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Recipient Sector:
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High
Temperature Manufacturing Processes (main focus – Ceramic sector) |
| Donor
Sector: |
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High Temperature
Manufacturing Processes (main focus – Ceramic sector) |
| Technology:
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Wireless Technologies |
| Project
Start Date:
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1st September
2003 |
| Project
End Date:
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29th February
2004 |
| Duration:
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6 Months |
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Lead
Organisation:
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CERAM |
Contact
Name: |
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Stuart MacLachlan |
Mail
To:
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stuart.maclachlan@ceram.com |
Tel
No:
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01782 764 404 |
Address:
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Queens Road,
Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LQ |
Project Summary:
The study has matched the current and developing state of wireless technologies
and their suitability for high temperature processing with the needs and
desires of ceramic production over different sectors – Corporate
Hotelware, High Value Tableware, Sanitaryware,Refractories and Advanced
Ceramics. It has focused on the use of technologies in manufacturing for
product identification and process data capture, including applications
for product authentication to limit low quality, cheap copies and security
to prevent theft.
Project Partners:
CERAM
TIC
American Standard Plumbing Ltd
Automation Identification Manufacturers Association
Dudson Group
Dyson Ceramic Systems
Josiah Wedgwood and Sons
Ross Ceramics
Service (Engineers) Ltd
Need:
The high temperature processing stages of ceramic, glasses and metals
mean that many conventional tagging strategies cannot by employed as the
tags and identifying marks are thermally degraded. For example, bar coding
inks are burnt away, electronic or magnetic storage methods are destroyed.
Solution:
The study revealed both solutions that could beimplemented in the short
term and solutions that require significant research and development activity.
IMMEDIATE 1 TO 6 MONTHS
RFID tags:
on cartons to complement or replace dispatch notes
- embedded in moulds, dies etc.
- as security devices in high value added items
- giving the ability for the certificate to be printed at Point of Sale
of limited edition items.
- Workshop or seminar on wirless technologies to increase industry awareness
SHORT TERM UP TO 2 YEARS
- Production of ‘inverse 3D barcodes by laser etching.
- 1D & 2D barcode colour development for both thermal transfer
and laser writing.
- 1D & 2D barcode application system development for coding immediately
after making process.
- Beta test site for factory simulation this could be linked to any
future Fastrack project.
MEDIUM TERM UP TO 5 YEARS
- Development of Steganographic methods for product authentication.
This could be linked to new material development including aspects of
nanotechnology developments in the decoration stage of the process.
Benefits:
The ceramic sector would expect the following impacts from effective
wireless production technologies:
- Fast and effective access to data to manage shorter lead times and
smaller batches
- Cost effective solutions for accessing details of product history.
This could be used as a quality check or to authenticate the origin
of the product.
- Improvements in efficiency, productivity and profitability of the
manufacturing process.
SPECIFIC EFFECTS THAT COMPANIES HOPE TO SEE INCLUDE:
- Capacity to handle increased volumes of goods.
- Clearer understanding of the status of items as they progress through
the manufacturing process.
- Simplified production scheduling to ensure that orders are met.
- Savings in throughput times without increased staffing.
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