Feb 26, 2007RFID Journal, the world's leading media and events company covering radio frequency identification (RFID), today announced that it is partnering with the University of Arkansas' RFID Research Center to host a preconference seminar, "RFID in the Cold Chain," at RFID Journal LIVE! 2007. The RFID Research Center will also demonstrate five applications of RFID technology in the event's 86,000-square-foot exhibit hall, April 30 to May 2, in Orlando, Fla., at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
The RFID Research Center is renowned for a seminal study it conducted into the application of RFID technology at Wal-Mart. The study revealed that RFID helped reduce out of stocks by 16 percent across the board and as much as 60 percent on some fast-moving items. The center has built one of the world's most sophisticated RFID labs, with conveyor systems and a simulated store and refrigerators where it tests cold chain applications.
RFID Journal introduced exhibit hall demonstrations at its fourth annual event in 2006, and they were met with great enthusiasm from attendees. This year, the RFID Research Center will run five important demonstrations:
- Using RFID temperature sensors
- Optimizing tag location on a carton
- Choosing stationary versus mobile readers
- Tagging individual items
- Leveraging RFID data
The RFID Research Center is also conducting a preconference seminar on April 30 featuring the use of RFID in the cold chain. During the seminar, Bill Hardgrave, director of the RFID Research Center, and Jean-Pierre Emond, codirector of the Center for Food Distribution and Retailing of theUniversity of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), will explain the role of RFID in the cold chain and quantify the potential benefits.
Christopher Hook, co-leader of Deloitte Consulting's Wireless & Sensor Solutions practice, will discuss and introduce the concept of the "intelligent cold chain" as well as provide a general description of using temperature-logging RFID tags on fresh produce. He will also present key findings from a temperature-monitoring project and observations on what the findings mean to the handling of fresh produce from farm to customer.
David Barrack, senior director of RFID and sensor technologies at Sybase iAnywhere, will explain how to develop an IT infrastructure that allows companies to leverage RFID and sensor technologies in the cold chain. Additionally, Richard A. Mosley, systems design and development director at C.H. Robinson Worldwide, a leading third-party logistics provider, will explain how his company is using RFID today to improve cold chain management and deliver value to its customers.
"We are pleased to be working with RFID Journal to educate companies about how RFID can be used successfully today," says Hardgrave. "This is an opportunity for us to showcase the work we've done in the lab and help others to better understand the technology."
"At this early stage of RFID adoption, it's very important to educate people about how and where RFID can be used profitably today," says Mark Roberti, RFID Journal's founder and editor. "Bill Hardgrave and the folks at the University of Arkansas have done tremendous work, and our attendees will benefit from both the sessions Bill is involved with and the demonstrations on the exhibit hall floor."
Company representatives interested in attending RFID Journal LIVE! should register online by going to www.rfidjournalevents.com/live.
