RFID brings pulp logistics into a new era 

Our customer magazine Echo 2/2010 explains how Metsä Fibre is preparing the world’s first application of modern RFID technology for monitoring pulp units.

Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, is a progressive solution for automatic wireless remote identification of goods on the move. Although this technology is already a standard in several other industrial sectors, RFID systems have yet to be used on a large scale in the pulp and paper industry.

Metsä Fibre’s partner in this challenging project is the award-winning Finnish company Vilant Systems, one of Europe’s leading turnkey suppliers of RFID systems for industry. RFID technology is a major advance compared to the identification systems currently in use. It makes the supply chain considerably more precise and generates significant savings in pulp flow management. Automation improves the efficiency and reliability of the entire logistical process, enabling optimisation of warehouse administration at all stages of the chain with current information continually available.

A decision has been taken to launch a pilot project in Finland during the third quarter of 2011. RFID will be adopted in production at other mills and loading harbours during December 2011. By the end of 2012 the system will cover the entire Metsä Fibre supply chain. The first production batches including RFID tags have already been successfully manufactured at Metsä Fibre’s Joutseno mill.

Further details of our RFID project and its benefits will be provided in Echo 2/2010, to be published in December.