In the workshop, tool management has always been a sore point. Tools go missing, are taken without being recorded, and break without anyone noticing. Traditional solutions? An automated vertical storage system costs as much as a flat and requires high ceilings. CCTV cameras? They compare images, but cannot distinguish between two identical tools.
Z Automation’s UHF RFID Tool Cabinet is the answer: a smart tool room that transforms a simple piece of furniture into a miniature automated storage system, without the need for major investment or alterations to the space.
The problem of tool management in the workshop
- Lost or forgotten tools: every search costs time and money.
- Unrecorded withdrawals: no one knows who took what and when.
- Unreported breakages and calibration issues: they are only discovered when it is too late.
- Manual stock-takes: slow, inaccurate and reliant on memory.
- Insufficient CCTV: cannot distinguish between two identical tools, and cannot detect if an object is covered or positioned incorrectly.
The solution: UHF RFID drawer unit
Our tool chest:
- Tracks every tool in real time: you always know what’s in each drawer, who took it and when.
- Controls access: specific permissions per drawer, with every action logged alongside the operator’s identity.
- Provides active protection: immediate alerts for suspicious withdrawals or unauthorised openings.
- Guides operators: reduces errors and response times, ensuring everything is returned to the correct location.
- Reports anomalies: alerts for excessive use, the need for calibration or physical damage.
Why RFID and not CCTV?
| Caratteristica | Cassettiera RFID | Telecamere ATC |
| Identificazione singolo utensile | Sì, ID univoco | No, confronto immagini |
| Utensili identici | Distingue | Non distingue |
| Tag miniaturizzabili | Sì, anche su utensili piccoli | N/A |
| Versioni rivettabili antimanomissione | Sì | N/A |
| Orientamento richiesto | No | Sì |
| Lettura batch | Intero cassetto in pochi secondi | Cassetto per cassetto |
| Illuminazione/layout | Indipendente | Richiede imaging stabile |
Technical specifications
- Certified sheet metal drawer unit.
- Fully extendable drawers of various heights, with perforated bases and slotted sides for dividers.
- Single-opening mechanism to prevent tipping.
- Designed for floor or wall mounting.
- Modular design with 4 to 9 drawers.
- Electronic locks and grip handles.
- Can be integrated with ATC Level 5 cameras for additional visual monitoring.
Benefits for the workshop
- Lower initial investment compared to an automated vertical warehouse.
- Industry 4.0 tax incentives.
- Extremely simple installation: no need for high ceilings.
- High flexibility for a wide range of shapes, weights and sizes.
- Eliminates the risks associated with lifting equipment.
- Immediate ROI: fewer hours wasted, fewer duplicate purchases.
Why Z Automation?
We have been developing RFID products for over 20 years, including for challenging environments such as those containing metal. We offer consultancy, installation and support in Italian. RFID systems are eligible for Industry 4.0 incentives.
Conclusion
If you run a workshop or a tool room, the UHF RFID drawer unit is the solution that combines efficiency, security and control without the need for major investment. Contact us for a personalised consultation.
Contact us today for a free consultation
Zautomation – Via Mameli, 14 – 21013 Gallarate (VA)
info@zautomation.it | +39 340.635.640