M/A-COM Technology Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of innovative microwave and RF design solutions and products, today announced the introduction of the company's new sensor-based RFID Forklift System.

The RFID Forklift System automatically records an RFID tagged pallet's exact storage location during handling and slotting processes, without requiring the operator to initiate traditional manual data collection methods, resulting in superior accuracy and efficiency throughout the supply chain.

"Our sensor-based RFID Forklift System automates and streamlines materials movement and management tasks," said Kevin Anderson, Product Line Manager, M/A-COM Technology Solutions. "From increasing inventory accuracy and reducing material losses to processing more pallets per shift while reducing labor costs, this forklift system brings immediate and significant cost savings to the material handling and inventory management operations."

New or existing forklifts can be retrofitted to work with the M/A-COM Technology Solutions sensor-based RFID Forklift System. The system utilizes an acoustic sensor, broad beam antenna and controller logic to identify an RFID pallet tag after it has been loaded onto the forklift. The System then identifies a pallet storage location, utilizing a narrow beam antenna, laser-height sensor and controller logic to confirm that the specific pallet has been picked up or dropped off at that location. These slotting transactions are fed to the enterprise system via WiFi connectivity. The RFID Forklift unit employs a high-performance Impinj Speedway reader loaded with fully released and supported forklift firmware.

Forklift systems are an integral part of material handling and inventory management operations. However, the vast majority of forklifts relies solely upon traditional, operator-initiated data collection methods to record all material movement transactions via bar code scanning or keyed entry systems. These methods can be time-consuming and lead to inaccuracies. Organizations that do not have a warehouse management system in place have even greater productivity challenges, requiring employees to scour the aisles searching racks for products. The increased accuracy, time saved from lack of manual labor, and visibility into products' movements within the warehouse present invaluable advantages that can help accelerate both the RFID and forklift industries.