At Pack Expo last week, RM2 International announced it will participate in AT&T’s LTE-M network pilot that is intended to boost connections for the Internet of Things (IoT).
AT&T is working with a variety of technology leaders to showcase the new LTE-M technology that will bring the IoT to a new generation of devices and markets. AT&T has launched North America’s first LTE-M enabled commercial site in the San Francisco market to support the pilot of AT&T’s LTE-M Low-Power Wide-Area network beginning later this month. AT&T plans to make the technology available across its commercial network throughout 2017.
Designed to support less expensive devices with lower power, speed and data volume than traditional cellular networks, the new network also offers better wireless coverage deep inside buildings and in subterranean environments.
“LTE-M is made for IoT, and makes many of the use cases more achievable,” said Cindy Goodman, lead product marketing manager for AT&T Mobility.
LTE-M can support RM2’s RM2ELIoT (Electronic Link to the Internet of Things), a fully integrated IoT-based track and trace solution with up to 10 years of battery life.
“Our work with RM2 during our LTE-M pilot will show how this new technology can help the packaging and supply chain industries increase their efficiency and sustain the integrity of their products,” said Chris Penrose, president, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. “This a prime example of how innovations like LTE-M will help bring the IoT to more end points than ever before.”
Christopher Gibbs, head of asset management for RM2, said that currently 90% or more of reusable plastic containers and pallets are eventually lost due to lack of effective tracking. Using the new network, RM2’s solution will improve asset visibility to ensure the right quantity of pallets are used for their full 100-cycle lifespan.
“It’s midnight,” Gibbs says. “Do you know where your pallets are?”
RM2 also announced new products:
● ELIoT (Electronic Link to the Internet of Things) is a proprietary solution to monitor pallets as they move through the supply chain. The maintenance-free track and trace monitoring device enhances both pallet and supply chain security and provides actionable information.
“ELIoT is entering the market at an opportune time as demand for technological solutions in the supply chain surges,” said David Kalan, vice president of marketing and sales for RM2. “For example, in the US Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Act of 2012, there is a future mandate for the track and trace capability from raw materials to finished goods, for both the product and pallet. ELIoT increases our client’s visibility and provides them with accurate location information throughout the supply chain.”
● The Generation 3 BLOCKPal is an integrated pallet powered by IoT, manufactured with RM2ELIoT integrated into the pallet’s design. RM2ELIoT accurately identifies its location, increasing pallet and supply chain security.
Designed to last well over 100 pallet trips, the Gen 3 channels are completely sealed, eliminating the risk of insect or bacterial contamination for pharmaceutical or food industries. In addition, the Gen3 BLOCKPal has an increased coefficient of friction over traditional pallets.
