The very latest technologies in the field of tagging and traceability were on display at London Technology Network's (LTN) latest event, held at the CASS Business School
'Novel traceability and tagging technologies to ensure a quality controlled supply chain' attracted more than 100 representatives from businesses and universities, to hear top-level speakers discuss the newest challenges, and to network among displays of cutting-edge innovations.
The speakers painted a complex picture: with traceability an evolving dilemma for global companies.
Professor Nilay Shah of Imperial College London chaired the session, introducing the field with an overview of academic/industry partnerships in the study of RFID and supply chains.
Ken Douglas, technology director at BP, outlined the company's successes in collaborating with academia, detailing his work on the sensory networks initiative - a conglomeration of tracking, tagging and wireless sensor solutions.
Pankaj Vadgama of Queen Mary, University of London presented startling statistics to demonstrate the vital need for more effective tracking of pharmaceuticals in the supply chain: with counterfeit drugs occupying 15% of the worldwide market.
Vadgama also revealed the latest work in the pipeline - everything from 3D labels to DNA barcoding, to move beyond RFID.
Finally, Eddie Dodds of BT Auto-ID Services spoke of the massive logistical hurdles facing suppliers in tracking millions of 'events' to meet compliance requirements, and how BT were facing the challenge.
Networking continued among twenty displays of cutting-edge innovation, from institutions such as varied as Brunel University, City University, University of Oxford, the London Food Centre and University of the Arts London.
Representatives from industry included GlaxoSmithKline, 3M, Atkins Rail, L'Oreal and Panasonic.
The exhibits also reflected the diverse fields involved in achieving traceability: crime science tagging technology from University College London; the latest in aerospace sensors from Cranfield University; and advanced surface analysis for food and pharmaceuticals from the University of Surrey.
Jason Jones of Unimatic Engineers said: "I found it a really fascinating event- with a quality selection of speakers," while Sunday Popo-Ola of Imperial College London found it "a wonderful seminar - well organised, and with quality speakers all round".
The next LTN event will be held on 6 December 2006 entitled '3D: the latest technologies in data processing, displays and applications'.
