Montech AG has developed a shuttle with RFID technology for the Montrac transport system, to be introduced at Automatica 2008 in Munich. The innovation is that the route is defined by the carried product and not by the shuttle, as it has been so far.

This is how it works. The product lying on the shuttle is provided with a transponder that contains information about the product’s route along the track. While on the shuttle, the transponder is written through the Intelligent Routing Module (IRM) by means of a serial interface. The RFID read/write unit is integrated in the shuttle. When the transponder is outside the Montrac system, it can be written using a standard RFID unit.

The possibility to integrate RFID technology in the Montrac system delivers benefits to all kinds of users. Alessandro Sibilia, CEO Montech AG: “With the RFID shuttle, customers can further automate and optimize the material flow.” In this way, you save time and productivity increases.
In addition, the products can be replaced along the track and they will still reach the “correct” destination, thanks to the RFID marking.
In the transponder, different information can be stored such as item, serial or production number, and working processes. This procedure also ensures an accurate traceability of the production route.
The shuttle with RFID technology is a development that aims at enhancing the intralogistic process management: “I’m thinking of automation and distribution in warehouses,” Sibilia says.