Xerafy was selected as the RFID tagging solution provider for this global tender, servicing the company’s manufacturing facility in Asia, as well as its RFID pallet tracking program.
The customer and their solution provider have chosen to withhold their identity for this case study to protect proprietary business information and maintain confidentiality.
Company Background
The company is globally recognized for its cutting-edge engineering and innovative designs, seamlessly integrating injection-molded components to enhance product efficiency and aesthetics.
The manufacturer selected a leading identification solutions provider to design and deploy their RFID tracking project, which spans both their manufacturing operations and their global logistics network. This solution provider has extensive expertise in machine vision, RFID technologies, and automation, focusing on reliability and flexibility for industrial operations. They have been a long-term partner of Xerafy, reselling specialized RFID transponders to Fortune 500 companies. Their RFID solutions, integrated with Xerafy tags, are designed for efficient data capture and asset tracking, supporting Industry 4.0 standards to optimize production flows, transparency, and overall operational efficiency.
Challenges in Injection Molding
With a single global manufacturing site in Asia, the company uses RFID technology to track molds in real time, ensuring accurate monitoring and effective maintenance. By implementing RFID, they have significantly improved efficiency in the production of high-precision, large-scale, and intricate components.
The company is renowned for pushing the boundaries of injection molding, excelling in precision molding, large-scale parts, and intricate designs. Their commitment to innovation guarantees that each component is optimized for performance, low noise, and design excellence. Given the cost and complexity of molds, RFID plays a vital role in maintaining quality and efficiency standards.
The RFID Solution
The manufacturer selected the Xerafy MICRO Industrial tag to track their molds after a comprehensive three-month testing campaign on the production floor. High temperatures were the main challenge, with the tags needing to withstand up to 200°C, which the MICRO Industrial handled effectively.
Xerafy offered its MICRO Industrial, a rugged on metal RFID tag from its MICRO series.
Part of Xerafy’s rugged series of on-metal tagging solutions, the MICRO tags excel under extreme conditions, offering resistance to high temperatures, chemicals, shocks, and pressure. With stainless steel inserts for secure mounting, a read range of up to 10 meters on metal, and customizable identification features like laser engraving and encoding, the MICRO Industrial ensures durable, reliable performance in demanding environments.
RFID System Overview
The manufacturing RFID system embeds RFID tags into injection molds, allowing each mold to carry unique identification information. RFID readers collect this data and interface with software that manages mold location, status, and usage history. The software can trigger maintenance alerts based on predefined parameters, automate mold movement tracking, and reduce the need for manual data entry.
Key Benefits of RFID in Mold Management
This integrated system supports lean production processes by providing real-time data for better decision-making and preventive maintenance, ultimately reducing downtime and increasing mold utilization efficiency.
The main benefits of RFID for mold management in injection molding include:
Automated Tracking: Eliminates manual data entry by tracking mold location and usage in real time.
Predictive Maintenance: Helps identify maintenance needs proactively, reducing unexpected downtime.
Increased Efficiency: Improves mold utilization, ensuring optimal use of resources and minimizing production delays.
Data Accuracy: Reduces human error through automated identification and data capture.
Scalability: Offers a modular solution that can be integrated without altering existing machine controls, enabling easy Industry 4.0 adoption.
Broader Impact
The deployment of RFID technology for automated mold management has enabled the manufacturer to streamline its production processes and achieve greater operational efficiency.
This comprehensive RFID tracking solution integrates seamlessly into their global logistics network, with RFID also used for their global pallet tracking program, improving asset management and supply chain efficiency.
Xerafy is a pioneer in Industrial RFID, bringing to market several innovations that enable advanced identification and automation capabilities in manufacturing.
In addition to a complete range of field-proven RFID tags available off-the-shelf, Xerafy offers Custom RFID Tags services, covering everything from a personalization service bureau to custom-design engineering capabilities.
