Press releases

New RFID transponder for automatic tracing of batches

The importance of batch tracing in the pharmaceutical wholesale business is growing day by day. The RFID technology offers many new possibilities.

The problem with the employment of RFID employment in this industry are so-called blister packs: Aluminum foils in the product packages interfere and shield the magnetic field between transponders and reader, so that the RFID chips cannot be applied on or into the pharmaceutical packages. To prevent read errors SSI SCHAEFER developed the new RFID transponder in form of an angle.

Right at the receipt of goods and before stored in the rack the batch number, expiry date and the article number is saved on the RFID transponder. It is not fixed on the product, but presented freely on the first box. Before articles are replenished, a RFID transponder is attached to the first carton of the article and replenished in the respective channel. The RFID transponder is ejected onto the collecting belt together with the products. The chip in the transponder is activated thanks to the antenna that is integrated in the conveying system and the system receives information about the new batch. Products collected for an order are emptied into a tote or carton at the filling point together with the RFID transponder. All transport boxes that carry a transponder are automatically diverted to the check station. Once the box is at this station, the RFID transponder is removed by the operator and the product - for which the transponder transmits a batch change - is checked. The delivery note states exactly how many products of one batch are consolidated in an order.

The tags can be very small by making use of a ferrite antenna, which is incorporated in the transponder. A read range of 30 to 40 cm can hence be achieved.
The fact that ferrite antennas are very directional has been totally eliminated by the integration of a second ferrite antenna in another direction. This way, the RFID transponder communicates only via two dimensions with the antenna, which on the other hand performs a three-dimensional communication. This system can be easily adapted to existing automates, always taking manufacturer specifications into consideration. Thanks to this innovation, a reading rate of 100% has been reached during all tests, even when several batch changes are involved in one order.

Contact:
SSI SCHAEFER Peem GmbH
A – 8051 Graz
Phone +43 (0) 316 - 6096-0
sales@ssi-schaefer-peem.com