Logistics Tracking Technology Keeps Careful Eye on Lions’ Rugby Kit
25th May 2017
The sport of rugby union has a major event in June with the tour of the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand, and logistics technology is being employed to help ensure things go smoothly, off the pitch at least. The tourists’ kit heading out to New Zealand today will be watched over by state of the art tracking technology originally developed to protect fine art and pharmaceutical products, thanks to business insurer and Lions sponsor, QBE.
The five sensors, which can record location, pressure changes, light exposure, shock and temperature changes will be packed in with key supplies – which include medical equipment, training kit, balls and tackle pads – for their 11,000-mile journey to New Zealand for the Lions tour. Each sensor pack is roughly the same size as a video camera battery and can be recharged after each trip.
The light detecting capability of the sensors is particularly important for this shipment as it will immediately notify QBE’s Global Innovation Lab if the packages are tampered with or opened prematurely – a major consideration when the items in the shipment have enormous value as illicit souvenirs.
The kit will be transported to New Zealand in a Qantas Airbus A380 taking off from London Heathrow.
Gerard Carmody, Director of Operations for the British & Irish Lions, said: “The safe arrival of our kit in New Zealand is essential to a successful tour, and we’re delighted that this sophisticated technology will be tracking its every move until it arrives.”
Sam Harrison, Managing Director of QBE Business Insurance, said: “Tracking technology is another fantastic device in our risk toolkit, and helps our customers prepare for managing shipping risks remotely and effectively. While light entry – relating to the premature opening of a package – is an essential consideration for this shipment, these sensors also can track things like moisture, helping our customers respond to emerging cargo risks in real time.”