Orbit Technology announces a comprehensive, one-stop-shop" RFID solution for manufacturing and distribution companies that is powered by its own RFID Manager software

Orbit Technology announces a new comprehensive, one-stop-shop" RFID system integration solution ideal for manufacturing and distribution companies interested in markedly increasing the performance and efficiency of their operations. The system integrates any RFID hardware technology from third-party vendors (LF, HF, UHF, WiFi, and UWB-based systems) with Orbits own RFID Manager software for powerful data logging, alarm, and user notification features

Santa Ana, CA (PRWEB) August 12, 2004 -- Orbit Technology announces the availability of customized, comprehensive RFID solutions for companies who want to improve the performance of their manufacturing and distribution operations. The new offering allows companies to avoid the confusion and expense of contracting with multiple vendors (i.e., RFID scanners/processors/tags, RFID software, wireless transceivers, installation, systems integration) when procuring a new RFID system. Orbits customized systems incorporate any type of RFID hardware technology (LF, HF, UHF, WiFi, and UWB) available from third-party vendors with Orbits own powerful RFID Manager software.

Key System Features:

·   Tag tracking resolution as high as within 1 foot (0.3 meter) of accuracy
·   Tag tracking distances of up to 600 feet (182 meters)
·   All data about tracked items is accessible from any Internet connection
·   Real-time visual tracking" with items shown moving in real-time on grid representing facility layout
·   Proximity tracking" feature for automatically tracking items from location to location through a production process or distribution center
·   RFID Manager software logs important events, triggers alarms, and notifies users via cell phone, pager, e-mail and online status panel
·   Displays captured data via charts, histogram-style graphs, and Gantt charts
·   Can share data with customers existing ERP system and other, third-party software products
·   Automatic video capture feature can e-mail facility managers a video file showing tagged items entering or leaving user-specified locations
·   Built-in cost tracking feature automatically calculates production or distribution costs based upon actual item movement through a facility
·   Robust, NEMA 4 / IP 64 RFID scanner enclosures and high heat/high humidity rated tags available
·   Wireless scanners available for outdoor or hard-to-access locations
·   Transmission of telemetry data (e.g., temperature, pressure, machine state data) available
·   Passive or active tags available

For more information about Orbit Technologys RFID solutions and integration services, please contact Orbit at info@otc.net or at 1-714-427-0553.

Why Some Companies Are Hesitant About Investing in RFID

Given all of the recent press about the benefits of RFID technology, many companies know that they are giving up valuable competitive ground each month that passes while they hesitate in selecting and implementing a solution. The main reasons for such understandable hesitation are twofold. First, many companies have trouble coming up with a model for calculating the potential Return-on-Investment (ROI) for a would-be RFID solution for their operations. The second common reason for such hesitation is that companies dont know which of the many technology options to choose among those available to them. Fortunately, there are solutions to these challenges.

The key to developing an ROI model for a proposed RFID solution lies in understanding the dollars-and-cents benefits of such a system and to compare those benefits to the investment cost of the system. Often, companies understandably have trouble dollarizing" these perceived benefits because they are not fully aware of the specific benefits an RFID solution can offer them. These companies are advised to talk with various integrators and individual equipment vendors and ask them to identify the specific ways that their particular RFID system can help them either make or save money. Companies are advised not to invest in any technology solution (RFID or otherwise) unless the vendors of that system can specifically outline its potential benefits in concrete, dollarized terms.

Regarding the difficulty in choosing which RFID technology to invest in: it is true that there is a dizzying array of RFID hardware-related choices available to companies. A further challenge is that individual OEM vendors are naturally biased toward their own products -- thereby potentially not always making the most ideal recommendation to customers. A good solution to this dilemma is to talk to those systems integrators who are not aligned with any one particular set of RFID hardware vendors or system installers. Such integrators can recommend specific solutions from the widest possible array of available products because they are not married" to any particular vendor or solution.

What is RFID?

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Used originally by the British Royal Air Force during WWII for fighter plane friend-or-foe detection," RFID has become a very significant close range item tracking technology for governmental, industrial, B2B, and consumer-oriented applications. RFID systems involve the use of small radio transmitters -- called tags -- which can be attached to almost any type of item (people, raw materials, WIP goods, finished goods, equipment, etc.). The tags store and transmit data to nearby scanners which can calculate tag location, tag ID#, battery life, and other useful data. Captured tag data is then passed to processing software that further processes and utilizes the captured data as per user requirements. RFID tags can range in size from 0.0098 sq. in. (0.25 sq. mm.) to 3 sq. in. (7.6 sq. cm) and range in cost from 30 cents to over $100 per tag. Active tags have their own batteries, while passive tags acquire power remotely from the scanners themselves.

About Orbit Technology Corporation

Founded by manufacturing automation experts in 1991, Orbit has made its name supplying factory automation, CAD/CAM and Web-based collaboration software solutions to its international base of clients.

Orbit Technology (www.otc.net) has successfully implemented complete UWB, WiFi, and other types of RFID systems for clients in the manufacturing and distribution fields. To contact Orbit Technology Corporation, e-mail us at info@otc.net or call 1-714-427-0553.

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