Turck's out-of-the-box RFID tunnel brings more speed to intralogistics

Bernd Wieseler: The advantage is quite simple: it is a standard product that you order with an item number. It comes as a set, including components and instructions – similar to furniture assembly instructions. The metal construction is designed so that you can easily assemble it yourself.

It's easier with two hands because the parts are heavy. But within a few hours, the tunnel is up and connected – and you can start being productive, i.e., measuring and reading tags.

Bernd Wieseler: Very positively. Many customers want to integrate themselves, may only need one or two tunnels, and don't want a complete system integration solution right away. They say, "Give me the data – I'll do the rest myself." This package is perfect for that: instead of putting everything together individually, you order the item number and get started.

"Many don't want to start from scratch or take on a mammoth project. They want to get started quickly, integrate cleanly, and then scale up – that's exactly what our out-of-the-box RFID tunnel is designed for."

Bernd Wieseler: The tunnel is approximately 1.2 m long and has a passage for conveyor belts up to 720 × 660 mm. It is made entirely of metal and contains all the electronics: a UHF RFID reader with up to 2 watts ERP and four external antennas, which are arranged in the tunnel so that they "look" at the goods optimally from several sides.

Bernd Wieseler: We work with a standardized REST API so that the customer's IT department can integrate the tunnel into their own systems with relative ease.

Bernd Wieseler: Raw data: EPCs read by the antenna, typical reader returns – everything is provided via the REST API. The processing, the "target vs. actual" comparison (e.g., "Are all 50 parts really in the box?") deliberately takes place at the customer's level above – in the production, warehouse, or management system.

Bernd Wieseler: Exactly. There is the classic approach: buy the component and see for yourself how to build around it. And there is complete integration as an all-inclusive package.

But many customers ask: "Can I do this myself – but please with a sensible framework?" The tunnel is exactly this middle ground: Turck provides the proven, standardized environment, while integration remains with the customer. And if more support is needed later, it can be expanded.

Bernd Wieseler: Yes. UHF RFID is not trivial. Data carrier selection, medium, attachment, speed, reader settings – these things have to be tested. We provide consulting support and, on request, offer services such as start-up/enablement so that customers can get up and running quickly and smoothly.

Bernd Wieseler: Exactly. Reading accuracy depends heavily on the medium and the tags – you have to test it. And: At high power, radiation to the outside can also be an issue, which is why you should take the distance to surrounding objects into account. Additional shielding materials would be theoretically possible, but would have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis – because shielding can also reduce reflections that are useful for reading in the tunnel.

Bernd Wieseler: The RFID tunnel is always worthwhile when companies in intralogistics or production need security, speed, and data quality at a single point in the material flow – without first having to plan a customized complete solution.

Many processes fail not because of a lack of automation, but because of small deviations: a part is missing from the box, a container is incorrectly loaded, a shipment goes out incomplete. This is exactly where the tunnel shows its strength: it creates a robust, repeatable identification point on the conveyor line – as a reliable "source of truth" before goods continue on their way.

This is particularly exciting for teams that want to digitize pragmatically: start quickly, see benefits early on, and then scale up. The tunnel is therefore ideal for companies that do not view RFID as a research project, but as a tool for process assurance – for example, to reduce packing and shipping errors, manage inventory more efficiently, or bring transparency to closed loops.

And because integration is done via standardized interfaces, the approach is particularly well suited to users who say, "Give us stable reading data – we'll build the logic and decisions into our systems ourselves."