Nowaste Logistics

Nowaste Logistics, part of Europe’s premier fresh produce provider Total Produce Corporation, is proud to be known as the forerunner in logistics. This is one of the reasons why they wanted to implement RFID in their operations. Helsingborg warehouse in Sweden is the first location where RFID system is introduced. RFID is used in the outbound gates for tracking the pallets that are loaded into each of the trucks in real time. The automation of the loading makes the process more efficient and accurate. At the same time, it enables Nowaste to plan and monitor the usage of loading area more effectively.

The solution is implemented by Vilant in cooperation with Consafe Logistics. Consafe is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of logistics solutions and Vilant supplies turn-key RFID systems for its customers. Since 2008, Vilant and Consafe have been in close cooperation in Sweden, Norway and Netherlands to offer their customers the best solution available. Nowaste has used Consafe’s warehouse management system since 2000, when the company was still called Everfresh, and is now expanding the system to include also RFID.

Background

The first steps of the RFID project were taken in summer 2009 with Vilant site survey at Nowaste’s Helsinborg warehouse in Sweden. The site survey gave promising results about the benefits RFID could yield in Nowaste outbound processes. The profitability of the project was further analyzed by Nowaste’s internal study. As the results showed positive ROI, the project received green light from Nowaste’s management and was started in March 2010.


Challenge

Nowaste Logistics wanted to introduce RFID to prevent shipping mistakes that take place when shipping is done manually. With RFID, they could reduce the amount of manual labor and shipping errors. This results in a more efficient outbound process. Tagging their goods with RFID gives Nowaste also competitive advantage over other wholesalers. It enables their customers to gain benefits of RFID by automating their goods receiving process.

Solution

The RFID solution at Nowaste is based on Vilant Shipper where shipped goods are equipped with RFID tag on a pallet level. The tag is made with Nordvall’s special RFID labels using UPM Raflatac short dipole inlay and is customized by Nowaste itself to meet their specific needs. The pallets are automatically identified at the shipping door with Vilant Smart Gate indicating if the pallet is going to the right truck. The gate is equipped with direction sensing capability, which prevents mistakes when goods are moved back and forth in the truck packing stage. When the truck is ready to leave, final shipment verification is made to ensure that all relevant goods are actually in. The shipment status is automatically sent from Vilant software to Nowaste’s back-end system, Effect Warehouse.

Benefits

  • Decreased manual work in loading
  • Reduced amount of errors in loading
  • Increased outbound capacity
  • RFID tagged goods to customers – competitive advantage


The project is now in its pilot phase and includes 3 outbound RFID gates, 1 Zebra RFID printer and 1 NordicID handheld device. When the system is fully rolled out, it will contain almost 1 million tags per year and over 20 outbound dock doors will be equipped with RFID gates.