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U.S. TRANSCOM, Numerex Corp. join forces for improved cargo tracking

  • Published
  • By U.S. TRANSCOM Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill --  The U. S. Transportation Command signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Numerex Corp, May 19, to work on a unique joint research project to determine the military utility of satellite tracking devices for monitoring military cargo. 

Numerex Corp., the leading provider of full-service, highly secure, machine-to-machine network services and solution, will test its military-grade Orbit One SX1 tracking module against a range of operational environmental conditions similar to those found in combat theaters such as Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, U.S. TRANSCOM deputy commander, recognized the operational value of partnering with industry and said, "New equipment that meets U.S. TRANSCOM's military requirements will help to create a new class of Automatic Identification Technology products within the military." 

The testing will take place at UNICOR, a Defense Logistics Agency-certified testing facility located in Colorado. UNICOR will also lead the effort to assign the devices a national stock number and place them on the military's Qualified Product List. The testing program will also fulfill Military Standard 810-F and Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordinance certification requirements. 

"From the start, the SX1 was designed and packaged to operate within a military environment, whereas most devices are developed and packaged to less stringent, more commercial standards," said Mike Marrett, Numerex Chief operating officer. "We have every confidence that the SX1 will meet the stringent criteria required by U.S. TRANSCOM and look forward to working with them to make deployment of high-value assets more efficient and secure." 

Today, the U.S. government uses active Radio Frequency Identification Device tags tied to a RFID interrogator infrastructure to track sustainment cargo, such as repair parts, food and water from Defense Logistics Agency depots and other supply points through air and sea ports. Once the assets leave the RFID infrastructure, the ability to locate and track the assets is lost. Numerex's SX1 uses reliable satellite technology to provide location visibility from origin to forward operating areas, giving logistics coordinators the ability to monitor and manage assets throughout the entire distribution process. 

"This is the first time standardized environmental testing will be applied to satellite tracking devices in what is easily one of the most demanding logistics environments," said Brig. Gen. Daniel Dinkins Jr., U.S. TRANSCOM command control communications and computer systems director. "Meeting our military requirements insures the devices we purchase can meet the unique demands of our warfighters deployed worldwide." 

Numerex is the first M2M company in North America to carry ISO 27001 certification - ISO's highest information security benchmark that ensures data confidentiality, integrity and availability. The company offers its M2M products and services through a variety of brands including Uplink and Orbit One. Numerex is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.