International Paper's Smart Packaging business (Memphis, Tenn.) has partnered with Cascade Corporation (Portland, Ore.) to offer RFID-ready clamp trucks. Approximately three years ago in its Texarkana, Texas paper mill, IP deployed a RFID-equipped clamp truck solution to work in conjunction with its Warehouse Tracking System to identify and locate paper rolls.
"The RFID clamp attachment product has proven successful within International Paper's operations, so we decided to offer the integrated solution externally," said Scott Andersen technical director for IP Smart Packaging.
International Paper's partnership with Cascade started with the implementation of IP's RFID-enabled warehouse solution in Texarkana. "We have a great partnership with International Paper that includes five-plus years of RFID experience," said Brad Vandehey, product manager for Cascade Corporation.
The attachments are installed with integrated RFID readers, antennas and respective cabling. IP Smart Packaging designs the optimized product specific RFID solution while the partnership works cooperatively to engineer the components within the operational constraints of the clamp.
Cascade and IP Smart Packaging have commercial clamp designs that have been in use for more than three years. They have partnered to develop future RFID clamp attachment solutions.
The integrated RFID clamp truck solution can be used to improve inventory accuracy, reduce lost shipments and improve overall supply chains, while eliminating the need for RFID portals at every dock door.
The RFID-ready clamp trucks consist of rugged readers and locator technology that exceed industrial requirements for surviving tough environments in warehouse operations. The trucks read Electronic Product Code (EPC) pallet and product tags and track every product movement in the warehouse. With the combined use of RFID and other proprietary technologies, the trucks monitor and report their location and health status information in real-time through wireless messaging.
Source: International Paper Smart Packaging
