RFIDdirect Presents at this Lively Student Event, Kleve, Germany
RFIDdirect’s MD, Frits van Calker and our newest recruit Mouna Ghorbel (wood scientist), from our company’s hub in Kleve, Germany, are about to attend and present, for the first time, at an event aimed at undergraduates. at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
The ambition of the Rhine-Waal University is driven by the (Lower-Rhine) area’s skill-based manufacturing and scientific traditions. Therefore, students are motivated to be creative and entrepreneurial – “Innovative, Interdisciplinary, International” – the university’s mission.
Pressure Cooker Day (28/06/19)
This leads RFIDdirect to a great opportunity to network in the area and connect with other businesses and agencies, and, of course to meet the students and staff of the well-established university. Additionally, the aim is for RFIDdirect to establish a longer term working relationship our business and the university.
The main aim of the high-energy pitching event is; an interactive workshop with the focus on creativity, innovation and challenge/problem solving. The Pressure Cooker Event will host 15 students from different study courses, divided into teams to test their innovative, creative, scientific and technological skills to develop solutions to real world challenges faced by local/international companies. To start the event, 3 companies will present their challenge, for which the 5 students (in each group) + 1 scientific assistant (for support) must to find a solution by the end of the day through their creativity, skills and understanding. Moreover, a sense of spirit and risk-taking is required of these young entrepreneurs!
Explaining RFIDdirect’s Challenge
RFID direct GmbH Specialist on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology. RFID technology is used to identify objects, products, assets via a radio technology or barcode tech. Through the automatic identification and data capture, RFID technology improves manufacturing, production and logistical process.
The Brief
Design and develop a marketing strategy for the introduction and commercialisation of a unique passive UHF RFID tag for use in specific wood-based products and manufacturing.
Question
How to approach early adopters and innovators of the construction and furniture industries in Germany? The decision whether to be “first “or not to adopt a new technology can be a gamble, one that can either pay off or not. These early adopters are crucial for a new product or service to make the mass market, but this may not mean early benefits for the initial adopter. Also, how can established manufacturers be encouraged to embrace potentially game-changing technologies and cooperate before anyone else? This, then, is the initial key problem to solve in our challenge and secondly, how existing cooperation should, then be further supported and expanded in the future.
The Future of RFID in Manufacturing Production
This is, without doubt, the area that RFIDdirect sees itself (and the market) pursuing and making meaningful innovations and solutions. The company’s director Frits, consciously and consistently invests in partnerships and opportunities with academia to complement its R&D mission for unique or bespoke patented RFID products and software solutions. We know that the future of a successful long-term strategy is always through learning and research; RFIDdirect’s commitment – based on working collaboratively will remain a real priority.
In conclusion, this maximising and investing in higher education will directly affect (positively) on the future of our economies. Kleve University President Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen’s mission statement, in essence, agreeing wholeheartedly is an encouraging sign for the future:
“Meaningful transfer of knowledge and experience in both teaching and research through close cooperation with industry in Germany and abroad, from small and medium sized enterprises to large multinational corporations. Our close ties to business, research and academic institutions generate opportunities for our researchers in joint R&D projects, and for our students in the form of practical projects, internships and thesis topics”.
“No pressure, no diamonds”.
Thomas Carlyle
