RFID as a turbo for crane loading News | 25.04.2024

Digitalising supply chains in heavy industry requires identification systems that can withstand extreme mechanical stresses and challenging substrates. During the vessel loading of steel coils weighing up to 25 tonnes, automated processes previously reached their technical limits. Missing or damaged barcodes required manual verification by operators within hazardous areas, severely delaying handling times.

Integrating long-range RFID technology directly onto the hoisting gear resolves this logistical bottleneck. An antenna installed on the crane automatically captures the package ID during the lifting process over distances of up to 10 metres. The crane operator views the precise transponder data directly on the cabin screen without requiring a line of sight. The prerequisite for this seamless tracking is the permanent adhesion of the data carrier onto the crude steel.

Process Reliability on Dusty and Scaled Metal Surfaces

With the market launch of the specialized material GRAPHIPLAST^® 7157, S+P Samson GmbH closes a critical gap in harsh industrial environments. Conventional industrial adhesives fail on rough, dusty, or mill-scaled steel surfaces because they cannot establish sufficient surface contact.

GRAPHIPLAST® 7157 is based on a mechanically highly resilient yet extremely conformable plastic film. The decisive technological advantage lies in the thick-film adhesive used: its high coating weight completely encapsulates micro-irregularities, dust particles, and scale structures on the metal. The label establishes a permanent physical bond that withstands the vibrations and weather conditions during crane handling. This ensures a reliable read rate within the material flow, enabling flawless 100% automation along the transport chain.