Hera chooses HID RFID technology to optimize waste container logistics.
Set up in 2002, Hera (Holding Energia Risorse Ambiente) is the first Italian national agency to combine local council-owned utility companies (11 companies operating in Emilia-Romagna) to create a single multi-utility agency that operates as a fully qualified public services enterprise.
With its 8,500-strong workforce, the Hera Group is one of the primary multi-utility agencies in Italy, operating in 181 municipalities in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, 95 in Friuli Venezia Giulia, 62 in Marche and 20 in Veneto.
The group supplies energy (gas and electricity), water services (supplies, drains and water treatment) and environmental services (waste collection and disposal) to more 4 million residents. The multi-utility agency, which has its headquarters in Bologna, is listed in the Midex segment of the Italian stock exchange.
The Hera Group has opted for technological innovation to optimise the quality of its services. How? By introducing a new tracking and traceability system to support environmental services management to guarantee perfect compliance with the requirements of the process in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.
The project was developed thanks also to the support of two high-tech vendor companies specialised in automatic identification: HID and Tenenga.
The service is engineered using a combination of RFID tags fitted to read waste containers and UHF scanners mounted on collection vehicles or RFID Handheld Computers (RFID scanners) used by collection crews.
Handheld RAIN RFID readers and RFID-enabled scanners help you achieve maximum visibility into your enterprise assets.
RFID TAGS used: EXO Pro tags provide the durability of an encased RFID tag in a small footprint for harsh environments with some of the options in the range being the most rugged tags on the market, even withstanding a “sledgehammer test”.
Extreme durability – resistant to outdoor elements as well as blunt and sharp impact
Multiple mounting options – glue, screw, rivet or weld
Enhanced reliability – read-write on any material, up to 36 ft (11 m)
The company supplied more than 200 thousand RFID tags for this service. The choice of hardware fell on EXO PRO 800 transponders whose characteristics make them suitable for use on plastic and metal substrates. The sealed and extremely rugged tags are ideal for use in harsh environments and are fully compliant with MIL STD 810-F military standards (for enhanced stressresistance during deployment in the field). Protection against water and dust infiltration is guaranteed by the IP68 protection rating. Introducing a reading system for automatic identification, each bin, crane-lift igloo, road container and dumpster is equipped with a tag (secured to the exterior with special rivets for easy scanning). From now, waste collection containers have got smart: when the collection vehicle arrives to empty them they communicate their unique identification code to an RFID scanner mounted on the vehicle or to a handheld device used by the operatives. Thanks to the availability of additional support instruments equipped with GPS systems, the exact position of the containers can be logged, together with chronological information concerning the collection time. This allows collection activities to be logged and made available to a central computer system for rapid and accurate accounting of services provided. With secure RF identification, service data can be rapidly processed and analysed, assisting in efforts to maximise service effectiveness and efficiency.
• Automation of processes
• Identification and geolocation of each container
• Streamlined and accurate field data processing and accounting
• Tracking and traceability of all information logged
• Constant efforts to maximise service efficiency and effectiveness by analyzing incoming data
• Compliance with normative requirements
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Part of ASSA ABLOY 2023-01-20-cc-idt-hera-waste-container-logistics-cs-en PLT-06915