transport logistic 2007 showcases the possibilities and the limitations of RFID technology

Used in the Future Stores in Germany, for locating reindeer in Lapland and securing laptops in Brazil, radio frequency identification (RFID) has made tremendous strides around the world in recent years. The logistics industry also has great hopes of this technology. Just what RFID applications are possible and practical in this field is one of the themes showcased at transport logistic 2007.

Between 12 and 15 June 2007 scientists, software developers and users of RFID technology will be coming together at the 11th transport logistic, International Trade Fair for Logistics, Telematics and Transport in Munich. In the forum on ‘RFID technology – expectations, applications and visions’ (13 June, 10 – 11.30 a.m., Forum III, Hall C4) visitors to the fair can gather information on the potential of RFID technology. Representatives from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) of Dortmund, from the Logistics Department of the University of Dortmund and from GS1 Germany GmbH (Cologne) will be answering questions such as: What can RFID do today? What applications are there in the field of logistics? Is this technology also suited for use in smaller companies? And: What costs are involved? First-hand reports from users of RFID will be given by representatives from Felix Schoeller Papier C.V., REWE-Informations-Systeme GmbH and from Weidenhammer Packungen (Hockenheim).

The RFID market is growing fast. Experts predict that in 2007 total investment in this technology will be around 22 billion euros. In 2004 the figure was 1.5 billion. And it´s not only the large industrial and commercial concerns that are investing in transponders, portals and software – RFID also brings benefits to SMEs.

In the next few years the world of logistics is set to undergo paradigmatic change, thanks to the use of electronic labels. RFID will be used for far more than pure product identification. In material-flow processes, RFID enables individual objects to find their own way through a logistics network. RFID chips on the items can have sufficient in-built ‘intelligence’ to make autonomous decisions, perceive their environment and call up resources. The consequence would be an ‘Internet of things’. Michael ten Hompel, Head of the Fraunhofer IML, sums up this development: “It is time for us to ask what a parcel can do for us and not what we can do for a parcel.”

About transport logistic
The 11th international trade fair for logistics, telematics and transport (12 to 15 June 2007 in Munich) presents the whole spectrum of the transport and logistics industry – telematics, in-company transport and material flow, logistics and freight transport. The fair aims to be a practical forum for information gathering and exchange in the diversely structured field of transporting freight – by road, rail, water and air. The visitor target groups of the fair are service-providers and decision-makers from the transport business, from industry, trade associations and freight logistics. In 2005 transport logistic attracted 1,333 exhibitors and around 40,000 visitors from a total of 103 countries. The statistics for the fair are independently audited on behalf of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (FKM), a society for the voluntary control of fair and exhibition statistics.

Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair organisations. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and new technology. Over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part each year in the trade fairs in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and in South America. With five subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and 66 foreign representatives covering 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.

Petra Gagel
Tel.: +49 89 / 9 49-20244, Fax: +49 89 / 9 49-20249
E-mail: petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de
05e/ProKomGB1/ni/pet

This release was published on openPR.