FAQs on Cold Chain Security & Visibility

Frequently Asked Questions on End-to-End Chain Tracking Solution and Refrigerated (Reefer) Container and Refrigerated Warehouse Storage Monitoring System and Services

How does the AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking Solution provides values to food and vaccine supply chain?

• Traditional cold chain tracking solution monitors the temperature of the refrigerated container or pallets with a electronic recorders. The temperature recorder keeps track of the temperature and allows the data to be downloaded when the product arrives. It acts as a witness and data logger of what happened during the transit.
• While traditional temperature logger and recording device is useful as witness, the data can only be available "post mortem" if the refrigerated products experienced temperatures that are safe for such products. It cannot help the shipper or carrier in preventing loss before it is too late.
• While insurance may pay for the loss, but the society as a whole lost the productivity in both producing the goods and time and effort in attributing the responsibility.
• AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking Solution works to provides two additional benefits for the food, vaccine and pharmaceutical products. The first is to provide end-to-end tracking from goods being produced or cut from stem to being sold in retail to consumers. The second improvement is to provide real-time alerts to both the shippers and carriers whenever the temperature fluctuate to approaching too high or too low as to cause damage to the goods. AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking System places two or more AVANTE active RFID (ZONER™-CTID) tags inside the refrigerated container or storage warehouse near or on the products. The RFID sensor device measure and records temperature, moisture, light and shock direct of the products. Whenever events exceed the safety limits, real-time alerts is generated and communicated to the shippers and carriers via the RELAYER device located in location that can transmit data out to AVANTE data center and web-based solution. SMS and alerts is sent via GPRS to those designated to receive them for possible corrective action.
• Typically RELAYER™-CTOR reader-monitor is embedded with GPS for real-time location, GPRS and/or satellite communications modules to transmit data. The RELAYER is normally placed in the hub cab.
• In addition to the real-time exception alerts in terms of temperature and/or moisture, AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking Solution also provides security monitorig against theft. Each of the ZONER device also includes multiple sensors besides temperature, moisture and shock function.
• If the door of the container is opened or walls of the container are penetrated, the signals (RSSI) from the ZONER™ tags are “heard” by the outside container RELAYER™ monitor. These signals are compared to the output when the door is closed. When the door is closed and with no wall tampering, low RSSI will be “heard” by the monitoring RELAYER™ outside the reefer container or box.

How long does it take to install a refrigerated truck with the devices for AVANTE Cold Train Tracking Solution?

• It takes approximately 30 seconds install the AVANTE RFID RELAYER™ if mobile application is envisioned. For a permanent installation, it may take a few minutes to connect to one of the fuse links that have direct link to the 12-24VDC battery.
• In the case of mobile use, simply plug the RELAYER unit into cigarette lighter and place the in convenient location inside the cab.
• Place the ZONER devices inside the refrigerated box or on the pallets or near the goods that are being transported. There are at least two ZONER devices in all installation. When placed in two different locations, they provide a good indication of the uniformity of temperature when packed with goods being shipped.

Would the shipper and or carrier agent and others that have rights or needs to know where the goods and cold chain box is at all time?

• YES. Each set of AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking System includes a RELAYER™ that has an embedded GPS unit to provide the locations at all time.
• With the real-time locating capability and ability to document all of the history of movements and locations, it provides end-to-end documentation of temperature, moisture and shock for all trips using the system.
• The locations are related to the AVANTE monitoring data-center in real-time in pre-determined schedule of at least every two hours with locations every minute for default setting. More frequent recordings can be provided with custom setting.
• The shippers, carrier agents and those that have the rights and needs to know can logged into the AVANTE web-based server to review the, records, status and locations in real-time.
• When there is any EXCEPTION or approaching exception, the location and condition will be reported in REAL-TIME. SMS will be issued automatically by the AVANTE data center via email, phone, cellphone, and PDA.
• The communications is normally provided with GPRS and when required, satellite module is used for more critical requirements.

What are the security benefits afforded by AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking Solution?

• The AVANTE solution provides real-time alerts whenever the cold chain container or box is openned and the duration of intrusion.
• The driver and/or staff are normally provided with a ZONER™ device that provide association of the driver to the operation. When threatened or in need, the ZONER device can also be used to summoned help on demand.
• Each of the AVANTE Cold Chain Tracking System set consists of as many as ZONER™ tags placed inside the cold chain box or storage that includes multiple sensors besides the functional temperature and humidity that work in conjunction with a RELAYER™ that are used as a monitoring and communication devices and recorders of event.
• Covert monitoring is also available. Please consult AVANTE sales-engineering team for detals.