RFID Field Trials Show Promise

WASHINGTON-The largest and most widely-supported industry field test of RFID technology on reusable transport packaging continues and is showing outstanding results for RFID technology, according to the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), formerly the Reusable Pallet & Container Coalition.

The groundbreaking study is supported by a broad group of RPA members and industry leaders that collectively represent every facet of the supply chain. The participants include Tanimura and Antle, Stemilt, Wal-Mart, Frontera Produce, The Kennedy Group, Avery Dennison, Alien, UPM Raflatac, Impinj, IFCO Systems, Georgia-Pacific, and ORBIS.

Currently, thousands of reusable containers with affixed RFID tags are being tested throughout the supply chain, from the wet and cold conditions of grower fields, to the rugged and repeated handling of distribution centers, and on to the retail environment. This large scale field trial comes on the heels of rigorous laboratory testing at Michigan State University School of Packaging.

"There has never been an RFID-related field trial of this magnitude in the United States with so many key supply chain partners," says Fred Heptinstall of IFCO Systems, and RPA president. "The level of cooperation within the industry is truly remarkable. And if the field trial results mirror the data from the laboratory testing, we will prove unequivocally that reusables are the enabler to the cost-effective use of RFID technology."

During the laboratory trial, 230 reusable containers with nine different EPC-compliant, Gen 2 RFID tags were vigorously tested a tMichigan State University School of Packaging. Moreover, readability tests were conducted by a CalPoly scientist at a second laboratory and results were verified by third-party advisors. The project team performed more than 160 hours of testing and more than 14,000 tests. The containers were subjected to sinusoidal vibration and drop tests on all edges as well as repeated cleaning and handling. In addition to proving durability, the data demonstrated that it is possible to get 100% read rates 100% of the time which has never been achieved in the industry before. The three tags that performed optimally during the testing are currently being used in the field trial.

"The durability and readability of the RFID tags during the lab tests were superb," says Pat Kennedy of The Kennedy Group, and the RPA Project Leader. "The information gathered from these studies will help businesses make data-driven decisions about the cost effectiveness and feasibility of incorporating reusable containers into their supply chains from an enhanced track and trace perspective."

In the field trial that is currently under way, the reusable containers with the multi-cycle RFID tags are being used in grower fields in Washington and California where they are being subjected to mud, varying weather conditions, and rough handling in the field. From there, produce in the containers is shipped to Wal-Mart distribution centers, where the produce is cleaned and the containers and tags are subject to washing, further handling, refrigeration, and storage before being sent to retail stores. Eventually, the containers are collapsed and sent back through the supply chain for further cleaning, handling, and storage. Each container is going through a minimum of three cycles of use. At the end of each cycle, the RFID tags are being tested for viability, then re-encoded for the next cycle. The six-month field trial is expected to end in fall 2008.

Upon completion of the field trial, the RPA will develop an economic model for integrating RFID tags with reusable transport packaging. Quality Logistics Management (QLM), an EPCglobal-certified Solutions Provider, will collect and analyze the data, and present an industry white paper with the results.