Trimble Adds RFID Capabilities to its AllTrak Asset and Tool Management System

New Capability Leverages RFID Technology from Trimble's ThingMagic Division to Increase Contractor Productivity for Tracking Tools and Other Jobsite Assets

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Trimble

Aug 13, 2012, 06:30 ET

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) introduced today a new version of its Trimble® AllTrak^™ Asset and Tool Management System that includes an RFID scanner for its Trimble Nomad® outdoor rugged handheld computer running the Microsoft® Windows Mobile operating system. With RFID capabilities, the AllTrak System allows building construction contractors to more easily track and manage their jobsite assets and tools. In addition, the system increases return on investment by improving asset utilization and monitoring equipment to avoid losses.

Using the Trimble Nomad with the new RFID scanner, contractors can perform a variety of functions such as asset check-in, check-out, transfers and inventory validation much faster than traditional bar code scanning by interfacing with small passive RFID tags fixed to the assets. With an effective range of 3 to 4 feet, RFID technology does not require line of sight for the tag to be read, making it an ideal technology for reading the tags of multiple assets that are in a pickup, service truck or tool crib. Users can also attach the ThingMagic® USB RFID Reader to a desktop or laptop when a portable solution is not required.

Utilizing the popular RFID tag protocols "UHF EPC Gen2" or "ISO18000-6C", the new Trimble AllTrak System is specifically designed for general contractors, as well as concrete, steel, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and site prep subcontractors who use tools with embedded or attached RFID tags that support these protocols. Trimble AllTrak distributors can also provide RFID tags that can be attached to assets.

"With the acquisition of ThingMagic, we were able to bring their experience in RFID technology to existing platforms within the Trimble Building Construction portfolio of hardware and software solutions," said Pat Bohle, general manager of Trimble's Building Construction Division. "We chose the Trimble AllTrak System as the first product in the portfolio due to the logical affinity of delivering increased productivity to the process of tracking the physical whereabouts of tools and jobsite assets."

Trimble AllTrak with RFID support is available now through Trimble's Authorized Distributors of layout solutions for MEP and Structures contractors.

About Trimble's Building Construction Business

Trimble's Building Construction Division is a leading innovator of productivity solutions for the building construction contractor. Trimble's solutions target general, concrete, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors on large and small commercial, industrial and residential jobsites. Trimble is focused on delivering solutions that tightly link office based process and information with the field crew—including taking Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other design data to the field for highly accurate positioning and layout of foundations and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Trimble solutions provide a high-level of process and workflow integration from the design phase through to the finished project—delivering significant improvements in productivity throughout the building construction lifecycle.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring positioning or location, including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user in the field and to ensure communication between the field and the office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information, visit: www.trimble.com.

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SOURCE Trimble