Scirocco offers two technologies for Factory Automation: IR and UHF. For factory flowlines the former technology, in particular, offers a number of unique benefits that can hardly be surpassed by other identificaiton technologies. The result is easier manufacturing of different product types and improved quality. Although a number of flow-line applications with UHF is feasible, this technology is perhaps more suited for use in wide-area logistics applications.
In Factory Automation, where usually many automatic identification points are needed along a flow-line, the Scirocco IR system provides an ideal solution thanks to its compact readers, long reading range, high reliability and excellent ability to cope with complex surrounding structures and tough electrical environments.
It is also possible to write individual data, such as output data of a work-cell, into the tag. These data are then carried along with the object and makes the line insensitive to disturbances in the central computer system.
Furthermore, the reader cost is moderate, especially when the cost for installation and cabling is included, that the same reader family can be used in all parts of the factory, that readers are easy to connect and manage via modern interfaces such as Ethernet TCP/IP and RS232/485.
To handle situations when a product has been taken aside for reworking, or changed planning, the system offers a unique and very handy PDA-based reader with good reading distance, that is lightweight and easy to use. It can also be used to conveniently write new data into a tag.