Berliner Wasserbetriebe Gets RFID Tagging Project Flowing

Berliner Wasserbetriebe chose two types of RFID interrogators: one for areas in which explosions have the potential to occur, and one for non-dangerous sites. For the latter, the company bought 80 Workabout Pro readers from Psion Teklogix that run on Windows CE and can read bar codes. It also purchased 30 ecom i.roc handheld readers from SAT, which conform to the European Commission's ATEX directive, which stipulates requirements for equipment used in explosive areas.

Angelika Neumann

Workers in all departments will be responsible for tagging and inventorying the items in their own divisions after receiving training on where and how to tag, and how to interrogate the tags with the handhelds. If problems arise, personnel will be able to call on the inventory team for assistance.

In the first step of the reading process, a worker will interrogate the location tag to identify the site of an item being inventoried. This is required because, for instance, there are many identical items without serial numbers in use at the utility desks—and the company wants to be able to match the particular class of item to its location. In the second step, the worker will read the tag on the desk, the computer or the machinery at that location. Once the data is collected on the handhelds, the computer will be taken to a docking station. Data will be transferred and sent to the database and SAP system. Managers will sign off on the work electronically, and the database will be updated.

Smart-TEC developed three different tags, as per the company's specifications, then tested them with various adhesives and in different environments (including dirty environments and areas with strong ultraviolet light). Each tag carries a bar code that matches its unique ID and contains information about the serial number, if appropriate. The standard tag measures 35 by 20 millimeters. The second tag, measuring 45 by 25 millimeters and covered in protective plastic, is designed to work in a dirty environment. The third tag, also covered in plastic, measures 45 by 25 millimeters and is designed to work on metal items.

The company's IT subsidiary managed the technical side of the application and only brought in outside experts when it needed special tests performed on the different RFID tags. Neumann declined to give any figures about the company's planned return on its investment, but says an ROI has been calculated and submitted with the original plan.