Written my Andy Neat, Product Manager- Marking and Installation.

The world is getting smarter and that’s a fact these days. Only this morning I stepped out the house to see my Smartphone tell me that I was only 11mins away from my local retail park with normal traffic conditions. What’s happened here is that my phone has learnt that some mornings I often stop by Mcdonalds’ drive-thru for my morning coffee, hence this notification being triggered at a certain time of day and GPS position-  clever but a little bit spooky. Why did it tell me this though? most likely so I can get there quicker by avoiding traffic and doing the research for me so I don’t have to. But that seems to be the point with current technology, everything needs to be faster! With such technologies as RFID (Radiofrequency Identification) and NFC (Near Field Communication) our world is getting quicker and smarter and subsequently gently nudging us into becoming more time efficient whether we notice it or not.

Another example is after receiving this notification regarding my coffee this morning, I then sat in my car and pressed a button to start the ignition, this isn’t uncommon anymore but my car keys were still in my pocket! We can go to a budget chain hotel and open the room doors by tapping a key card on the handle. I’m starting to wonder if I should put a key in my new baby daughters memory box as they may be obsolete in 10 years time! And of course you can even pay for your shopping by tapping your bank card on the Chip & Pin machine. This has been used in the London Underground for some time now where all Oyster cards have an RFID chip for payment, consequently making your journey that bit quicker by not having to mess around with pin numbers or even good old fashion cash…remember that thing called cash?

The point I’m making here is the world has a demand for speed and efficiency and as a result we need to move with it. Apple are a great example of doing this. Apple have recently been criticised for making the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, encouraging people to move to Bluetooth headphones,-  yes annoying for some, but this is the future, and Apple are embracing it now and being an ambassador for it. Either that, or they are fed up of untangling headphone wires too.

What if this concept of speed and quicker technology we have in bank cards, smartphones, car keys, hotel keys etc could be used in bog standard markers for electrical installation? Well That’s exactly what Phoenix Contact have done!

We now have certain markers and labels with RFID technology built in for quick and contactless identification.

In our range we’ve introduced device labels made from either PCV or Polyamide plastic that have either a HF (high frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) RFID chip inside which when scanned with a receiver/transponder are instantly identified. These can be attached either adhesively or fixed via a base with screws. These were specifically designed for Power Stations to aid the maintenance process of doing visual and manual checks.

Why though? What’s wrong with barcodes? Barcodes can get dirty or scuffed and, rather than carrying a clipboard with paper work, the engineer just needs a handheld transponder/receiver and, if doing a visual check, he/she can scan the RFID chip from afar or closer range for manual checks. An RFID chip has a unique identification which is unmistakable, so If an engineer has scanned to say that they checked a certain area, then they most definitely would have to be there, standing next to it, to do so. Once scanned with a Phoenix Contact REMARK transponder you can confirm the status and urgency of the maintained area on the touchscreen. This information is then collated into a report on your PC once plugged into a docking station. Smarter and quicker!

What’s more, we’ve also dipped into the Railway Industry with over 2000 different materials for either rail side or rolling stock applications. In this range we’ve put RFID chips into cable markers which can be used for smart communication with signalling points. Phoenix Contact have already had a lot of success in this area in European countries.

Although the thought process of introducing RFID marking to the Phoenix Contact range was predominantly based on the Power and Railway industry it’s not limited to those industries. One application I discussed with a customer was to install RFID markers inside hardhats to monitor where staff are around a large plant for safety reasons…a different but certainly an interesting concept. The possibilities are endless.

As I said before, Apple were rather bold in predicting that the world is moving to completely wireless headphones so decided to push the envelope now. And when it comes to Smart Manufacturing, Phoenix Contact have looked ahead and started to lay their mark now, and my RFID markers are only a snippet of what there is to offer.

So the world has a demand for speed and smarter technology……and who knows maybe one day the machines will rise against us and Arnold Schwarzennegger will come back form the future to terminate the leader of the resistance but until then, we’ll keep paying for coffee with a tap of a card.

For more information, contact Andy by email aneat@phoenixcontact.com or telephone 07786 252414.