What Is the Best Gas Cylinder Tracking System?

Which one should I purchase?

—Name withheld

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There is no "best" system. Which one you should purchase depends on your particular needs, as well as the type of cylinders being used, the distances from which you need to read tags, the data you need to collect and other factors. Companies often employ passive, low-frequency (LF) transponders because LF tags perform well around metal objects. The downside of LF is that you need to be fairly close to the transponder to read it (within 3 feet or so). Some businesses have used special ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) transponders designed to work around metal, which provide a longer read range (20 feet or so).

You can purchase fixed and handheld readers for either system, and then feed the information into an RFID asset-tracking system. There are any number of systems integrators with software that can be used for this application. I would recommend finding a skilled integrator in your area who can create a system to meet your needs.

Here are some articles that you might find relevant:

• Manufacturer to Track Half a Million Gas Cylinders

• Malaysian Propane Supplier Fills Up on RFID

• Gas Manufacturer Fills Up More Often With RFID

• 15x More Efficient: Tracking Propane Containers with RFID

—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal