SICK Pty Ltd

06/06/16 - The new RFU65x RFID from SICK, enables a consistently transparent material flow. It detects tags at long range, recording the direction in which objects are moving at the same time. The associated user data can be sent directly to an ERP or MES system. This reduces processing times and increases production efficiency.Identification and location solutions that combine maximum availability with a transparent material flow are vital for effective product traceability. Conventional RFID devices record RFID tags over long distances depending on sender power, aperature angle, tag properties, and application environment.Until now, directions of movement could only be derived by using additional, external antennae and intelligent algorithms. With the new technology supported by the RFU65x, both position and angle can be determined and direction of movement can be detected. Even tags which are moving in opposite directions at the same time can be detected and their directions of movement recorded. Refined, tried-and-tested RFID technologyThe operating range of the new RFU65x covers an angle of +/- 45 with a typical sensing range of up to five meters, RFID tags are recorded below a certain measuring angle in relation to the zero point of the reader. Algorithms can be used to derive instances of passage -including the direction of movement -from the various measuring points. The RFU65x RFID thus saves space, time and money in applications for identifying vehicles and vehicle parts. Although objects with tags that are located in the immediate vicinity are identified, they are filtered out as "static" tags and only used if required for diagnostic purposes. As well as cutting costs, the RFU65x also simplifies and accelerates application processes in logistics and the automotive industry. The product family provides system integrators with the ability to install additional application software directly within variants of the RFU6xx. The user can develop and manage device-specific application software through the SICK development environment, and even transfer this to other devices. This can facilitated via a range of programming techniques, includes JAVA, LUA and C++ (in the planning stages). RFID -Intelligent identificationThe high impetus in global markets produces an ever-increasing competitive pressure. More stringent standards, shorter and shorter product lifecycles, and individual customer requests place high demands on data transparency within a company. In logistics, centralized data management and current data standards ensure transparency along the entire supply chain. They provide common access to important information concerning production-related questions, and span location, national and company boundaries.Using RFID technology brings numerous benefits, accelerating logistics processes and automating dating recording. Data recording is carried out flawlessly and also enables additional data to be obtained, significantly increasing the transparency of processes. 

28/02/16 - The TriSpector1000, the first 3D vision sensor from SICK features a simple configuration that allows inspection tasks to be carried out standalone and without any programming.Recommended for use in quality control systems in the consumer goods and packaging industry where the 3D vision sensor counts and positions objects, measuring their volume and thickness, the TriSpector1000 is, however, best suited for measuring volume in the food industry and monitoring the integrity of totes including contents, completeness, and emptiness. For instance, the TriSpector1000 creates 3D images of moving objects directly on the product line, using laser triangulation to capture height profiles, which it uses to generate a 3D image of the object. A configurable object finder and analysis tools are applied to the 3D image in the TriSpector1000 directly. The results of these analyses can be quickly accessed via simple switching outputs or an Ethernet network. Depending on the object size, the TriSpector1000 with its three different fields of view can be used for a variety of applications.Key features and advantages of TriSpector1000 3D vision sensors include intensity data improving 3D navigation and allowing the system to check for the presence of labels, printed patterns, or object rotation; intuitive user interface allowing easy commissioning and operation; large field of view; ability to reuse stored settings; and rugged IP67 metal housing with plastic windows ensuring necessary protection even in the harshest of conditions in the food industry. 

28/02/16 - World-leading manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications, SICK introduces 3vistor-T 3D vision sensors designed to maximise flexibility in indoor use with innovative 3D snapshot technology.SICK’s 3vistor-T provides real-time depth information for each pixel, even for stationary applications based on time-of-flight measurement. This is done by transferring all 3D raw data or application-specific information, which has already been pre-processed, in a way that has been customised to suit the specific application. High-performance visualisation tools and reliable 3D information make the 3vistor-T the ideal sensor solution for applications involving intralogistics, robotics or industrial vehicles.The 3vistor-T sensors are available in two different product variants: The 3vistor-T CX version is a basic 3D camera providing high-quality 3D point clouds while the 3vistor-T AG version is a smart 3D camera providing both complete and reduced 3D data, based on the requirement.Key features of SICK’s 3vistor-T 3D vision sensors include more than 25,000 distance and intensity values provided in a single recording; 3D information also available for stationary applications; programmable interface allowing data to be transmitted to external PCs for further evaluation; and 3D time-of-flight technology providing spatial and depth information in real time for each image. Depending on the variant, the 3D time-of-flight technology outputs a pure point cloud, appropriately reduced image data, or image data. The time-of-flight of a light signal between the object and the target object is measured for each point of the image. As soon as the arrival time of the reflected light signal is known, the distance (the third dimension) between the object and the target object can be calculated.The 3vistor-T offers users the flexibility of a preconfigured variant for automated guided vehicles or a powerful 3D camera for individualised programming. The 3vistor-T can be installed quickly, is immediately ready for use, and features intuitive control.

14/12/15 - The automotive industry takes advantage of tailor-made solutions for the automated identification of objects in virtually every process in the production and supply chain. Radio frequency identification or RFID has been used successfully for many years in practical applications to optimise the efficiency of processes in production. Based on these positive experiences, RFID technology is recommended for other applications in both upstream and downstream production processes.Intelligent RFID systems such as those supplied by SICK also find use in applications involving inbound logistics between supplier and OEMs as well as in downstream distribution processes. RFID technology can close gaps in the supply chain.The use of RFID technology by German OEMs in the automotive industry is already well advanced. Oliver Huther, RFID Business Development Manager at SICK Vertriebs-GmbH says they have been involved in thousands of UHF (ultra high frequency) RFID installations, providing support and assistance with their sensor knowhow. UHF RFID hardware by SICK is used by various OEMs to control their production processes. However, their systems continue to be used even after a vehicle has left the assembly line with RFID used in distribution to ensure that vehicles are loaded and shipped correctly to dealers all over the world. SICK’s RFID technology also makes it easier to locate vehicles that have been put into temporary storage, should rework need to be carried out.Closing gaps at both ends of productionRFID has been used by some OEMs to close gaps between production and distribution not only in initial projects but also in applications that have already been implemented. According to Huther, they have observed a rapid increase in comparable activities on the other side of production such as in inbound processes. In these activities, the bar code dominates data exchange between the supplier and OEM. While RFID based on continuously advancing sensor technology is bringing benefits to the processes from supplier to manufacturer, its use is also set to increase at this point of the added-value chain in the automotive industry. Interleaving of suppliers and OEMsThe more customised the assembly of the individual devices that make up a vehicle, the more customised is production. Andreas Behrens, Head of Marketing & Sales Barcode – RFID – Vision at SICK AG explains that making it easier for customers to configure their vehicles goes hand in hand with greater individualisation on the production line. Innovative technological solutions must combine with intelligent systems to assist companies in managing the increasing complexity. One of the possible technologies is RFID, as it is able to respond to the questions that arise from a production process, which is increasingly based on individual orders, right down to the individual parts. Suppliers and OEMs must brace themselves for these challenges, ideally by deploying systems that can be used across companies in all stages of the process and thereby increasing efficiency. If a technology makes sense, it will be deployedRFID technology can be found in an incredibly wide range of applications in the automotive industry. Huther explains that the possibilities it is opening up are too wide and varied to single out just one process. Today's OEMs and suppliers apply labels and markings to all manner of individual parts, assemblies, and load carriers. Instead of questioning whether an object is easy or difficult to label or mark, Huther believes one needs to ask how complexity can be reduced and transparency increased in processes. However, ultimately, customers always decide which identification technology is most likely to optimise their processes by weighing up costs against benefits. SICK offers advice to customers independent of the technology.Flexibility in terms of the selection of technology to secure future viabilityAccording to Huther, companies are often more interested in the solution that meets their requirements than they are in the technology. It is for this reason that identification solutions from SICK feature uniform connectivity, an identical user interface, and a uniform accessory concept. With SICK’s 4Dpro auto ID platform, it really doesn't matter if the identification data is acquired from an RFID read/write device or by scanning a 1D or 2D bar code. This independence in terms of the selection of technology also future-proofs the systems used. If a company uses a bar code scanner and in future, wishes to switch to an RFID read/write device to perform the same task, the acquisition devices can simply be swapped without needing to adapt the existing system. These capabilities mean that a reliable business case can be formulated in virtually any process with the appropriate technology.Intelligent RFID solutions with Industry 4.0 potentialSupply chain integration in the automotive industry across companies offers extensive and as yet untapped potential for the use of RFID technology. According to Huther, if developments in the context of Industry 4.0 mean that more extensive automation and communication between all of the companies involved in a production process are the order of the day, there couldn’t be a better match than RFID. It's a technology that is suitable for universal use, allowing objects with labels to be detected both individually and in bulk, depending on requirements. He points out that RFID adds value in all crucial processes, regardless of whether objects are to be detected as single parts or on load carriers in open cycles between suppliers and OEMs. SICK has invested heavily in research into the development of their read/write devices. SICK’s know-how is at work, for example, in systems that enable specific information to be assigned to a tag in a bulk read operation. Numerous factors that would have prevented the use of RFID just a few years ago are no longer an obstacle. When working with today's RFID hardware, reflection and false-positive reads are no longer a reason not to use RFID. For Behrens, these challenges have already been overcome by the R&D department at SICK with read/write devices featuring intelligent functions integrated into comprehensive end-to-end systems with communication capabilities. Intelligent read/write devices by SICK are capable of generating high-resolution feedback data from measured data for transfer via an interface to appropriate software where it can then be visualised.Feasibility studies and simulationsIn order to provide OEMs and suppliers who are planning to use RFID technology with relevant information to assist their decision-making processes, SICK will thoroughly assess feasibility ahead of a project with their technology centres assisting them with feasibility studies under real conditions. Tests can also be set up on customer sites and simulations can supplement the analysis data obtained from the process. According to Behrens, tests and simulations make it possible to produce reliable results so that a business case can be assessed. They also provide clear evidence of the added value that can be expected. Once a decision has been made to rollout the technology, SICK will provide support during commissioning and fine-tuning as well as for training the employees who will look after the system.