Smart Forklift Technology for Reliable Automated Inventory Tracking

From retail distribution center warehouses to manufacturing plants, it is vital to track inventory and assets using automatic identification solutions vs. manual solutions. Now, thanks to smart RFID technology, modern forklifts can be equipped with RFID to ensure reliable and up-to-date information. No matter if you are moving pallets of goods or a single high-value asset, a smart RFID system knows what the forklift is transporting at all times. And as the forklifts move through the warehouse or DC, movement from one part of the facility to another can easily be tracked.

Mobile Data Capture – Mounted to a Forklift

The RFID Forklift System from Turck is a non-contact, automated asset tracking system mounted on an existing forklift. Turck RFID readers and 2 – 4 UHF antennas enable reliable tracking as the forklift moves throughout the facility. Proprietary software installed on each reader minimizes stray reads from assets not carried on the forks. Asset movement is communicated to the client’s ERP as a forklift moves pallets of products or parts into a different location. Event data includes what the asset is, the new location, and a time stamp. These events can be queued if the forklift is out of Wi-Fi range and sent when reconnected. A system can be set up with multiple independent forklifts all communicating with the client’s backend system.

Faster and More Accurate Inventory

Using RFID offers automatic reading over large areas compared to manual, line-of-sight barcode solutions. Turck offers an RFID toolkit that generates a unique identity for a product or batch when it is manufactured. The item or lot is tracked each time it passes an RFID read point, such as onboard a forklift truck or when entering a specific warehouse. Using RFID speeds up the products’ picking, finding, loading, and tracking. The system tracks all warehouse movements, helps fulfill legal obligations related to traceability, ensures shipment accuracy, and removes manual errors through automation.

Precision Through Stray Read Removal Function

The UHF RFID technology used also allows multiple tags to be read simultaneously over large distances. However, since the smart RFID forklifts are used in storage areas where finished products are stored close together, read errors must be reliably ruled out. The unique stray read filter on Turck’s system can accurately detect objects that are in the read range, eliminating stray reads – a major challenge for standard UHF RFID system applications.

Advantages of a Smart RFID Forklift System

The Turck RFID Forklift System consists of the Turck Vilant Forklift Client software and an RFID reader cabinet, antennas and accessories – all delivered together to make it easy to fit a customer’s application.

Non-contact solution – reduces manual tasks, increases efficiency and eliminates human error
Easy retrofit installation on most forklift types
Integration into existing ERP for enterprise and factory level monitoring
Device independent software that can be run on multiple tablets, handhelds, readers and panel PCs
Keeps record of all warehouse transfers made with forklifts
Stray read filter ensures accuracy
Logs all RFID asset movement for product or batch history