For E.J. Brooks Company Odalys Bartute

Transcription

1 Contacts: For Savi Technology: Mark Nelson For E.J. Brooks Company Odalys Bartute For RAE Systems. Bob Durstenfeld CARGO CONTAINER WITH SMART SYSTEMS ALERTS GLOBAL NETWORK IN REAL-TIME ABOUT SECURITY BREACHES AND IN-THE-BOX CHANGES E.J BROOKS, RAE SYSTEMS AND SAVI TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE SENSOR- ENHANCED CONTAINER AT U.S. MARITIME SECURITY CONFERENCE NEW YORK, NY Oct. 29, 2003 Three global leaders of high-tech supply chain security and asset management systems E. J. Brooks Company, RAE Systems (AMEX: RAE), and Savi Technology -- today unveiled an inter-connected sensor system that adds new levels of intelligence to cargo containers, enabling them to automatically detect intrusions, sense interior environmental changes in temperature or humidity, detect hazardous cargo such as radioactive materials, and wirelessly communicates its location and security status to a global information network in real-time. The front of an 8-by-8-by-40-foot ISO intermodal container -- enhanced with multiple sensors, EPC-compliant smart tags and active, data-rich radio frequency identification technologies -- was showcased during a press conference on the opening day of the U.S. Maritime Security Conference at the Jacob Javits Center. As a result, the smart container is able to broadcast its identity, location and contents, as well as interior and exterior conditions to a global software network. The three firms worked together to develop an integrated framework that can lead to the next-generation smart container. Specifically, the smart container was equipped with a Brooks door sensor seal (E-Seal), a RAE Systems radioactivity sensor (RadRAE), and Savi two-way network communication transponder (Sentinel). Data were transmitted 615 Tasman Drive Sunnyvale, CA Phone: Fax:

2 Smart Sensor Container Page 2 over radio frequencies to the Savi SmartChain software platform and Savi Transportation Security System application for real-time monitoring and management of the shipment. The smart system is open, flexible and modular in design. This will enable users to configure other sensors or automatic identification technologies in combinations applicable to their security or cargo management needs. Other container sensors can include hazardous chemical detection and various physical parameters including temperature, humidity, tilt, light, shock, vibration and atmospheric pressure. Further, the demo today incorporated passive RFID tags by Matrics, which are designed to be compliant with the evolving Electronic Product Code (EPC), to demonstrate real-time item-level visibility of the container s contents. As evidenced by numerous studies, port and container security is one of the biggest threats to the global supply chain. The enormous volume of containers entering the country demands a pervasive sensing solution both on the outside and inside of the box, said Robert I. Chen, President and CEO of RAE Systems. The state of the art solution resulting from our multiple partnerships advances the solutions available to address the Maritime Transportation Security Act and other Homeland Security programs. The powerful combination of proven solutions adds important new layers of intelligence to the cargo container, which helps deter intrusions for theft or terrorist purposes while automating alerts to the proper authorities of tampering events, said Scott Kirk, Executive Vice President of Business Development for E.J. Brooks Company. With these additional sensing and two-way communication capabilities, the network infrastructure already built around the Smart and Secure Tradelanes (SST) initiative will enable participants to know where their containers and goods are located, and the integrity of the shipment at any given time and at any given place. The inter-connectivity of these systems with a rapidly growing global network creates the basis for a new kind of intelligent container that dramatically enhances real-time

3 Smart Sensor Container Page 3 visibility of the shipment while it s transported end-to-end from point of origin to final destination, said Blair LaCorte, Executive Vice President of Business Development for Savi Technology. Today, we have demonstrated a working model that can be reconfigured and retrofitted onto existing containers right now, and we will be incorporating this type of intelligence directly into the container manufacturing process next year. The co-developers are also partners of the 65-member Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative, the largest industry-driven program using proven sensors and automatic identification technologies integrated with wireless technology and database software. With infrastructure in 15 ports in Asia, the United States and Europe, SST shippers have transported over 1,000 containers equipped with first-generation security sensor seals. SST also leverages 6 th -generation technology deployed in the U.S. Department of Defense s Total Asset Visibility network, the largest active RFID tracking system in the world, with over 800 nodes in 45 countries. The transport of goods via cargo containers accounts for more than 90 percent of world trade, with 20 million containers used in world trade, including 7 million shipped into U.S. ports, each year. The cost of retrofitting a container with the smart systems shown at the conference varies depending on the particular sensor configuration. Costs range from less than a dollar to up to $10 on a per-shipment basis. The core elements of the next-generation smart container unveiled today include: The Savi Sentinel -- an industrial-strength U-shaped device about the size of a child s baseball mitt that clamps to the edge of the door for a tight fit on both the interior and exterior of the container. Based on EchoPoint technology that uses dual radio frequencies for short- and long-range transmissions, the Savi Sentinel has multiple functions. It can serve as a stand-alone magnetic door sensor, and a

4 Smart Sensor Container Page 4 centralized collection point -- or hub -- for alerts from other types of sensors inside the container. The Savi Sentinel also serves as a two-way communication transponder with the affiliated supply chain network. It also has read-write capabilities to process new information while in-transit and 128K of memory to store information such as the container s unique identity, route and contents. The Brooks E-Seal is designed for one-time usage and incorporates a state-of-theart mechanical locking system with Savi s EchoPoint RFID technology. It serves as a physical deterrent to entry through the container s doors as well as a sensor for detecting and transmitting alerts on tampering events or intrusions. It also serves as a two-way communicator with its corresponding network when used either by itself or with the Savi Sentinel system, which defaults to the Brooks E- Seal for network communications. Additionally, the E-Seal conforms to ISO/PAS RAE Systems multiple parameter sensors fit inside a small form factor (6 x2 x2 ) module which can be unobtrusively mounted anywhere within corrugation of the container. The sensors utilize an internal wireless mesh network topology, which gives users the flexibility to choose the parameters to be monitored. The monitoring information is available for wireless interrogation external to the container or can be retrieved via hardwired RFID tags. The RadRAE gamma radiation sensor represents a significant change in detection technology. RadRAE uses a lithium-iodide scintillating crystal which is more sensitive than similar-sized Geiger-Muller tube detectors. The container radiation sensor alerts first responders to the presence of radiation well before they might be exposed to health threatening levels. This same high sensitivity allows security personnel to instantly detect smuggled radioactive material. About E.J. Brooks Company Founded in 1873, E.J. Brooks Company is the world s leading manufacturer of tamper indicating security seals, locking devices and metering-related products. The company is based in Livingston, N.J., and now has 13 operating units, including locations in the USA, Canada, England, Mexico, China, Spain, Brazil and Singapore. Brooks Utility Product Group, comprised of Brooks Seals, Ekstrom Industries and Meter Devices Company, is the premier supplier of metering-related products. Ekstrom Industries, Inc.

5 Smart Sensor Container Page 5 in Farmington Hills, Mich., is the leading manufacturer of meter-socket adapters and metering test equipment. Meter Devices Company in Canton, Ohio, a member of the Brooks Family of Companies, serves electric utilities internationally with metal enclosures, meter warm-up boards and meter/relay test switches and accessories. Another subsidiary, Zappa Plastics, based in Phillipsburg, N.J., specializes in injection molding and comprehensive manufacturing services. All companies are registered to ISO Visit Brooks and subsidiaries online at About Savi Technology With over 14 years of global logistics infrastructure experience, Savi is the proven leader in real-time supply chain asset management and security. The company s broad customer service base includes the U.S. Department of Defense, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, U.S. Postal Service, major shippers, manufacturers, and retailers, as well as numerous international ports, terminal operators, carriers, asset owners and third party logistics providers. Founded in 1989, Savi Technology is privately held, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., and offices in Washington D.C., London, Brussels, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Africa. For additional information, visit -- Savi, and Savi SmartChain are registered trademarks of Savi Technology, Inc. The Savi logo, EchoPoint, Savi SmartSeal and UDAP are trademarks of Savi Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. About RAE Systems Founded in 1991, RAE Systems is a leading global developer and manufacturer of rapidly deployable, multi-sensor chemical detection monitors and networks for homeland security and industrial applications. In addition, RAE Systems offers a full line of portable single-sensor chemical and radiation detection products. RAE Systems products are used by many U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State, as well as all branches of the U.S. military, and by numerous city and state agencies. For more information about RAE Systems, please visit