TagMaster Expands Port Installation in South Africa

TagMaster, the leading producer of advanced RFID solutions for long range identification in access control, asset management and rail applications, announced that the Port of Durban DCT selected its RFID tags that combine short range identification based on proximity technology by HID Global and long range identification technology by TagMaster. This deployment at Durban DCT is the latest in a number of deployments made by TagMaster partner CAMCO Technologies at Durban Pier1 and Port Elizabeth.

This installation for Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) enables visibility into the port administration system to see which trucks have entered the terminal at a specific time. Since RFID cards are linked to trucking companies, when the trucks pass through the auto-gates, photo footage is linked to that specific card/tag. This has significantly assisted the management of access authorization and security for both the customers and the Port Operator as the level of information and confirmations has increased.

The TagMaster LR-series long range RFID readers and RFID tags being deployed are based on TagMaster's 2.45 GHz technology and were chosen for their quality and reliability. This dual tag contains both long range identification capability and proximity reading using HID coils. For the Transnet terminals in South-Africa, both a short and a long range system were needed. The TagMaster technology allows the trucks to be recognized upon arrival at the primary gates without having to stop or to slow down, and a photo of the truck is taken at the time of entrance through this primary gate. At the second stage of identification, the HID Global short range technology allows the driver to be validated at the CAMCO Technologies Transaction Kiosks further in the terminal. Both technologies are essential to ensure the steady throughput of cargo.

A domestic (central) database has been established that contains over 15.000 TagMaster tags in two remote locations – Durban and Port Elizabeth, which are almost 1000km apart. With the use of the combination of RFID technologies, faster identification of trucks and drivers at both short and long distances has been achieved. The installation has resulted in an improved accuracy of data input and a higher level of security control, as tags are configured specifically in relation to the trucks, per trucking companies.