Germany-based children's apparel supplier Lemmi Fashion has selected the Tag Acquisition Processor™ (TAP) products from RFID network infrastructure provider Reva Systems. The company will use the TAP products for its RFID program conversion from high frequency (HF) to ultra high frequency (UHF) passive RFID within its global supply chain. Reva reports that its RFID network infrastructure allows Lemmi Fashion's RFID architecture to support global operations, a diverse supplier base and an expanding customer list and achieve a return on investment from internal processes. Since mid-2005, Lemmi Fashion has used RFID extensively to streamline distribution processes, while continually evolving its RFID program. (See "Lemmi Fashion Making (13.56) Waves" in the February 2006 issue of Apparel or online at www.apparelmag.com.) This has resulted in measurable benefits including improved speed to market, order accuracy and inventory management. Lemmi originally relied on HF RFID tags and readers with proprietary, server-based RFID middleware for item-level tagging and tracking of garments, but is now converting to standards-based UHF Gen2 tags and readers supported by Reva's RFID network infrastructure. "UHF Gen2 garment tags are now priced significantly lower than comparable HF tags, and UHF readers offer both near- and far-field interrogation options for the most dynamic set of read ranges," said Goetz Pfeifferling, CIO of Lemmi Fashion. He added that Reva's high-performance RFID infrastructure products offer the reliability, manageability and scalability Lemmi needs for the future. UHF technology combined with Reva's RFID infrastructure gives Lemmi the ability to "implement new ROI-generating use cases and future-proof our deployments by insulating applications from the device layer in ways that were not possible with HF and server-based custom middleware," said Pfeifferling. Lemmi Fashion is applying, reading and tracking RFID tags on garments as part of the manufacturing process in conjunction with several suppliers in Asia and Europe. The tagged items move through the supply chain, where they are read at strategic points. The finished goods arrive at Lemmi distribution centers in Germany, where they are automatically scanned at receipt, during order processing and again as pulled orders become outboard shipments. Several Lemmi customers are reading the tagged items at stores and distribution centers as part of their receiving processes, and Lemmi anticipates additional crossenterprise use of the RFID information going forward. Lemmi Fashion's RFID integrator, Meco-Group, is converting the RFID program from HF to UHF simultaneously at Lemmi facilities in Germany and at supplier locations in Asia. Checkpoint Systems is working closely with Meco and Reva to provide RFID portals, printers and other equipment as part of the full solution. >> for more information: www.revasystems.com, www.meco-gruppe.com, www.checkpointsystems.com, www.lemmi.de
SAP: Use IT to Prevent, Prepare for Apparel Product Recalls
SAP is stressing the importance of having systems in place to efficiently deal with product recalls, and to better track product quality and compliance so that recalls do not become necessary. In an interview with Apparel, SAP RFID specialist Krish Mantripragada and ERP specialist Sven Denecken said the following solutions and capabilities can help apparel retailers to prevent or cope with a product recall situation:
- integrated planning, materials management and logistics systems;
- track-and-trace capabilities;
- the ability to handle recall documentation and collect/manage compliance and quality data; and
- RFID technology that is connected to an integrated systems platform.
The most challenging aspect of dealing with a product recall for most firms is identifying and containing the problem, said Mantripragada, who noted that many companies recall too many products because they cannot accurately pinpoint the source of the problem. SAP offers pre-configured processes and solutions for handling recalls. These were originally developed for the automotive sector, but can readily be adapted to other industries, such as apparel and retail, said Denecken. In complex supply chains like apparel, it's important that companies use systems as early as during the design and product development stage to define products, track collaboration between suppliers and trace design changes, and then track which suppliers are producing every component that goes into a garment, Mantripragada said. RFID holds particular promise for managing product recall situations because RFID tags can act as carriers of critical data that will help companies track and trace the history of a garment, and more quickly identify whether it was part of a bad batch or manufactured in a facility that is having recall problems, Mantripragada said. But RFID tagging used in isolation will not solve the problem, he added, explaining that the technology has to be tightly integrated with enterprise systems and processes to be useful in a product recall scenario.
>> for more information: www.sap.com
Eton Wins New Customers
County Draperies Inc., National Allergy Supply and Vinyl Technology Inc. are installing Eton's materials handling and factory floor data collection systems. Drapery, bedspread and accessories manufacturer County Draperies will install an Eton 4000 system at its Middletown, NY, facility. The Eton 4000 is designed for working with heavy, bulky and high-volume products. Allergy, asthma and sinus products supplier National Allergy Supply will use Eton's system to automate its sewing operations for production of mattress and pillow encasings. The Eton installation will replace a bundle-handling system, from cutting to shipping. Vinyl Technology Inc., a military and commercial contract manufacturer, will implement an Eton line at its Monrovia, CA, manufacturing facility. The line initially will support production of U.S. Army carrying cases.
>> for more information: www.etonsystems.com
BizTalk® Will Allow Microsoft Users to Extend Enterprise Connectivity
Avery Dennison Demonstrates Seamless Operation with BizTalk Server 2006 R2
Microsoft Corp. has announced the availability of Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 R2, its core service-oriented architecture (SOA) and business process management (BPM) technology. BizTalk Server 2006 R2 includes advancements for RFID and EDI, and extended interoperability such as Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) Guidance and Line of Business Adapters — capabilities that make it easier for companies to connect systems within their own organizations and across those of trading partners. The company reports that the availability of the product allows Microsoft to deliver extensive SOA and BPM capabilities as part of the overall Microsoft application platform. It enables customers to extend their core business processes to reach across applications, partners and platforms, regardless of vendor, age, platform, protocol and geography, said Steven Martin, director of Connected Systems Product Management at Microsoft. In related news, the Avery Dennison Printer Systems Division, supplier of Monarch® products and services, recently demonstrated the seamless connectivity between its Monarch 9855® RFMP printer/encoder, Monarch 9855® HF RFID printer/encoder and Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2. Customers now have the "ability to connect real-time business processes and leverage intelligent RFID data," said Rick Bauer, director of RFID global program development, Avery Dennison Printer Systems Division.
>> for more information: www.microsoft.com/biztalk/default.mspx, www.ris.averydennison.com
FKI Logistex Software Optimizes Merge Throughput
Also, Company Establishes Graduate Engineer Training Program FKI Logistex, provider of integrated materials handling solutions, has introduced the FKI Logistex UniSort® MXT™ sortation subsystem for its vhswEDGE™ central merge conveyors. The patent-pending UniSort MXT software enables the vhswEDGE to maximize product density on the infeed line to the sorter, enabling throughputs of up to 400 cartons per minute with high-speed sliding shoe and linear belt sortation systems. The vhswEDGE is a combination of conveyors configured to facilitate high-speed induction onto a main conveyor line from picking operations in a distribution or manufacturing facility. The addition of UniSort MXT software optimizes the lane-releasing prioritization schemes of the vhswEDGE to control product flow, reduce gaps and create a steady stream of product into the sorter, FKI reports. By boosting existing materials handling capacity without increasing sorter speed, the combination of the two technologies can help extend equipment life, maintain accuracy, decrease noise and energy levels, and improve overall ROI, the company reports. In other news, the company has established a one-year Graduate Engineer Training Program to introduce mechanical and electrical engineering graduates to various engineering disciplines in materials handling, and to FKI Logistex's products, processes and technologies. Participants in the program have the opportunity to work on projects for large retailers, overnight parcel delivery companies, airports and manufacturers in North America.
>> for more information: www.fkilogistex.com
DigiFab Launches Grand-Format DigiHeat Heat Press
DigiFab Systems has developed a grand-format DigiHeat 136132-X3 electrical heat press for transferring dye sublimation prints to polyester and polyester-blend fabrics. Applications include designer apparel, home furnishings, sportswear and promotional apparel. The heat press can handle prints up to 132 inches wide. It also features a Teflon-coated carbon drum that the company says provides uniform heat dispersion for superior color consistency from edge to edge and down the length, while allowing for quick heat-up and cool-down times. Additional features of the DigiHeat press include airdriven tension control, automatic felt control and cool-down timer, roll-to-roll and sheet-fed options, adjustable temperature and speed controls and a digital LCD operating display. The cost of the press is $78,000.
>> for more information: www.digifab.com | 
