by US correspondent Roger Renstrom
Intermec Technologies Corp, of Everett, USA, has introduced a multi-protocol IV7 Intellitag vehicle-mount radio frequency identification (RFID) reader with a capability to read EPCglobal Generation 2 RFID tags.

Intermec, a Unova Inc subsidiary, designed the reader for forklift applications. It has an internal power supply, heavy metal enclosure and vehicle shock and vibration resistance.

Kathrein-Werke KG, of Rosenheim, Germany, collaborated with Intermec to design forklift-mount antennas with fibreglass radomes. An IV7 can control four separate antennas.

Much of the development of the Intermec IV7 reader has occurred in Europe, apparently with an eye on that market. The IV7 reader appears to be at least 60 per cent larger than the RX1 reader, which LXE Inc, of Norcross, Georgia, USA, initially exhibited in September.

Illustrations supplied by Intermec show the IV7 mounted on a cab or truck frame rather than being attached to a load rest. Intermec's IV7 can operate with 12-60 volts of energy, while LXE's RX1 works with 10-80 volts.

The IV7 is designed to interface serially to a Windows-based, vehicle-mounted computer, such as the Intermec CV60. Also, the IV7 has a SmartSystems remote services delivery platform for communications to identify, track and manage supply chain assets.