development is a system based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for automatic identification of braiding bobbins and NPS spools and helps with the administration of the products. The system will be demonstrated at wire 2010. The Niehoff system was developed by Niehoff with the MES software company Advaris, the bobbin manufacturer Steintex and a team from Erlangen-Nuremberg University. It consists of spools with RFID transponders, a read/write unit integrated into the rewinding machine and mobile reading devices. The RFID transponders embedded into the spools can be easily and durably encoded with data, storing much more information than traditional barcode systems and which cannot be erased or become illegible. The RFID system can be connected to a production data acquisition (PDA) system with a manufacturing execution system (MES). Furthermore, machine operators can be supplied with portable reading devices that can be equipped with a conventional barcode identification system as an option. Data transmission to the host computer and subsequent data processing are achieved using MES software specifically developed by Niehoff’s partner Advaris. The new RFID system enables decentralised data storage beyond factory boundaries, tracking of single bobbins/spools and data documentation. When further processing the spools, a machine operator can compare the spool data with the order data and recognise whether a spool is suitable for the production process or not. The described RFID system is also suitable for other production processes and packages, for example spooling automotive wires onto NPS spools and the subsequent manufacturing of harnesses. The spools of the Niehoff Package System (NPS) can be equipped with RFID transponders by Astroplast, the NPS spool manufacturer, during the fabrication of the spool. Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co KG – Germany

Fax : +49 9122 977 155 Email : info@niehoff.de

Website : www.niehoff.de

Niehoff Endex North America Inc Email : sales@niehoffendex.com

Fax : +1 856 467 0584

Website : www.niehoff-usa.com

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EuroWire – March 2010