News
Franwell featured in Air Canada newsletter
Franwell featured in RFID Journal
Franwell engineer featured in 83 Degrees
Press release: Air Canada Partners with Franwell to Implement RFID Tracking
Lakeland, FL. – April 13, 2010 – Air Canada Cargo (ACC) has partnered with Franwell, Inc. to explore the possibilities of using RFID to improve real-time tracking of shipments with minimal human intervention or disruption to the workflow. Together, Franwell and Air Canada have developed a plan that includes a pilot project that will track cargo shipments between Air Canada’s London Heathrow (LHR) and Montreal (YUL) facilities. The pilot project is scheduled to take place in June 2010.
In an effort to prove the benefit of RFID for cargo tracking and as the first step to design a large-scale implementation, Air Canada Cargo has worked with Franwell to develop an RFID pilot that will implement the infrastructure and applications necessary to perform real-time tracking of shipments with minimal human intervention. The pilot project will provide end-users with a single interface and tracking information will be available through a web-based system.
Upon successful completion of the pilot project, Air Canada Cargo will look to implement an RFID solution that will provide: improved track and trace, with real-time visibility and performance down to the piece level; reduced processing time; increased precision and improved data collection through a simplified and automated process. Air Canada Cargo plans to use Franwell’s rfid>Sleeve wearable RFID reader to ensure that they can seamlessly capture data with minimal interruption to the normal workflow. This improved data collection will also enable a simplified and more accurate billing process for ACC.
“The data we will be able to capture with RFID will be invaluable to achieving our goals for improving cargo and mail tracking, there is no other technology that will let us capture this level of detailed data with minimal disruption to our normal workflow and processes,” said Barbara Johnston, General Manager of Postal Affairs for Air Canada Cargo. “But it is also more than that, we fully expect to improve our processes throughout the facilities when this is rolled out”, said Johnston.
The teams have worked together to design process maps that incorporate RFID, the software and hardware have been selected, designed and developed and the pre-install site visits have recently been completed. The concept and the process maps have been shared with the pilot stations, which are now anxiously awaiting equipment install, employee training and launch of the pilot.
After successful completion of the pilot project, it is the objective of ACC to build a business case to justify automation of cargo activities with RFID integration resulting in improved service, enhanced billing integrity and improved communication to customers.
About Franwell
Franwell, Inc. is a technology company dedicated to the development of leading edge products and services with a focus on supply chain solutions and RFID integration. Our staff provides complete consulting and system integration services to support the effective implementation of RFID solutions in a variety of industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cargo. www.franwell.com
Press release: Franwell works with DoD to prove RFID temperature monitoring can improve Warfighter food supply
Lakeland, FL. – April 12, 2010 – Franwell, along with University of Florida and Georgia Tech Research Institute, is developing a solution for the US Department of Defense for Remote Environmental Monitoring and Diagnostics in the Perishable Supply Chain.
Shelf-stable (semi-perishable) combat rations are essential for enabling the individual Warfighter to perform assigned missions and survive battlefield threats. The current family of rations has been developed and designed to have sufficient shelf life under normal storage conditions (2 to 3 years at 80°F), however, under high temperature conditions there is significant degradation of the quality and nutrient content of those rations. The challenge is even greater for more perishable foods such as fresh fruits & vegetables (FFV), which can play an important role in promoting Warfighter health and morale. Extreme temperatures can shorten their shelf life so dramatically that providing perishable food products to the battlefield is almost impossible.
The introduction of highly functional, sensor-equipped radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in the DoD supply chain can significantly improve food quality, safety, and security. In addition these new technologies can play a significant role in supply chain management. Pilot projects performed jointly by Franwell, the UF/IFAS Center for Food Distribution & Retailing and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center have found that additional functionality in order to improve military logistics, simultaneously provides valuable improvement opportunities for commercial food distribution and retailing.
By using wireless temperature sensors, remote monitoring (RFID), algorithms, and diagnostics, shelf life can be automatically calculated in real time using web-based computer models. With this knowledge, logisticians could plan for a steady flow of rations and other food supplies to support Warfighters in various theaters of operation despite potentially encountering extreme environmental conditions during transit. This knowledge will result in reduced losses, as well as reduced inspection time to determine ration serviceability.
For maximum applicability to the current existing military supply chain, this project uses commercially available and standards based RFID tags and handheld readers. This data is used in conjunction with shelf life models developed by UF for new First Strike Rations (FSR) to calculate remaining shelf life for use by logisticians in determining the proper utilization of the rations. A web-based system will then be used to provide real-time visibility of remaining shelf life of operational rations throughout the DoD supply chain.
“We are very pleased with the preliminary results of this project and the potential to make significant improvements in supply chain management for First Strike Rations,” said Stephen Moody, Team Leader for Individual Combat Rations at the Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center. “We are very much looking forward to our continued relationship with all of the project partners.”
About Franwell
Franwell, Inc. is a technology company dedicated to the development of leading edge products and services with a focus on supply chain solutions and RFID integration. Our staff provides complete consulting and system integration services to support the effective implementation of RFID solutions in a variety of industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cargo. www.franwell.com
Press release: Franwell a finalist for RFID Journal Live! "Best in Show" for 2nd year
Lakeland, FL. – March 22, 2010 – The commercial release of Franwell’s rfid>Sleeve, (www.franwell.com) has been selected as a finalist for the “Best in Show” award by RFID Journal. The winner will be announced during RFID Journal LIVE! 2010, which will take place in Orlando, April 14-16. Finalists were selected from entries of new products that will be exhibited during the show. Last year, Franwell exhibited a prototype of the rfid>Sleeve and will be exhibiting the commercial version of the product for the first time at this year’s RFID Journal Live!
Franwell’s rfid>Sleeve is a UHF wearable RFID system enabled by Bluetooth or WiFi. Designed to be worn on the lower arm as a hands-free solution, the sleeve allows the person handling product to work at their most natural and efficient state while capturing information in a seamless and passive manner.
The rfid>Sleeve’s lightweight and ergonomic design enables the user to work more efficiently and comfortably by offering hands-free operation while providing more accurate results at differentiating individual products. Utilizing comfortable and stable straps, the lightweight device (300 grams) is worn on the lower arm, freeing up the hands for important tasks. The reader is ruggedized and suitable for use in harsh environments and is sealed with an IP54 rating, which means it is protected from water splashes and dust penetration. Another unique feature is that the reader power can be easily controlled by the end user to ensure tag reads for different container sizes or contents.
“We are very excited to be unveiling the commercial design of this product at RFID Journal Live! and even more excited to be a finalist for the “Best in Show” award category two years in a row,” said Jeff Wells, President and CEO of Franwell. “Last year, we had tremendous interest in the prototype for this product, which was a finalist in this same category. With the extended Class 3 tag reading capabilities, the addition of WiFi communications and a more user-friendly and rugged design, we are ecstatic to present the commercial version of this product for the first time at the upcoming show in Orlando.”
“We believe that this is a ground-breaking product that delivers on the promise of RFID technology by bringing out its inherent benefits and convenience,” said Terri-Anne Crawford, Vice-President and COO of Franwell. “We fully expect this brand new, innovative product to provide the answer to RFID solutions, particularly in areas of the supply chain that require hands-free and highly productive operations with an ergonomic, portable device.”
The RFID Journal Awards are given in recognition of excellence in the area of radio frequency identification. Attendees will be able to have input into the “Best of Show” results by viewing presentations on the RFID Journal Live website. Thewinners are announced at the show.
About Franwell
Franwell, Inc. is a technology company dedicated to the development of leading edge products and services with a focus on supply chain solutions and RFID integration. Our staff provides complete consulting and system integration services to support the effective implementation of RFID solutions in a variety of industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cargo. www.franwell.com
Franwell featured on Bay News 9
RFID and Franwell featured in the Ledger
Franwell Client H&M Bay featured in RFID Journal Live
Franwell featured in florida.HIGH.TECH 2009
Terri-Anne Crawford, Franwell's COO and VP, was featured as one of the Faces of Technology in the 2009 florida.HIGH.TECH magazine. This magazine is published annually as a Guide to Florida's High Tech Corridor.