RFID technology for personal protective equipment
Slings and their areas of application: Slings, as ropes, chains, lifting slings and round slings are known in technical jargon, have a wide range of applications. They are used in industry, for example for lifting and landing safety and for load handling. However, personal protective equipment can also be found in the event and sports sector. The lifting equipment must be of impeccable quality and functionality and must be continuously tested and maintained, because where human life is at stake, safety must come first.
In the increasingly popular climbing and high ropes courses, special attention is paid to the safety of guests and the construction of wind turbines is also a matter of absolute safety and precision. the workplace sways 100 to 200 meters above the ground and there is always at least a moderate to strong wind blowing. Despite these adverse conditions, full concentration is required. The fitters often only hang in a light harness, held by a rope - both of which are pieces of personal protective equipment, or PPE for short.
Online consultationHowever, reliable protection requires proper care and maintenance. There are standardized regulations from the employers' liability insurance association for testing slings. In addition, EU directives must be complied with and precisely documented. A visual inspection must be carried out each time before a sling is used. The times of use, maintenance measures and the instruction of employees in the use of PPE must also be taken into account. The administration is enormous, takes up a lot of time and generates costs. This is where RFID technology from smart-TEC comes into play, offering solutions for inventory, safety and material checks.
How does the integration of RFID technology work?
When the RFID reader is held up to the RFID tags, regardless of the design, the globally unique ID of the integrated chip (TID) is read. This makes each item of equipment unique and the results of the mandatory annual security check can be logged individually. On the one hand, legal regulations are complied with and security is increased at the same time. Sources of error are also minimized, as the serial number is transmitted digitally and no longer recorded manually. The reduced time required is also an advantage that should not be underestimated. A special app can be made available to offer customers this service.
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Our RFID solutions in practice
The company from the Allgäu region manufactures innovative climbing and safety harnesses that are used in industrial applications, adventure parks and climbing forests. EDLRID's products are being taken to the next generation with RFID technology from smart-TEC. The EDELRID safety helmet is equipped with the smart-DOME Classic product. The chip is embedded in a high-quality, soft PU and is therefore protected against mechanical impacts, temperatures and the effects of the weather. This RFID tag also impresses with its customized design.
Textile RFID solutions
When it comes to ropes, EDELRID has long relied on self-adhesive labels from RATHGEBER, the parent company of smart-TEC, which are wrapped around the end of the rope. These are now also equipped with RFID technology from smart-TEC. RFID tags can also be sewn directly into textile belts or retrofitted using cable ties. The smart-DOME Freestyle product range and smart-DOME cable ties are used here, as these products are highly durable and offer various fastening options. This is practical when existing products need to be retrofitted with RFID technology. For example, mountain rescue services can retrofit their existing climbing harnesses with the RFID cable tie solution.
The Upper Austrian company has developed the innovative LiSA LIFE-SAFETY-SYSTEM for its PPE products. With the LiSA online platform and the LiSA app, users can easily check whether their PPE is approved for use at any time and manage it easily on their PC or smartphone. At the same time, they fulfill their legal documentation obligations - without any paper. smart-TEC's NFC tag, which was specially developed based on Haberkorn's requirements, is at the heart of the LiSA system. Durability, tear resistance, weight, robustness, individual company imprint, brand communication, intelligence and flexibility were the basic requirements defined by Haberkorn for the NFC tag. The result of a development process closely coordinated with the customer is a high-quality brand emblem with integrated NFC functionality for sewing in, which meets all of Haberkorn's desired requirements.
"It was important to us that we create an open platform that also works smoothly outdoors," Christopher Koch, Haberkorn.
Modern IT technology is used by SpanSet GmbH & Co KG, Übach-Palenberg, in its innovative electronic product identification and management system EPIS. At the heart of EPIS is an RFID chip from smart-TEC, which can be installed in all load securing, lifting and height safety technology products. In addition, it is possible to retrofit or equip sling chains and ropes as well as many products outside of the actual SpanSet range.
All safety-relevant data is stored on a passive RFID tag in the 13.56 MHz frequency band and attached to the product. The chip integrated in the RFID tag stores product data, maintenance information and product life cycle information.
The chip data is read, programmed and modified without contact or visual contact using a mobile and robust RFID read/write device with protection class IP 65. Because the products from SpanSet are exposed to extreme conditions such as weather and temperature as well as high mechanical stress, the integrated RFID tags are also subject to high demands in terms of resilience
The RFID tags developed by smart-TEC together with SpanSet specialists work in a temperature range from -25 C° to +75 C° and are extremely resistant to mechanical stress thanks to special protective materials. Drop and bend tests, pressing into a prism and even hexbar tests prove the high resistance of the RFID tags from the smart-DOME Freestyle product series.
In addition to advantages in inventory management or storage and retrieval, EPIS also offers great benefits in the planning, organization and documentation of the usually prescribed annual UVV inspections of personal protective equipment, round slings, lifting slings and lashing straps, chain slings, load handling attachments and other products.
