Temperature control of goods during transport is of key importance for pharmaceutical companies. Temperature changes exceeding the permissible range can have a negative impact on the shelf life of many medical products, such as vaccines. The new sensor label combines a temperature sensor and an RFID radio chip. Introducing a solution based on RFID technology allows for continuous monitoring and recording of the permissible temperature range, as well as data reading at any time without the need to open the shipment. Thanks to the special design of the sensors, they can be attached in close proximity to the product or inside its packaging. Previously, reading the actual temperature at which the contents were kept was only possible after the transport was completed. Thanks to the use of RFID technology, measurement data will be available at every reading point, and senders and recipients will be able to check the status of the product at any time.
– The RFID label with a sensor is a new perspective not only for the pharmaceutical industry but also for all those industries that are looking for solutions for sensitive logistics tasks related to transport under controlled temperature conditions – says Keith Ulrich, Head of Technology and Innovation Management at Deutsche Post World Net.
DHL developed the sensor label in cooperation with IBM and pharmaceutical companies. The introduction of the new solution was preceded by tests conducted jointly with a client from the pharmaceutical industry. It is currently being successfully implemented for the sea transport of diagnostic materials and vaccines.
– This project clearly shows that RFID technology is much more than just object identification – adds Elke Preuss, Managing Director of IBM for Deutsche Post World Net.
The RFID sensor label is another project carried out as part of the “DHL Innovation Concept” – a strategic partnership concluded in February 2006 between DHL, IBM, Intel, Philips, and SAP. Its goal is to develop innovative solutions aimed at strengthening the efficiency of logistics chains. As part of the first joint projects, industry-specific RFID applications are being tested and then implemented. The first pilot projects concerned the pharmaceutical and electronics industries in Europe, the USA, and Asia.