Organisations responsible for shipping and freight are always concerned about the security of their assets – as well as those of their customers – and every organisation I have encountered has an initiative to increase security and reduce the risk of theft.
This is set against a landscape in which regulators increasingly strive for higher levels of compliance and transparency in the sector. Companies involved in the logistics and multimodal space, particularly those transporting hazardous materials, are required to demonstrate that they are upholding the highest possible standards for public safety and security.
A big part of the solution is the use of tracking devices that enable all members of the supply chain to accurately monitor the whereabouts of shipments and the vehicles that transport them.
Organisations across the globe are now starting to benefit from satellite communications to retain uninterrupted communication with assets and cargo as they cross borders and as they traverse into areas with weak or unreliable GSM mobile signal.
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe is one recent example of a major petrochemical supplier that has equipped its European rail tank cars with satellite IoT tracking and monitoring technology. INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe is Europe’s largest producer of ethylene, a highly explosive petrochemical, which is the primary component in over half of all finished petrochemicals and plastics.
At INEOS, a satellite-based tracking solution from Ovinto reduces the risk of transportation of ethylene by monitoring the condition of the chemicals in each rail car while providing valuable shipment information for the supply chain.
The solution produces rich real-time data about the condition of the chemicals being transported. Sensors inside the rail car measure pressure and temperature and can even detect whether the rail car has been impacted due to a crash or derailment.
Using accurate GPS data, the system ensures each rail car is in the right location at the right time. Additionally, INEOS can share the data with supply chain partners and customers who benefit from using the data to plan delivery schedules and optimise production processes.
All these benefits combine to yield better economics, higher revenues and increased profitability across the ecosystem.
With smart IoT satellite-enabled asset tracking, everyone’s a winner.
Corry Brennan, EMEA Regional Sales Manager, Simplex Products at Globalstar
To learn more about how satellites can help logistics businesses, and to see Globalstar’s new game-changing solar-powered asset tracker SmartOne Solar, visit Stand number G60 at Intermodal Europe 2017, 28-30 November, 2017, RAI, Amsterdam. Read more insights from Corry Brennan at http://www.intermodal-events.com/intermodal-europe-conference-2017/speaker-interviews-and-thoughts-vmtg/speaker-interview-corry-brennan
