A forklift operator using the RX1.

LXE Inc has unveiled the RX1, a rugged mobile, forklift-mounted RFID reader, at the EPCglobal US Conference in Atlanta this week.

The RX1 is the result of a joint collaboration led by LXE, with Sirit Technologies and Intel. The objective was to design and build a forklift-mounted RFID reader tough enough to survive the "shocks and jolts" of the forklift and versatile enough to RFID-enable processes in warehouses, like picks, put-aways and other material moves.

Dick Sorenson, LXE's RFID director, said the device virtually removed the forklift operator from the data collection business and made quality control processes redundant.

"The operator is able to focus on moving product, significantly increasing both the speed and accuracy of the move," Sorenson said.

The key to the device's versatility was the combination of the intelligent RX1 reader with application-specific antennae, synchronised with forklift operations, LXE said in a statement.

The RX1 would initially read and verify case, pallet and location tags for warehouse moves.

With an expanding set of future antennae, the RX1 could verify that the correct cases in the correct quantities were placed on the right pallets during case pick operations, LXE said.