Inteligistics is built around the concept of intelligent logistics, of which advanced materials, innovative packaging, and RFID are major components. Our products help you efficiently manage and allocate space and effortlessly track, identify, record, and distribute shipments in real time.

Advanced Materials

Current shipping systems are extremely heavy and do not have the flexibility of composites and metal/plastic hybrid materials. They are not easy to manufacture or recycle, and can create a barrier for signals generated by RFID.

Thinking outside the box, Inteligistics decided to use structural composites, bonding agents, and hybrid plastic/metal technologies to reduce the tare weight, improve design strength and create a virtual transparent shipping system capable of withstanding the rigors of harsh shipping environments. Yet, lowering material waste, reducing labor intensive fabrication, allowing consolidation of parts, and simplifying assembly. In addition, there is an environmental bonus, the materials are 100% recyclable. (Figure 1).

Inteligistics' 5QuadPodTM is constructed of polyetherurethanes for extreme durability, abrasion resistance, and good resistance to penetration by projectiles. It is transparent to X-ray and other scanning technologies, resistant to molds, mildew, fungus, and insects, easily cleaned and disinfected, resistant to chemical reactions, impervious to moisture, and compatible with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Weight reduction and load strength will be a key to the successful construction of a 5QuadPodTM. Experience shows that plastic/metal hybrids create material synergies that enhance 1) resistance to bending, compression, and torsion loads, 2) high energy absorption, 3) dimensional stability, and 4) low part weight.

Figure 2: Improved Capability of Plastic/Metal Hybrid Panels under Bending Loads
(drawing courtesy of Lanxess)

RFID Technology

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a non-contact, proximity based, automatic identification and information technology that does not require manual scanning like bar codes. An RFID transponder (referred to as an "RFID tag" or "tag"), RFID interrogator (referred to as a "reader") and attached antenna are the main components of any RFID system.

Inteligistics has developed an RFID supply chain management system, which integrates RFID and IT and communicates with local and global networks. It includes a middleware named Inteliware™ which assembles tag information read by the interrogator/reader, creates real time reports and inputs the information to a database/manifest for further data integration and dissemination via web and satellite systems around the world. The Inteliware™ also prompts, alerts and distributes critical information based on pre-defined events. Inteligistics and its technology partners have the necessary experience to implement RFID Passive and active tags at various frequencies including 13.56 MHz, 433 MHz, UHF ranging between 850 to 950 MHz and 2.4 GHz. We have thorough state-of-the-art knowledge of the EPC/ISO/Mil/ANSI and other Standards/protocols. Mr. Steve Halliday, an expert in development of several international standards for RFID applications is in our employment and is on the Board of Inteligistics. Inteligistics will adopt products and technologies that will be compatible with future developments for U.S. and International Standards.

The following information will help you to better understand RFID technology and how Inteligistics utilizes it.

1. The RFID tag is normally attached to an item to be identified and communications occur via over-air protocols, securely transmitting data to central processing software.

2. Unlike the bar code, the RFID tag does not have to be in line-of-sight in order to be read. Additionally RFID provides several advantages over existing methods for identification. Because of its non-line of sight nature, RFID labels can be read when obscured by dirt or grease, or scratches.

3. The substantial advantage of RFID technology is its read/write capability and its storage capacity. This enables the RFID tag to act as a local, portable database that travels with the item. This capability allows much less complex and inhibitive system architectures to be designed, since an interface into a master database is not required for every read.