Enhancing AV Equipment Management with RFID: Beontag & AED Group Collaboration

Overview 

AED Group, a leading audiovisual equipment provider based in Belgium, partnered with Beontag to optimize inventory control and asset tracking through the use of custom-designed RFID technology. AED’s global reputation for renting, leasing, and selling professional AV gear for entertainment and corporate events, combined with a commitment to operational efficiency and innovation, led to the development of Beontag’s Ironside Slim Curved tags. These curved tags are specifically designed for tracking hard-to-tag items such as aluminium trusses, commonly used to support lighting or other equipment during AV projects. 

Currently, RFID is reshaping asset management in the AV industry, replacing traditional manual barcode scanning and visual checks. For high-volume rental operations like AED’s, real-time visibility into equipment movement, maintenance status, and warehouse logistics has become essential. RFID delivers these benefits at scale, helping reduce losses, improve asset turnaround, and streamline operations. 

The Challenge 

Before engaging with Beontag, AED faced several persistent challenges: 

• Tagging Limitations: Many AV items, particularly trusses, were difficult to tag due to their asymmetrical curved metal structures, safety requirements, and exposure to harsh washing processes. 
• Operational Losses: Items frequently went missing or were returned incorrectly after events. 
• Mounting Restrictions: No holes or modifications could be made to trusses, ruling out traditional tag attachment methods. 
• Inventory Inefficiencies: Manual checks were labor-intensive and prone to error, limiting warehouse productivity. 

The Solution 

To overcome these barriers, Beontag collaborated closely with AED’s in-house RFID team, ICT (Information and Communications Technology) leadership, and project managers to deliver a purpose-built RFID solution.  

Key components of the solution included: 

• Custom Tag Design: Beontag developed a new version of its existing Ironside Slim Curved tag, initially optimized for 16mm trusses and later adapted for diameters up to 48mm. 
• Modular Engineering: Tags were produced in two finishes, black and light grey, to match AED’s aesthetic needs, with a modular design that could be adapted for other round-surface assets. 
• Seamless Integration: Using strong industrial adhesive, tags are glued firmly onto truss structures, ensuring durability and discretion during shows and transport. 
• High-Performance RFID Gates: The solution enables automatic detection of tagged assets as they pass through warehouse entry points, reducing the need for manual inspection. 

Results and Benefits 

Since implementation of Beontag’s solutions, AED Group has reported significant operational gains: 

• Increased Throughput: The RFID system drastically reduced the time required for check-in and check-out, enabling faster warehouse turnaround. 
  Improved Tracking: Real-time visibility across global warehouse locations now allows AED to authenticate, monitor, and trace equipment movements with confidence. 
• Reduced Labor Dependency: Automated inventory management means fewer human hours are needed for equipment validation and maintenance processing. 
• Enhanced Durability: The redesigned tags successfully endured high-pressure washing cycles and rough handling, solving earlier adhesive and damage issues. 
• Scalable Rollout: Following a successful pilot scheme in 2024, the project has been moving towards full scale implementation, with plans for AED to tag all trusses by 2026 

Looking Ahead 

Beontag’s digital transformation project with the AED Group project exemplifies how tailored RFID innovation can unlock new levels of efficiency in complex rental environments. Beontag’s flexible design approach, including modular tooling, color options, and multiple mounting configurations, proved crucial to meeting AED’s specific operational and aesthetic needs. As the AV industry increasingly embraces RFID, AED’s proactive and experimental mindset positions it as a leader in warehouse innovation and asset traceability. 

This collaboration is a model for future-ready AV logistics, with Beontag RFID enabling faster, smarter, and more secure equipment management across events worldwide.