Lower Hutt firm tracks Europe's luggage

Lower Hutt manufacturer Times-7’s radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is tracking luggage in some of Europe’s biggest airports.

The company has teamed up with Danish logistics firm Lyngsoe Systems to install RFID systems in Milan’s Malpensa Airport and Lisbon Airport.

RFID baggage systems are an alternative to barcode systems. Luggage is tagged with RFID labels, which are read by antennas installed on conveyor belts and at various points throughout an airport.

Times-7 chief executive Antony Dixon says Lyngsoe Systems selected the company’s RFID antennas for the airport projects.

Times-7’s antennas are ultra thin, meaning they can be easily slipped under conveyor belts.

"Our competitors have products that are much bigger, and they have to remove a section of the conveyor belt to put the antenna underneath."

Times-7’s antennas also have small read zones, which means they do not require expensive shielding, he says. "Antenna waves bounce around all over the place. If you have conveyor belts close to each other, you don’t want to be reading the bag on the adjacent belt."

Malpensa Airport in Milan is Italy’s busiest international airport, handling more than 24 million passengers a year.

Dutch firm Vanderlande Industries, which specialises in automated handling systems, is also trialling the antennas at Schipol Airport, Holland’s main airport.

Another airport is using Times- 7 RFID technology to speed up biosecurity checks.

Luggage entering a country is tagged with RFID labels and passed through an X-ray machine. Bags that are of interest are flagged in a database.

Rather than queuing for the X-rays, travellers collect their bags and walk through a portal, which will alert officials if the bags have been flagged. "The majority of people obviously just freeflow out the building, reducing queues."

Air New Zealand uses Times-7 RFID technology to manage luggage. Times-7’s Wheel Time RFID product, used to time cyclists in a race, has also found success overseas and was recently picked up by Cycling Australia and Cycling New South Wales.

Times-7 has 15 staff and offices in Lower Hutt, Hastings and representatives in Sydney and Holland.

- © Fairfax NZ News