Logistics innovation institute VIL puts three hundred test kits with social distancing alarms at the disposal of logistics companies in Belgium. As long as there is no corona vaccine, they can use an alarm with a sound or vibration signal to monitor the minimum distance of one and a half metres.
In the supply chain, colleagues often work in close contact with each other. Maintaining sufficient distance while performing tasks such as loading and unloading, order picking and sorting is not self-evident, VIL believes. Employers do not know how to provide sufficient guarantees and the fear of becoming infected remains present among workers, according to the monitoring of logistics needs by the Logistics Resilience Task Force, which VIL coordinates.
Sound or vibration signal in case of insufficient distance
In consultation with the Logistics Resilience Taskforce, a shortlist of Belgian/Flemish technology players that have developed a deliverable wearable that monitors the distancing rule has been drawn up. The technology and maturity vary, but all wearables provide an audible and/or vibrating signal in case of violation. The devices selected for these (infrastructure-independent) tests were developed by Flanders Make, Lopos, Rombit and WMW/Option.
300 free test kits
VIL wants these wearables to be tested in practice and is therefore making three hundred free test kits available. Flemish companies with a logistics operation can order these test kits online from Wednesday on a first come, first served basis. Participating companies are expected to provide feedback on the test results to VIL. Each test kit includes two wearables per supplier and accessories (manual, lanyard or wristband, USB cable for charging), the VIL test scenarios and a checklist.
Prepared for second wave or other pandemic
"These test kits are an excellent initiative to help companies restart safely in this crisis," said Hilde Crevits, Flemish minister for Economy and Innovation. "The logistics chain must not come to a standstill. Moreover, the experiences in the field are important for suppliers to further develop their product and be better prepared should a second wave of Covid-19 or other pandemic hit our region. If the tests are positive, consideration could be given to enabling group purchasing to keep the price down and also allow small and medium-sized companies to benefit."
