Small RFID reader developed by Toppan Forms

Small RFID reader developed by Toppan Forms

Toyota's Distribution Information Improvement Department has already introduced Toppan Forms' IC tags for location management to improve the efficiency of new car warehousing and inspection. It will be easier to increase the number of readers used in the vast new car yard, leading to further improvement in operational efficiency. The system can also be used as a stationary reader. The company expects to use the tags in office operations such as product lending/returning and tallying operations, and is aware that the tags will be adopted not only at manufacturing sites but also at dealerships. The photo shows a small RFID reader and an IC tag for location management (left) installed in the new car yard of Toyota's Distribution Information Improvement Department. (Photo taken on March 31, 2020, location unknown, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images)

Unmanned cash register at UNIQLO Harajuku store

Unmanned cash register at UNIQLO Harajuku store

UNIQLO UNIQLO Harajuku Fast Retailing Fast Fashion Clothing Self-checkout RFID tags

Unmanned forklift trucks installed by Yamazaki Mazak at the Minokamo Plant No. 2.

Unmanned forklift trucks installed by Yamazaki Mazak at the Minokamo Plant No. 2.

Yamazaki Mazak has restructured and integrated the No. 1 and No. 2 plants of its mainstay Minokamo Plant (Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture) from product-based to assembly and parts processing functions, and opened them to the press and customers. The company introduced its first radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for parts and unmanned forklift trucks (AGFLs), and also utilized the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twins to increase the monthly production capacity to 350 units, a 50% increase over the previous capacity. The Minokamo Plant is responsible for 60% of Yamazaki Mazak's domestic production. The first and second plants are about 600 meters apart and were previously operated as separate factories. With the reorganization of Minokamo, the smartification of domestic factories has come full circle. Yamazaki Mazak's Minokamo Plant No. 2 in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, November 25, 2019. Credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

NC lathes to be equipped with IoT system by the end of the year by Sekiguchi Sangyo

NC lathes to be equipped with IoT system by the end of the year by Sekiguchi Sangyo

Sekiguchi Sangyo willaccelerate the automation of its production sites to cope with the labor shortage. In addition, the quality control department will adopt three sets of devices that automatically input measurement records wirelessly. All of these systems are scheduled to go into operation in early 2008. The total investment is expected to be about 15 million yen. Preventive maintenance data such as motor insulation resistance, total spindle speed, and fan speed will also be collected in detail. The new system will make it much easier for us to measure continuously. At the end of 2005, the company introduced a system for batch management using 2D codes and RFID (radio frequency identification) tags in the press processing section. The company has achieved a certain level of success, and will continue to expand horizontally while verifying the cost effectiveness of the new system, including IoT. (Photo taken on August 27, 2019, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images)