Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

The basis for modern warehouse logistics rests on rapid and error-free identification of goods and product movements and the documenting of such reliably. This is the only cost-effective way in which continuous transparency for all material flows can be assured – the basis for inventory reliability, trustworthy process management, and unceasing system optimisation. Around the beginning of the eighties, optical auto ID systems started to capture the warehouse logistics market. More advanced develop-ments, as with the 2D and 3D codes, boosted the relatively small amount of data in the barcode. Yet, particularly in industries with more rugged environmental conditions like the construction materials industry where the goods are mostly stored in the open air, the considerable disadvantages of optical systems remained unresolved. These include their susceptibility to contamination by dirt or water, poor legibility in strong sunlight, or icing up. In addition, the necessity for direct visual contact or static data handling proved to be impracticable in many applications. RFID technology was to plug all these gaps. However, practice shows that this technology is not currently employed on a national scale.