RFID to track explosives

Johannesburg, 06 Jun 2006

US explosives security company, ExploTrack has partnered with a formerly Pretoria-based radio frequency identification (RFID) technology company, IPICO, to develop a real-time explosives monitoring and tracking system.

ExploTrack says it plans to implement what will be the world`s first explosives security system to provide real-time visibility anywhere in the world. ExploTrack will combine its existing security systems with the proprietary dual-frequency IP-X RFID technology platform from IPICO, which is now headquartered in Canada after listing on the Toronto stock exchange earlier this year.

The IP-X platform is designed to operate in a range of hostile, real-world environments not normally associated with efficient RFID system performance, says IPICO executive VP Alwyn Hoffman.

According to ExploTrack, governments and security forces face the increasingly daunting task of monitoring and tracking explosives and detonators as they are transported around the world. The closed-loop system is designed to track and monitor these materials, mainly used in the mining industry, from manufacture through the entire supply chain.

"Real-time globally visible explosives security is one of the best defences against terrorists who misuse explosives to manufacture bombs," says Bob Morhard, managing partner of ExploTrack.

"By combining IPICO`s technology with ExploTrack`s experience as an explosives technical services provider to the multinational industrial explosives manufacturing industry, we are now in a position to ensure the rapid deployment of explosives security systems throughout the world," explains Hoffman.

The new partnership agreement provides that ExploTrack will organise a pilot project that will result in a product and services order for IPICO. Once the system is proved to work in the real world, IPICO and ExploTrack will establish a joint venture to roll-out the solution to global explosives manufacturers.