RFID system simplifies access control for operating personnel at machines and plants

With its new Simatic RF1000 RFID system, Siemens is offering a flexible, simple solution to monitor access to machines and plants using the new Simatic RF1060R reader.

It enables companies to use existing employee ID badges to identify operating personnel and to document the access to plants and machines. This restricts damage due to unauthorised access and operating errors, and thus increases process reliability and efficiency. The system is suitable for industry-wide application, and is particularly ideal for use by automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as the pharmaceutical and food industries.

The Simatic RF1060R transmits at a frequency of 13.56 MHz in the HF range, and supports the ISO 14443 A/B (MIFARE) and ISO 15693 standards. This allows existing employee identification badges to be used for the individual control of access rights. Users are able to define any optional number of user groups with different access rights, and access data can be documented so that any access operations or changes made can be traced. This is particularly beneficial in fields such as the pharmaceutical industry which are governed by strict regulatory requirements.

The RFID readers can easily be integrated into already existing hardware such as HMI devices and panels, as well as control and IT systems. The RF1060R reader comes with a USB port (1.8 m cable with type A USB connector) and can be integrated into software applications running under Windows 7, 8 and 10. Its compact design and minimal recess depth make this reader ideal for applications affording only restricted mounting space such as panels. It is also designed to withstand harsh industrial environments (IP 65 protection rating at the front) at temperatures of between -25 and +55 °C.