The CIPAM RFID tunnel is an automatic, contactless reading solution, designed to check the contents of a carton, crate or pallet in an instant. Whether integrated into your logistics line or positioned as a stand-alone station, it ensures precise traceability, reduces shipping errors and speeds up validation operations.
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shipment tracking errors poor traceability of shipments quantity errors
“Since installing the CIPAM RFID tunnel, our shipping errors have fallen by 99%. The return on investment was achieved in less than 9 months”.
Process logistics and planning manager - food industry
Use cases
- Checking parcels before dispatch
- Standards compliance
Rates & financing
– Equipment price: from €13,500 ex VAT
– CIPAM leasing: from €285 ex VAT / month *
– Installation + configuration + training pack included
*Yourapplication is subject to acceptance by our financial partner.
Key benefits
- Savings: up to 98% reduction in processing times
- Quality : 100% anomaly detection
- Empower employees by automating time-consuming tasks
- Instant searches and data
Technical specifications
- RFID tunnel (RFID antennas, RFID reader, conveyor)
- HMI
Read the testimonial from Yann Montavy, Logistics Manager at Limagrain Europe
Limagrain × CIPAM: when the RFID tunnel changes the game for seed research
Find out how Limagrain, the world’s leading seed company, has cut the time it takes to check its shipments by a factor of 30, thanks to the RFID tunnel developed by CIPAM. 99.9% reliability, instant traceability and customs compliance.
Live seeds under high logistical pressure
Every spring, the teams at Limagrain Recherche Europe prepare to send out over 400,000 packets of seed for varietal improvement programs all over the world. The pace is meticulous: from bagging to sowing, the timetable leaves no margin for error. However, the historical method of scanning individual barcodes was slowing down the chain: “Scanning a box of 300 bags took us almost seven minutes,” explains logistics manager Yann Montavy. It was impossible to keep to our schedules when a container crossed the Atlantic”.
Beyond the deadline, the stakes are both scientific and regulatory. A simple batch inversion can jeopardize a costly testing campaign, while customs authorities now require an exhaustive packing list, batch by batch. Faced with growing volumes and tighter constraints since 2023, Limagrain is looking for a solution that is faster, more reliable and fully traceable.
Meeting CIPAM: from field diagnosis to RFID tunnel
When CIPAM arrived on site for its audit, the conclusion was clear: linear barcode reading was no longer tenable. So the engineers proposed a UHF RFID tunnel that could be integrated “plug-and-play” into the existing line. The idea? Encode the label as it is printed, then read the entire box en masse – without visual contact.
The mobile prototype, installed a few weeks later, quickly validated the gamble: “In less than 14 seconds, 500 tags were captured and brought closer to our ERP,” recalls Yann. “We immediately saw the potential: no more tedious bag alignment, just volume reading that adapts to our production peaks.”
For CIPAM, the challenge is twofold: to maintain industrial production rates and to guarantee reliability in excess of 99.9%, a critical threshold for agronomic research. The teams opted for a multi-polarized architecture, stainless steel RF shielding and the high-sensitivity Impinj M730 chip, while the in-house CIPAM TrackID™ software ensures real-time comparison with the SAP repository and automatically edits the packing-list in customs format.
Four months of integration, zero flow interruption
The tight schedule left nothing to chance:
| Step | Duration | Key moment |
|---|---|---|
| Audit & RF statements | 2 weeks | Flow mapping, inlay testing |
| Proof of Concept | 1 month | Mobile tunnel; >99.5% reliability validated |
| Industrialization | 3 months | Stainless steel tunnel, motorized conveyor, multilingual touchscreen HMI |
| Training & Go-live | 1 week | 8 operators trained, 24 h support |
The result: no line interruptions and production start-up just before the peak season. “The CIPAM team was transparent,” says Yann. “Every adjustment was tested with us, in real-life conditions.
Benefits measured in seconds… and in confidence
In just a few weeks, the indicators speak for themselves:
- Control time: from 7 minutes to 14 seconds per box (×30).
- Reliability: >99.9% – i.e. one fault per thousand cartons.
- Operator savings: 338 hours per year, reallocated to value-added tasks.
- Errors avoided: €18,000 saved from the first campaign.
- ROI: investment amortized in nine months.
Beyond the figures, the RFID tunnel changes the way teams think: inspection becomes a lightning passage, the packing list is generated in a click, and operators gain in serenity.
| Before (barcode) | After (RFID tunnel) |
| ~7 min for 300 bags | <14 s |
| Mandatory visual reading | 360° volume reading |
| Manual list entry | Automated PDF packing list |
| 1% risk of error | Reliability >99.9% |
What’s next? Towards “box-pallet-truck” traceability
On the strength of this success, Limagrain and CIPAM are already working on the next step: UHF pallet marking, controlled by RFID gantries at the shipping docks. Objective: complete the chain box → pallet → truck in less than 30 seconds, with digital proof of loading for the carrier.
“The tunnel has saved us precious time; the next stage will secure the entire batch, right up to the container,” concludes Yann.
Conclusion: RFID, a competitive advantage ready to germinate
In a sector where every seed counts, Limagrain demonstrates that a bold technological choice can transform a logistical bottleneck into a performance lever.
You too can divide your inspection time by 30 and secure your shipments!
Our team of experts offers you a free audit to explore the RFID potential of your chain.
Contact us and let’s move from theory to results together.
Faq
Our RFID tunnel answers
Whether you’re looking for a solution to your logistics problems, or already have a precise specification, CIPAM will help you think through your requirements, taking into account your specific needs and challenges, so as to offer you a tailored solution. Find answers to the most frequently asked questions here.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any specific needs or questions.
An RFID tunnel is a shielded enclosure equipped with UHF antennas that automatically reads the RFID tags of a batch of items (boxes, totes, parcels) as they pass through the conveyor. It replaces manual scanning and guarantees complete data capture in just a few seconds.
Sachets, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, spare parts, clothing, paper files… As long as the packaging allows UHF waves to pass through, the tunnel can inventory the contents. On-metal tags or special antennas can even handle metallized packaging or packaging containing liquids.
CIPAM’s standard configuration reads up to 500 tags in under 15 s. Beyond that, simply extend the tunnel or chain several modules together to process several thousand references per minute.
Our tunnels routinely achieve 99.9% reliability thanks to a multi-polarized architecture, an EPC Gen2 v2 anti-collision algorithm and an automatic consistency check with your ERP.
Between 0.2 and 1 m/s depending on tag density and required sensitivity. The rate adapts to your speed without creating a bottleneck.
No. CIPAM TrackID™ software features CSV, XML and REST API connectors compatible with SAP, Sage X3, Dynamics 365 or any WMS/ERP on the market.
In most cases, ROI is less than 12 months, thanks to productivity gains, reduced shipping errors and automated customs documentation.
Yes: you can add printer-encoders, pallet modules, gantry cranes or a camera vision system.
Why choose CIPAM?
30+ years' experience in the field
Over 400 sites equipped in France and Europe
A global approach: audit, equipment, software, integration
Long-term support (maintenance, upgrades, support)
A clear objective: to help you make the most of every solution deployed
Ongoing technology watch
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