BlackFriday RFID Retail Pilot Locates Stock

Electronic Product Code (EPC) RFID technology will be used on new DVD releases in a pilot test scheduled at select stores around the country. The RFID tags are expected to help retailers locate stock that is in their stores to improve the customer experience. ...

... "The EPC uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to uniquely identify an object. Retailers can use the EPC to ensure that products are kept in stock to meet shopper demand as well as helping shoppers find the right product in the right place inside the store. Over the last few years, the EPC has become a popular way to identify pallets and cases of goods on their way to retail stores. Electronic readers inside the store read the unique serial numbers from EPC labels and relay this information back to store staff. EPC labels do not contain, collect or store any personal information. The EPC label has no power source and can only transmit its unique number when it is less than about 10 feet from a reader that activates the label. The power – or strength – of readers is strictly regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. The actual distance from which an EPC label can be read may be shorter because barriers such as shopping bags and other factors such as the presence of metal materials or nearness of walls or other obstructions weaken a reader’s signal. The labels can be removed after purchase. " ...

Via epcGlobal: SHOPPER BENEFITS (PDF)

Dillards RFID Pilot Program Will Tag Merchandise Items with Electronic Product Code

Dillards. a national retailer that operates in 29 states, is beginning an item-level Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, tagging pilot in its stores this month, in order to assess the technology's impact on customer service through improved product availability. ...

... "The pilot will consist of certain styles of merchandise being marked with RFID-enabled tags. The RFID/EPC (Electronic Product Code) tags function like an intelligent barcode and contain only the Electronic Product Code unique to each garment. The tags are designed to be removed at the time of purchase. They are not required in the event that the customer wishes to return the garment. No link will be made between the garment information held by the tag and the customer's personal information. These new tags will enable store associates to perform more frequent inventory counts on merchandise, with the ultimate goal of more timely replenishment of out-of-stocks. We believe that the use of RFID technology can enable us to provide an even higher level service to our customers by enhancing our ability to have the right product available at the right time while providing us even more accurate information from our inventory control system. " ...

Via Dillards: RFID Pilot Program

RFID Solution Center Certified

EPCglobal Inc. certifies Alien Technology's Dayton RFID Solution Center with its Performance Test Center Accreditation mark. ...

... "The Accreditation Mark signifies that the Alien RFID Solution Center has successfully completed the EPCglobal Performance Test Center Audit and that it uses a standard set of performance test profiles to simulate real-world conditions in testing the readability of end-user products that are tagged with the Electronic Product Code. In successfully completing the audit, the Alien RFID Solutions Center is now accredited to provide RFID-tagged unit performance testing services in dynamic conveyor and dock door portal environments, in order to provide organizations with the assurance of a uniform level of readability for their tagged items across the supply chain. " ...

Via Alien Technology: Alien RFID Solutions Center, Dayton accredited for EPCglobal-certified RFID conveyor and dock door testing ...

RFID Technology Enables Asia Logistics for Metro Supply Chain

The METRO Group and Savi Networks will collaborate to implement the Advanced Logistics Asia (ALA) project. The project will deploy RFID radio frequency identification technology to monitor the location and security of inventory shipped from Asia to Europe in real-time through the supply chain. ...

... "The ALA project, managed by METRO Group Buying Hong Kong (MGB Hong Kong), will utilize SaviTrak(TM), a web-based, real-time information service that leverages automatic data transmissions from Electronic Product Code (EPC) - compliant passive and active RFID tags, among other wireless devices, on shipments transported throughout the global supply chain. MGB Hong Kong manages METRO Group imports from sourcing to delivery at Distribution Centers in Germany. Under the ALA project, SaviTrak will monitor a variety of retail products while they are transported through a global RFID reader network, stretching from a consolidation center in Hong Kong, through the Port of Hong Kong, to the Port of Rotterdam, the inland Port of Duisburg in Germany and finally to a METRO Group distribution center in Unna, Germany.



Active, battery-powered RFID tags on containers will be utilized to automatically transmit information into the SaviTrak information service. As a six-month pilot, the ALA project is designed to evaluate improvements in the visibility, management and security of inventory while it is transported end-to-end. The project will further evaluate investment returns in reduced lead times and inventory, improved customer service as well as supply chain and financial performance." ...

Via Savi Networks: The METRO Group and Savi Networks Launch Real-Time Information Service on Inventory Shipped From Asia to Europe

RFID Pilot: Cardinal Health Completes

Cardinal Health completes its RFID pilot, which tested RFID tags for end-to-end pharma packaging and distribution business processes. The pilot tested the application of tags and the utilization of item level tracking techniques. Alien Technology, IBM, and Verisign provided hardware, software and implementation services. The application and encoding of the RFID tags approached 100 percent success rates. Reliable read rates were best achieved at the individual case level. The pilot was a fruitful learning experience for the pharma industry. ...

... "The pilot program tested whether ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags could be applied, encoded and read at normal production speeds during packaging and distribution of pharmaceuticals. Verifying the authenticity of medications along each step of the distribution process adds an additional layer of security to lessen the chance of counterfeit pharmaceuticals entering the supply chain. It is also hoped that RFID data could improve efficiencies in the supply chain. Pilot Program Background: In conducting the industry's first end-to-end pilot program, Cardinal Health used new technology to place RFID tags on the labels of brand-name solid-dose prescription drugs, then encoded the electronic product code (EPC) standard data at the unit, case and pallet levels during the packaging process. The products were shipped to a Cardinal Health distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, where the data was read and authenticated as products were handled under typical operating conditions. Normal procedures were enhanced with RFID hardware and software from Alien Technology Corporation and IBM along with project management support from VeriSign.

RFID Labeling and Online Encoding: Data collected from the pilot suggest that it is feasible for RFID tags to be inlaid into existing FDA-approved pharmaceutical label stock, and the tags can be applied and encoded on packaging lines at normal operational speeds. Online encoding yields were 95 percent to 97 percent, and fine tuning of the process is expected to produce yields that approach 100 percent. The RFID tag application and encoding requires minimal adjustments to current labeling and packaging lines.

RFID Read Rates: Unit-level read rate data varied widely depending on the locations and type of reading stations throughout the supply chain. Highly reliable unit-level read rates in excess of 96 percent were found when reading individual cases one at a time and when reading units mixed with other products in tote containers prepared for delivery to a pharmacy. However, as expected, unit-level read rates were not found to be reliable when attempting to read units within a full pallet of product. " ...

Via Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health Releases RFID Pilot Results ...

RFID Pharma Supply Chain: Track and Trace EPCIS Pilot

AmerisourceBergen announces innovative Track and Trace Program that will benefit the pharmaceutical supply channel. Its pilot program connects AmerisourceBergen's EPCIS directly to other business partner EPCIS systems and to specific pharmaceutical manufacturer systems. In Q1-2007, VeriSign will provide authentication services and enable visibility across multiple EPCIS systems. ...

... "AmerisourceBergen has been a leader in protecting the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply channel, first by pledging over one year ago to purchase 100 percent of its pharmaceutical and other products directly from the product manufacturer, and now by launching a unique Track and Trace initiative which will utilize RFID and Electronic Product Code Information System (EPCIS) technology to track and trace products throughout the entire distribution process. AmerisourceBergen plans to formally launch the Track and Trace pilot program at its largest distribution center in California by the end of 2006. In the pilot, AmerisourceBergen will use IBM's RFID middleware and embedded software on readers to read RFID tags currently used by certain pharmaceutical manufacturers as those products enter the distribution center. The unique product ID from each RFID tag will be electronically stored in IBM's EPCIS, which will be the platform for secure electronic communications back to the product's manufacturer. This secure information exchange will allow AmerisourceBergen and its trading partners to work collaboratively to share transaction information and further secure the supply channel. As new orders come into the AmerisourceBergen distribution center, the RFID system can monitor product placed in shipping totes as they move through the picking, packing, and shipping processes. As each tote leaves the distribution center the EPCIS software will record the time and location of each unit leaving the premises as well as its intended destination so that AmerisourceBergen has a complete record of the history of all RFID tagged drugs. " ...

Via AmerisourceBergen: AmerisourceBergen Announces Innovative Track and Trace Program for the Pharmaceutical Supply Channel

RFID Enterprise Service Upgrade ...

BEA WebLogic RFID product family is a component of the BEA's service oriented architecture. RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 is available for download. The RFID system's event repository is interoperable with the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standards. ...

... "A core component of the BEA WebLogic RFID product family, BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server is designed to help enable central management of RFID data collected at the edge of an enterprise, i.e. inside a retail store, warehouse or data center. With enhanced support for industry standards and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), the 2.0 release of BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server provides a suite of six services that can help manage and coordinate RFID data and edge operations globally. BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 complements the BEA WebLogic Edge Server and BEA WebLogic Compliance Express products, and is designed to make it easier to bridge the gaps between people, processes, applications and systems across enterprise and trading partners. BEA WebLogic RFID Enterprise Server 2.0 can provide customers unprecedented visibility into product movement data, and is designed to help enable them to derive business value more quickly from RFID data collected at the edge. " ...

Via BEA Systems: BEA Strengthens RFID Infrastructure Software for Enterprise-Grade Deployments ...

Monza RFID Tag Readers Gen2 Interoperable ...

Impinj's Monza RFID chip and Speedway readers are certified for Generation-2 interoperability. ...

... "Leading Gen 2 RFID solution provider, Impinj, Inc., announced that EPCglobal Inc., the not-for-profit standards organization dedicated to driving global adoption of the Electronic Product Code (EPC) for supply chain excellence, has awarded interoperability marks to Monza tag chips and Speedway readers, certifying that these Impinj products comply with EPCglobal's Gen 2 standard and interoperate with other certified devices. Third-party testing firm MET Laboratories conducted EPCglobal's product interoperability testing as part of an extensive hardware certification and standards compliance program for RFID chips, tags, readers, and printers. MET Laboratories also performed EPCglobal's RFID Gen 2 compliance testing in September 2005, awarding Gen 2 compliance certification marks to Impinj's Monza chip and Speedway reader at that time.

Impinj is the only company to have earned Gen 2 interoperability certification for both tag chips and readers. Monza chips and Speedway readers enable Powered by Impinj solutions available from a variety of RFID vendors and are key components of recent RFID deployments. Impinj has shipped Monza chips in high volume to the industry's leading RFID tag and inlay vendors worldwide since the Fall of 2005. " ...

Via Impinj: Impinj’s Gen 2 RFID Monza Tag Chips and Speedway Readers Earn EPCglobal Interoperability Certification ...

RFID Plastic Pallet Real-Time Tracking ...

Plastic pallet with RFID enables real-time tracking in the supply chain. ...

... "Under the agreement, Xterprise will use both its RFID Asset Management application—which is built on it's TraX Application Server (TAS)—and it's AnalytiX RFID business intelligence application for iGPS' plastic pallet pool. Xterprise will be responsible for RFID-centric software applications, RFID best practices and RFID infrastructure integration. Xterprise will supply iGPS with Electronic Product Code (EPC) passive RFID tags, using the recently released EPC Reusable Transport Item (RTI) standard tag data format. As part of this long-term relationship, Xterprise will work closely with iGPS' other industry-leading partners such as Ryder System, Inc.

The agreement will enable iGPS to respond to demand from industries such as beverages, consumer electronics, grocery/consumer packaged goods, home improvement/do-it-yourself, pharmaceutical, produce/meat and raw ingredients. The powerful advantages of iGPS' edge-rackable plastic pallets include their greater durability, consistent size, shape and quality, superior hygiene and traceability. iGPS is the only large-scale pallet supply service to provide RFID in every pallet to track shipments in real time, which reduces the logistical cost of shipping and allows companies to verify food and drug safety, as well as to address security issues. iGPS offers the ability to rent plastic pallets and avoid the ongoing expense of owning and maintaining wood pallets." ...

RFID Plastic Pallet Real-Time Tracking: Via Xterprise: iGPS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH XTERPRISE INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE BUILT-IN RFID-TRACKING CAPABILITY FOR ALL-PLASTIC PALLET POOL ...

Unilever RFID: Open Standard Supply Chain Data ...

Unilever collaborates with IBM and T3Ci to test interoperability of the emerging EPCIS RFID data standard. The standard focuses on the efficient use of real-time data among partners in the supply chain. ...

... "The standard is designed to help better enable retailers, manufacturers and organizations throughout the supply chain to overcome information overload and share information to improve business processes. This milestone marks the first step toward delivering interoperability based on the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) for exchange and query of RFID data. IBM and T3CI are the co-chairs of the EPCglobal EPCIS Working Group. The objective of the Working Group is to create common interfaces among RFID software, allowing organizations to exchange and leverage RFID data independent of the applications in which data is created or stored. For organizations throughout the supply chain, this will deliver greater value by allowing them to inexpensively capture large volumes of detailed data at each stage of the supply chain and share that data among trading partners. While retailers today can provide manufacturers with large amounts of data about RFIDtagged products, until now there has been no simple and standardized way for manufacturers to sort through the volumes of raw data and perform queries to use it to improve product introductions, promotions and distribution of new products.



The new EPCIS standards-based ability to query RFID data will provide organizations with near real-time RFID data from their trading partners, for the first time giving manufacturers access to the precise information they need. Unilever North America, a global manufacturer of foods, home care and personal care products, also announced today its plans to pioneer use of the EPCIS standard to query RFID data provided by retailers. Unilever will conduct a trial using IBM's EPCIS implementation to collect and access information from within the company's manufacturing environment and from trading partners. By leveraging IBM and T3Ci reports and analysis, Unilever is looking to create additional business value in the areas of promotion management, supply chain visibility and metrics, as well as RFID readability. " ...

Unilever RFID: Open Standard Supply Chain Data: Via T3Ci: IBM and T3Ci Successfully Pilot Open Standard to Enable Manufacturers to Leverage RFID Data and Improve Supply Chain Processes: Unilever Among First Manufacturers to Pioneer New Interface to Connect Data Among Trading Partners ...

EPCIS standard ...

Software Action Group: "EPC Information Services (EPCIS) Phase 2: Create one or more normative technical specifications that will facilitate the development of interoperable EPCIS systems. "

Background on Unilever ...

Unilever awards HR outsourcing contract to Accenture: "Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands including twelve EUR1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as: Knorr, Hellmann's, Flora, Bertolli, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and Domestos. Unilever has around 206 000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated annual sales of EUR40 billion in 2005. "

Info on T3Ci ...

T3Ci: The RFID Analytics and Applications Company: "T3Ci, the leading RFID analytics and applications company, offers a broad range of RFID software and services, representing the most comprehensive RFID vision in the industry. T3Ci develops software and provides enterprise-class solutions for managers of RFID initiatives who are responsible for delivering business value from their company's RFID investment. T3Ci's enterprise-class solutions include RFID analytics as well as a suite of high-value applications for retail suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, and major retailers. Applications include Out-of-Stock Management, Promotions Execution Management, Deductions Management, and Product Authentication. "

RFID 3Gen Reader Chipset ...

Anadigm introduces 3rd generation RFID reader chipset, that can be leveraged in high and ultra-high frequency applications and RFID tag types. ...

.... "Anadigm announced the immediate availability of RangeMaster5, the company's third-generation RFID reader 3.3 volt chip set solution that allows system vendors to design and maintain a single combination HF and UHF reader. The Rangemaster5-based system can be customized to read different radio frequency identification (RFID) tag types, with different modulation types and frequencies. RangeMaster5 also fully supports current HF standards as well as the newer standards under study by EPC (Electronic Product Code) Global, Inc. Like previous RangeMaster devices, RangeMaster5 will support UHF protocols- EPC Global Gen 1 and Gen 2 (class 0, 1, 2) as well as ISO18000-6 standards. RangeMaster5 is the third in a family of RFID reader solutions that Anadigm is developing for the rapidly expanding RFID markets. RFID technology is revolutionizing markets as diverse as retail sales - by managing inventory and electronic payments via mobile phones - to medical applications by ensuring that hospital patients receive the correct treatments and medications.

RangeMaster5 is a three-chip set comprised of two dynamically programmable analog signal processors (dpASP) in conjunction with an RFID State Machine. This enables system designers to develop universal RFID readers that can support both HF and UHF, changing between HF and UHF baseband frequencies dynamically, in a few microseconds. RangeMaster5 also features the ability to dynamically change between protocols and frequencies allowing for optimized RFID tag reading. By allowing standardization around a single printed circuit board to support multiple end products and markets, RangeMaster5 simplifies and improves product development. This next generation of RangeMaster not only reduces development time and ownership costs of fixed systems, but also enables portable designs by reducing supply voltage requirements and power consumption. " ...

RFID 3Gen Reader Chipset: Via Anadigm: Anadigm Reveals Third Generation Chipset for Combination HF and UHF RFID Readers ...

RFID Drug Authenticity Pilot at Cardinal Health ...

Cardinal Health begins second wave of RFID testing that supports the safety of the drug supply. RFID technology will enable in-process authentication as drugs make their way through the extended supply chain. Cardinal will also look for ways to achieve operational efficiencies from the RFID-enabled supply chain information. The company is expecting to complete this wave of tests by the 4th Quarter of 2006. ...

... "Cardinal Health, Inc., the leading provider of products and services supporting the health-care industry, announced the next phase of the first end-to-end pilot program to test technology that could improve the safety and efficiency of the nation's drug supply. The pilot program will begin to tag medication with labels carrying unique data that can be captured and read to verify its authenticity at each step of the supply chain. Verifying the authenticity of pharmaceuticals along each step of the distribution path adds an additional layer of security to lessen the chance of counterfeit pharmaceuticals entering the supply chain. In addition, the data gathered could improve efficiency as logistics experts at Cardinal Health will be able to analyze the data to identify bottlenecks, read rates and other opportunities to improve efficiency in the supply chain.

In conducting the end-to-end pilot program, Cardinal Health will use new technology to place radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on the labels of brand-name and generic solid-dose prescription drugs at the company's Printed Components facility in Moorestown, N.J. Next, the company's facility in Philadelphia will encode the electronic product code (EPC) standard data at the unit, case and pallet levels during the packaging process. The products will be then shipped to a Cardinal Health distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, where the data will be read and authenticated as products are handled under normal operating conditions. Normal operating procedures will be enhanced with RFID hardware and software from Alien Technology Corporation and IBM along with project management support from VeriSign. From Findlay, the tagged product will be sent to a health-care provider to further test read rates and data flow using the same technology as the distribution center. The product dispensed to patients will not be in the RFID packaging. The company launched the pilot in February and expects to complete the test in the fall." ...

RFID Drug Authenticity Pilot at Cardinal: Via Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health Announces Next Phase Of RFID Pilot ...

Japan RFID Gen2 Readers ...

Partners collaborate to deliver Gen2 RFID readers to the Japanese market. ...

... "Under the agreement, Impinj will adapt its Speedway Gen 2 RFID readers to conform to Japanese radio frequency regulations. NEC TOKIN will develop and market its own brand of RFID reader products based on the Speedway platform for the Japanese market. The agreement also includes a partnership with NEC Corporation, NEC TOKIN's parent company. NEC will offer the Powered by Impinj readers, with NEC's RFID Manager middleware, as part of its systems integration business. The middleware manages the electronic product code (EPC) information streaming from the readers and sends the data on to warehouse and enterprise management systems. The companies' first joint deployment will be an installation at NEC's Personal Products Co., Ltd, the PC manufacturer, in Yonezawa. Impinj's Speedway reader received the EPCglobal Gen 2 standard certification mark and has been successfully installed in large North American retail and distribution environments that require RFID technology to improve supply chain efficiency. Speedway exhibits unprecedented levels of performance and was recently demonstrated to support item-level RFID tracking for pharmaceuticals, apparel, CD/DVDs and many other high value products. " ...

Japan RFID Gen2 Readers: Via Impinj: Impinj, NEC TOKIN and NEC Partner to Deliver High Performance Gen 2 RFID Readers in Japan ...

RFID GlaxoSmithKline Technology Test ...

GlaxoSmithKline tests RFID technology on HIV drug to combat counterfeiting. ...

... "GlaxoSmithKline has begun distributing a medicine tagged with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as part of a pilot project to help protect patient safety. The tags will be placed on all bottles of Trizivir (an HIV medicine) distributed in the United States. When scanned at close range, the tags will help verify that the medicine bottle contains authentic Trizivir. This specific medicine was selected for the project because it has been listed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as one of 32 drugs most susceptible to counterfeiting and diversion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked the pharmaceutical industry to develop standards and pilot processes for RFID that may lead in the next few years to broad adoption and use of the technology. RFID uses a tiny silicon chip and antenna about the size of a postage stamp that is attached to each bottle of medicine. The chip stores a unique product code that reflects information about the drug's manufacturing and shipping history. The product code can be read by pharmaceutical wholesalers and pharmacists using a hand-held or stationary electronic device that is placed within 2-18 inches of the tag. The tag can be read by wholesalers when it is received from the manufacturer and when it is shipped to pharmacies, who would then record when they have received the medicine. This allows manufacturers to more precisely account for medicine as it moves through the distribution chain and to authenticate medicine at the point of dispensing. " ...

RFID GlaxoSmithKline Technology Test: Via GlaxoSmithKline: GlaxoSmithKline begins testing new technology ...

RFID Gen2 Strap-on-Box Case Tracking ...

TI and Smurfit-Stone collaborate to deliver case tracking capability through Gen2 strap-on-box RFID tags. ...

... "Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, the industry's leading integrated manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging, is demonstrating the first Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation 2 (Gen 2) radio frequency identification (RFID) strap-on-box prototypes at RFID World 2006, in Dallas, at the Texas Instruments booth #701. Using TI's Tag-it™ EPC Gen 2 Strap, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has developed an innovative process for attaching Gen 2 straps to printed antennas directly on a corrugated box. The company is introducing its technology to consumer products goods (CPGs) manufacturers applying Gen 2 technology to cases for supply chain tracking applications. " ...

RFID Gen2 Strap-on-Box Case Tracking: Via Texas Instruments: Texas Instruments and Smurfit-Stone Demonstrate EPC Gen 2 Strap-on-Box Application at RFID World 2006 ...

RFID: Sun SAP Collaborate ...

Sun and SAP collaborate to enable seamless RFID solutions ...

... "Sun Microsystems, Inc. expanded its relationship with SAP AG to integrate and standardize RFID technology based on the SAP(R) Auto-ID Infrastructure component of SAP NetWeaver(R) and the Sun Java System RFID Software. This collaboration will enable RFID data network communication between Sun and SAP RFID technology (part of the mySAP Business Suite solutions), allowing for seamless data flow from any RFID-enabled device to the mySAP Business Suite. The technology integration has been tested and certified by SAP. Customers in a broad range of industries, including retail and manufacturing, are looking to RFID technology to help them gain insight into multiple facets of the logistics process, including maintaining inventories, interacting with suppliers, improving customer service and tracking orders. The collaboration between SAP and Sun will help speed time to deployment for customers looking to integrate RFID data into their back-end systems. The Sun Java System RFID Software provides centralized monitoring and management capabilities for large numbers of distributed RFID devices and delivers Jini technology-based dynamic networking capabilities, which help ensure that RFID data can continue to be transmitted to the SAP applications under demanding production environments. " ...

RFID: Sun SAP Collaborate: Via Sun: Sun and SAP Collaborate to Simplify Deployment of RFID Solutions on SAP NetWeaver ...

Additional references on SAP and RFID ...

Via SAP - Components & Tools of SAP NetWeaver: SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure: "SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure, the key component of SAP NetWeaver that provides RFID capabilities, provides SAP applications with a gateway into RFID data. "

Via SAP: SAP RFID Rollout Signals Major Savings for Midsize Flag-Maker: "SAP NetWeaver provides companies with a powerful platform to manage, integrate and leverage RFID data within their SAP and non-SAP business applications. By integrating a combination of SAP NetWeaver components with core business applications, such as enterprise resource planning or supply chain management, customers can RFID-enable their business processes. The implementation of SAP RFID technology was facilitated by Annin's implementation partner CIBER Novasoft. The integration of SAP RFID technology and the pre-existing SAP IT infrastructure means information captured from the RFID tags for the more than 500,000 master cartons shipped annually can be accessed directly in the enterprise SAP system. Retailers can track and report on the movement of Annin's inventory tagged with RFID through warehouses and stores. By creating this real-world aware network, Annin has laid the groundwork for shipping items using RFID and developing an integrated and scalable approach to the technology, providing benefits beyond merely meeting the Wal-Mart requirement. "

Via SAP: SAP Forges Next Generation of RFID-Enabled Business Solutions with Kimberly-Clark: "SAP and Kimberly-Clark will continue to leverage EPCglobal efforts to promote standards based solutions to the marketplace. SAP is bringing to bear the state-of-the-art Auto-ID, analytical and event-driven technologies provided by the SAP NetWeaver platform to collect, analyze and act on EPC (electronic product code) data shared among Kimberly-Clark and its trading partners. Kimberly-Clark has already deployed SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure as the system of record of enterprise-wide EPC information and as the interface that controls all EPC information flowing into mySAP ERP. "

Via SAP: SAP Enables Fraport AG to Reduce Maintenance Costs and Increase Safety at Frankfurt Airport with Mobile Asset Management: "Before the mobile deployment, service engineers had to fill out lengthy forms during equipment checks, then enter the data manually into the central ERP software. Service technicians now use PDAs to access daily maintenance plans and carry out work orders. The PDAs read maintenance-relevant information from the RFID tags installed on ventilation shutters and act as clients to the ERP software for reporting and archiving. Because the PDAs can read tags only at a distance of three centimeters or less, the mobile scenario confirms that service technicians duly checked each vent on their work orders. In addition to safeguarding maintenance processes and generating reports in compliance with federal regulations, the solution helps the company maintain a complete view across the entire asset life cycle and more quickly locate reoccurring faults. "

RFID Program: P&G EPC

P&G electronic product code (EPC) and radio frequency identification (RFID) program is focused on the opportunities in the supply chain and is sensitive to privacy concerns that consumers may have. ...

... "The Procter & Gamble Company is pursuing the use of EPC (Electronic Product Coding) to create efficiencies in the supply chain, to manage inventory, prevent theft and counterfeiting, and reduce out-of-stock levels, via case and pallet-level EPC. Down the road as we learn more about the technology, there may be opportunities to save costs and generate additional benefits for the supply chain and consumers via item-level EPC. " ...

References on P&G's RFID program ...

RFID Program: P&G EPC: Via P&G: P&G Position on Electronic Product Coding (EPC) ...

Via SAP: SAP Launches First RFID Solution to Help Customers Automate RFID-Enabled Business Processes: "Drawing upon experience from customer projects with leading companies like Procter & Gamble and the METRO Group, as well as six years of RFID research and involvement in RFID standards organizations, SAP has developed technology that will dramatically change supply chain management in the retail and consumer product industries. "

Via RFID Journal: P&G Teams With T3Ci for RFID Apps: "Procter & Gamble has signed a five-year agreement with T3Ci, a Mountain View, Calif.-based startup that has created software for analyzing Electronic Product Code (EPC) data from radio frequency identification systems. "

Via Computerworld: Early Adopters Send Mixed Messages About RFID: "Flannery said the justification is more apparent in P&G's pharmaceutical business, where RFID is viewed as a technology that can help curb counterfeit drugs and bolster consumer safety. "

Gen2 RFIDReader Chipset: RangeMaster2 ...

RangeMaster2 is Generation 2 RFID reader chipset ...

... "Anadigm announces immediate availability of RangeMaster2, the company's second generation RFID reader 3.3 volt chip set solution that allows system vendors to design and maintain a single universal reader that can be customized to read different radio frequency identification (RFID) tag types, with different modulation types and frequencies. RangeMaster family fully supports HF and UHF protocols- EPC Global Gen 1 and Gen 2 (class 0, 1, 2) and ISO18000-6 standards. RangeMaster2 is the second in a family of RFID reader solutions that Anadigm is developing for the rapidly expanding RFID markets. RFID technology is revolutionizing markets as diverse as retail sales - by managing inventory and electronic payments via mobile phones - to medical applications by ensuring that hospital patients receive the correct treatments and medications.

RangeMaster2 is a two-chip set comprised of a dynamically programmable analog signal processor (ASP) in conjunction with an RFID State Machine. This enables system designers to develop a universal RFID tag reader that can support multiple protocols and frequencies for Universal Fixed Readers, Portable/Handheld Readers, Combination Bar Code and RFID Reader/Scanners. By allowing standardization around a single printed circuit board to support multiple end products and markets, RangeMaster2 simplifies and improves product development. This next generation of RangeMaster not only reduces development time and ownership costs of fixed systems, but also enables portable designs by reducing supply voltage requirements and power consumption. " ...

Gen2 RFIDReader Chipset: RangeMaster2: Via Anadigm: Anadigm Introduces Second Generation Chipset for Universal HF and UHF RFID Reader Systems: RangeMaster2 - a Dynamically Programmable Analog Signal Processor Solution that Enables Fixed and Portable "Universal" RFID Reader Applications ...

Pfizer RFID Combats Counterfeit Drugs ...

Pfizer implements RFID tags to combat drug counterfeiting. ...

... "In its latest initiative to promote patient safety by combating pharmaceutical counterfeiting, Pfizer Inc has begun to ship its first product containing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to its customers in the United States. RFID technology is being added to all Viagra (sildenafil citrate) sold in the U.S. to enable pharmacies and wholesalers to verify the unique electronic product code, or EPC, on Viagra packaging. Pfizer is the first pharmaceutical company to put in place a comprehensive program of this type focused on EPC authentication as a means of deterring counterfeiting. Viagra was selected for the RFID project because it has been a major target for counterfeiters. Pfizer has invested several million dollars to date in the technology, which discourages counterfeiting because it is both difficult and expensive to duplicate. RFID tags incorporate the EPC into each package, case and pallet of Viagra. Pharmacists and wholesalers use specially-designed electronic scanners that communicate the code over the internet to a secure Pfizer website. The company's application of RFID is not yet capable of tracking and tracing medicines through the distribution system. Track and trace requires that all parts of the supply chain invest in compatible technology and agree to capture and share information about product movement. Pfizer will continue to explore the uses of this technology—including track and trace—during the coming year. " ...

Pfizer RFID Combats Counterfeit Drugs: Via Pfizer: Pfizer Introduces Radio Frequency Identification Technology to Combat Counterfeiting, Protect Patient Health ...

TI RFID Ships Walmart Tagged Cases ...

TI ships WalMart RFID tagged cases ...

... "The Educational & Productivity Solutions (E&PS) business of Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) announced it is the first consumer goods supplier to ship RFID tagged cases and pallets based on the Generation 2 (Gen 2) Electronic Product Code (EPC) specification to WalMart. Starting with a dozen Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) shipped to five distribution centers, TI E&PS, a WalMart next 200 supplier, is tagging cases and pallets of its market-leading graphing, scientific and financial calculators using Gen 2 smart label solutions from Texas Instruments RFid Systems, NCR Corporation and Zebra Technologies. The dozen SKUs represent 100 percent of the calculator products E&PS ships to WalMart. " ...

TI RFID Ships Walmart Tagged Cases: Via TI: Texas Instruments Educational & Productivity Solutions First to Ship EPC Gen 2 Tagged Cases and Pallets to Wal-Mart

RFID Gen2 Tag Benchmark ...

ODIN Technologies and Unisys create Gen2 RFID tag benchmark. ...

... "ODIN technologies, the leader in the physics of RFID testing and deployment, released the RFID Gen 2 Tag Benchmark, sponsored by Unisys. The report presents analysis of eleven of the leading EPC (electronic product code) compliant Gen 2 RFID tags. The benchmark was developed to provide end users with objective insight into how well tags actually work in the field and what criteria should be evaluated when making tag selection, placement and orientation decisions. The Benchmark is the first scientific and objective comparison of how Gen 2 RFID tags work with various standard materials such as corrugate packaging, water and metal. ODIN technologies President and CEO Patrick J. Sweeney II commented, Gen 2 is the foundation for the rapid growth of RFID. ODIN technologies is proud to once again lead the way in RFID by producing the industry's first and most comprehensive, scientific analysis of Gen 2 RFID tags. The RFID Gen 2 Tag Benchmark can save end users time, money and hassle during this important technology transition. ODIN technologies RFID Benchmark Series is the most read and referenced source for independent evaluation of leading RFID tags and readers. ODIN leverages its scientific lab combined with the industry's most experienced RFID deployment team to test products from an end user's perspective. The RFID Gen 2 Tag Benchmark is designed to be an end user's trusted source for comparing the performance of leading RFID tags. " ...

RFID Gen2 Tag Benchmark: Via ODIN Technologies: ODIN Releases Industry's First RFID Gen 2 Tag Benchmark: Unisys sponsors the first objective, scientific analysis of Gen 2 RFID Tags ...

RFID Network: Web Services Architecture ...

The EPC information service, based on a web services architecture, is being created to enable collaboration and data sharing through RFID technology. ...

Via SYS-CON BELGIUM: RFID Network Based On Web Services Model Set To Launch In 2006 ...

... "Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) will provide a central system of record for all enterprise electronic product code-related RFID data by aggregating events from multiple technology platforms. " ...

New companies that provide RFID applications are architecting the systems using web services. ...

Via TC3I: EPCIS ++ provides capability for EPC data acquisition. It implements EPCIS standards and supports AS2 over webservices. ...

... "EPCIS++ facilitates EPC Data sharing across business partners, and also used for consolidating EPC events within a business. It supports a rich cross-enterprise representation of tagged objects, their histories and associated business context. It supports responsive, secure, controlled access to EPC data. " ...

The RFID architecture for the EPC services are a distributed model. ...

Via Institute for Manufacturing at the university of Cambridge: EPC Information Service ...

... "EPC Information Services are very different from the Global Data Synchronization Network [GDSN] (i.e. UCCNet, Transora, WWRE etc.). Whereas GDSN is primarily concerned with synchronization of class-level (SKU-level) master data about products, EPCIS is primarily concerned with sharing of serial-level data. EPC Information Services also have a much more distributed architecture - there is no central provider with EPCIS. " ...

STMicroelectronics RFID UHF Memory Chip

STMicroelectronics shows modest revenue growth and good profit margin expansion. STMicro's track records includes introduction of UHF RFID memory chip to the EPC marketplace. ...

STMicroelectronics RFID UHF Memory Chip: Via STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics Reports 2005 Third Quarter and Nine Month Revenues and Earnings ...

... "In RFID, ST introduced an ultra-high frequency contactless memory chip, compliant with the latest Electronic Product Code (EPC) specifications. ST's XRAG2 RFID chip delivers interoperability, enhanced security, and optimized performance for next-generation supply-chain and logistics applications. " ...

RFID Innovation: Grocery Industry ...

Partnership aims to sustain RFID innovation in Canadian grocery industry ...

RFID Innovation: Grocery Industry: Via Grocery Innovations Canada 2005: Global Standards Organization GS1 Canada Joins Grocery Innovations Canada ...

... "John F.T. Scott, President of CFIG said, CFIG’s partnership with GS1 Canada, who is responsible for EPC/RFID standards in Canada, sends a clear signal to the industry that GIC continues to grow and remains the place for the grocery industry to converge and learn about the very latest in technology, new product development, innovative retail strategies and upcoming trends that influence and impact the grocer’s day-to-day business. " ...

Grocery Innovations Canada 2005 (GIC), is Canada’s premier grocery industry exposition and conference. The event is considered a must-attend by key industry players and attracts more than 6,000 industry attendees. GIC runs October 24 through 25 at the Toronto Congress Centre. GIC 2005 is produced in partnership by Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG); with the Food and Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC); and the Canadian Association of Sales and Marketing (CASMA) with support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Canadian Grocer. These organizations represent the strength, innovations and leadership behind Canada’s $70.1 billion grocery industry.

GS1 Canada is a not-for-profit organization that promotes and maintains global standards for the identification of goods, locations and related e-commerce communication, such as bar code issuance and maintenance. GS1 Canada is the only authorized source for globally unique company prefixes in Canada, a standard term and condition of trade globally. It provides a range of educational opportunities, maintains ECCnet Registry, Canada’s national product registry, and offers one-stop access to product images and dimensions. As technologies like Electronic Product Codes (EPC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) continue to drive the e-commerce revolution, GS1 Canada will provide the leadership to help ensure that Canadian companies can participate competitively.

Walmart RFID: Linda Dillman Shares Status Update

Linda Dillman shares interim results on the Walmart RFID program ...

Walmart RFID: Linda Dillman Shares Status Update: Via WalMart Stores, Inc.: WalMart Improves On-Shelf Availability Through the Use of Electronic Product Codes

... "WalMart customers found items they wanted in stock more often due to the retailer's use of electronic product codes (EPCs) powered by radio frequency identification (RFID) technology when compared to control stores. This is according to an independent University of Arkansas study's initial findings. Researchers at the University of Arkansas found a 16 percent reduction in out-of-stocks. Additionally, the study also showed that out-of-stock items with EPCs were replenished three times faster than comparable items using standard bar code technology. Equally important, WalMart experienced a meaningful reduction in manual orders resulting in a reduction of excess inventory. This is no longer a take-it-on-faith initiative, said Linda Dillman, executive vice president and CIO for Wal-Mart. This study provides conclusive evidence that EPCs increase how often we put products in the hands of customers who want to buy them, making it a win for shoppers, suppliers and retailers. ...

As part of its standard processes, WalMart has focused on driving improved product availability for its customers through a series of initiatives unrelated to RFID technology. The research was structured to isolate the impact of RFID to be able show the improvements directly attributable to the RFID process improvements. The study showed RFID-enabled stores were 63 percent more effective in replenishing out-of-stocks than the control stores, Dillman said. The WalMart RFID team knew that this technology would have a huge impact on out-of-stocks. Now we have an independent study that confirms RFID has a significant impact in retailing, Dillman continued. However, we are not stopping there. This is only one of many changes that RFID will bring. We are already working on initiatives and enhancements that will build on this success. The 16 percent reduction in merchandise out-of-stocks was determined by physically scanning out-of-stocks at the shelf every day. A baseline was established and this was then compared to the number of out-of-stocks in both sets of stores once the RFID technology was enabled in the pilot stores, explained Hardgrave. The net result of the impact of RFID, removing any other influences, was a reduction of 16 percent in the occurrences of products being out-of-stock on the shelf. " ...

Sub10Cent RFID Inlays

RFID tag and inlay manufacturer, UPM Rafsec, will ship UHF Gen 1 and Gen 2 inlays at sub-10 U.S. cent pricing in minimum order quantities of 50,000 pieces. Sub 10cent RFID inlays lay the foundation for the cheap and ubiquitous use of RFID technology ....

Sub10Cent RFID Inlays: UPM RAFSEC KNOCKING DOWN UHF RFID ADOPTION BARRIERS WITH SUB-10 CENT INLAYS ...

... "This UPM Rafsec offer includes dry and wet delivery formats of the OneTenna™ short dipole which are compatible with existing converting technology for the insertion of inlays into smart labels and other substrates. UPM Rafsec UHF products have already been tested, approved and used by a large number of leading RFID adopters. The inlays are manufactured at UPM Rafsec's production facility in Fletcher, North Carolina (USA), with innovative technology for the volume production of EPC (Electronic Product Code) -compliant UHF tags and inlays. The unparalleled yields of this new, high volume production technology give UPM Rafsec competitive advantages and provide customers significantly lower applied tag costs. The patent pending process is cost-efficient, scalable and enables UPM Rafsec to rapidly increase its capacity according to market demand. " ...

References on inexpensive RFID inlays:

... "Via SATO: RFID Thermal Labels: SATO RFID labels can be made with any type of RFID inlay. Some examples of the other inlay types available include Ucode, UHF 868-928MHz ISO 18000, and Class 0 and 0+. RFID labels can be pre-printed, flood coated or laminated and can be converted in most popular finishing styles. " ...

... "Via Avery Dennison: INNOVATIVE AVERY DENNISON MANUFACTURING PROCESS BOOSTS RFID TAG PRODUCTION CAPACITY: Inlay is the term used for the electronic core of an RFID label. It typically consists of a metal pattern on a sheet of plastic film that functions as an antenna, onto which an integrated circuit (semiconductor chip) is attached. The inlay is then sandwiched between a paper facestock and an adhesive layer to form a self-stick RFID label. " ...

... "Via SmartCode: SmartCode Corp. beats any price for EPC Gen 2 Inlays for orders of 1 million - SmartCode prices EPC Gen 2 Inlays at 7.5 cents for quantities of 1 million and 7.2 cents for orders exceeding 10 million: The EPC Gen 2 Quickstart™ Program aims to accelerate the mass adoption of EPC Gen 2 solutions. Under the EPC Gen 2 Quickstart™ Program, SmartCode Corp. will offer the lowest cost EPC Gen 2 inlays at a price of 7.5 cents in orders of 1 million inlays or more and 7.2 cents in orders of 10 million or more. SmartCode Corp. EPC Gen 2 Quickstart™ Program is available for orders received until the 1st of January 2006. The delivery schedule can span throughout 2006. " ...

RFID Standard ALE Ratified: Application Level Events

RFID Standard ALE Ratified: Application Level Events: Via EPCGlobal: EPCglobal Ratifies First Software Standard for EPC/RFID As Build-Out of the EPCglobal Network Continues: Standard Enables Efficient Collection and Movement of EPC Data, Making Supply Chains Visible and Traceable in Real Time; Opens Door for Proliferation of Standards-Based Software ...

... "EPCglobal Inc, a subsidiary of GS1, a not-for-profit standards organization entrusted with driving the global adoption of Electronic Product Code (EPC) technology and the EPCglobal Network, announced the ratification of a new software standard for using EPC technology in the supply chain. The standard, known as the Application Level Events standard, or ALE, is the first created by the EPCglobal community specifically for software. ALE was developed by more than 100 leading companies within the EPCglobal Software Action Group and establishes the approach EPC-enabled software products will take in collecting, managing and routing data EPC technology generates in the supply chain. " ...

EPCglobal Inc is a joint venture between GS1 (formerly EAN International) and GS1 US (formerly the Uniform Code Council). GS1 is a leading global organization dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve efficiency and visibility in supply and demand chains. GS1 US is a not-for-profit member organization of GS1 and is dedicated to the development and implementation of standards-based, global supply chain solutions.

Radio Frequency Identification RFID Label: Certified Preferred ...

Radio Frequency Identification RFID Label: Certified Preferred: Via Nashua Corporation: NASHUA CORPORATION NAMED AN ALIEN TECHNOLOGY® CERTIFIED PREFERRED CONVERTER PARTNER: Selection Recognizes Nashua Label Division’s RFID Capabilities and Positions Company to Help Customers Utilize Advanced RFID Solutions ...

... "Nashua Corporation (NASDAQ: NSHA), a manufacturer and marketer of labels, thermal and specialty papers, and imaging products, announced that Alien Technology Corporation has named the Company's Label Division a Certified Preferred Converter Partner. Partner status recognizes the Label Division's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) capabilities and strengthens the relationship between Nashua and Alien Technology Corporation, a leading supplier of inlays and other RFID hardware and components. Alien Technology initiated the Certified Preferred Converter Partner program in order to team with key industry leaders such as Nashua, which utilizes RFID technology in the low cost, high quality inventory and product tracking solutions applications it provides its customers. " ...

Nashua Corporation manufactures and markets a wide variety of specialty imaging products and services to industrial and commercial customers to meet various print application needs. The Company's products include thermal coated papers, pressure-sensitive labels, bond, point of sale, ATM and wide format papers, entertainment tickets, as well as toners, developers, and ribbons for use in imaging devices. Alien Technology® Corporation is a leading supplier of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware that enables consumer packaged goods companies, retailers and other industries to improve their operating efficiency throughout their supply chains. Through its patented manufacturing process, Fluidic Self Assembly (FSA®), Alien fabricates high performance electronic product code (EPC) Class 1 tags in unprecedented volumes at very low cost.

DOD HandHeld RFID Computer ...

DOD HandHeld RFID Computer: Via Psion Teklogix: Psion Teklogix Rugged RFID Hand-Held Only One Tough Enough For DoD

Psion Tek secures DOD HandHeld RFID Computer contract ...

... "Psion Teklogix (LSE: PON), a global provider of solutions for mobile computing, wireless data collection, imaging and RFID, announced that its rugged EPC-compliant 7535 Hand-Held Computer with RD7950 Integrated UHF RFID Reader has been the only hand-held reader selected for use by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Coast Guard and several other federal agencies. Psion Teklogix partners CDO Technologies, SYS-TEC and WFI Government Services have each been awarded a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) from the Army Contracting Agency Information Technology, E-Commerce, and Commercial Contracting Center (ITEC4), for passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Electronic Product Code (EPC) -1 for Multi-protocol (Class 0 and 1) Hand-held Readers. " ...

New EPC Gen2 RFID Chips ...

New EPC Gen2 RFID Chips: Via ST: New EPC Gen2 RFID Chips from STMicroelectronics Ready to Facilitate Supply Chain Management ...

STMicro introduces new UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) RFID chip, compliant with Gen2 Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) specifications ...

... "ST's new UHF chip is a full-featured, low-cost integrated circuit designed for use in RFID tags, or electronic labels, operating at a range of UHF frequencies from 860 to 960MHz. This frequency agility ensures the same tag can be applied and read at any place in the world, regardless of the geographically varying wireless regulations. The universal appeal of EPC Generation 2 products is set to stimulate unprecedented economies of scale for RFID product manufacturers. Widespread adoption of RFID systems depends on their robustness and reliability. The XRAG2 features a fast and flexible anti-collision mechanism that allows the reader to detect and correctly identify all tags in its operating range. Designed for the noisy and unpredictable radio conditions typical of RFID applications, ST devices use a reliable tag-unique selection based on a 16-bit random handle. " ...

STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets.

RFID BusinessProcess Data Management

RFID BusinessProcess Data Management: Avicon Introduces Next Generation RFID Products at EPCGlobal US Conference: Avicon eases EPC code generation and helps customers derive business value from RFID and EPC data ...

Avicon to introduce business process data management tool that integrates RFID event information ...

... "Avicon, a leading provider of RFID and supply chain solutions, announced today that it will introduce the AXM™ (Active Execution Management) product family at the EPCGlobal US Conference in Atlanta on September 13 – 15, 2005. AXM™ (Active Execution Management) combines large-scale data management, advanced business-level filtering with rules technology to integrate RFID and EPC data into the supply chain business process. Using AXM, customers can derive more value from their existing investments in retailer and Department of Defense driven RFID implementations and achieve significant supply chain performance improvements. " ...

Avicon’s solutions use advanced application of RFID and electronic product codes (EPC) to provide real-time supply chain event management solutions to a broad range of industries. epcTranslator™, epcExpress™ and AXM™ provide proven platforms for high-value standards-compliant RFID and EPC implementations. Avicon is a founding subscriber of EPCGlobal and active contributor to several EPCGlobal-sponsored RFID standards groups.

Zebra TI RFID Gen2 Demonstrated

Zebra TI RFID Gen2 Demonstrated: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES FIRST COMPANY TO SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS’ GEN 2 TECHNOLOGY: Zebra, Texas Instruments and ThingMagic demonstrate Gen 2 technology, proving Zebra’s flexibility to handle RFID tags from multiple sources, to help accelerate the adoption of Gen 2 ...

RFID leaders collaborate to demonstrate RFID Gen2 performance ...

... "Zebra Technologies (Nasdaq: ZBRA), a global leader in delivering on-demand printing solutions for business and process improvement, recently collaborated with Texas Instruments and ThingMagic to demonstrate EPC Gen 2 tags from Texas Instruments in a Zebra printer/encoder during the EPCglobal Fast Moving Consumer Goods Business Action Group meeting in Houston, Texas. Zebra is the only company to successfully demonstrate printer/encoder communication with Gen 2 inlays from several leading suppliers. Highlighting the meeting’s Gen 2 Live theme, the demonstration featured Zebra’s R110Xi printer/encoder, embedded with ThingMagic’s RFID reader module and Texas Instruments’ EPC Gen 2 inlays incorporated into label rolls. " ...

Zebra Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, "smart" label, receipt, and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service. The company has sold more than four million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions and printing supplies.

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers’ real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company’s businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications.

Founded in 2000 and based in Cambridge, MA, ThingMagic is a leading developer of radio frequency identification (RFID), sensing and embedding computing technologies. Mercury4, ThingMagic’s fourth generation agile RFID reader, builds on and substantially enhances the company’s original platform created for early field tests of the Electronic Product Code (EPC). Designed to meet the business needs of a future where networked objects are pervasive, the Mercury4 line of RFID readers also includes an embedded reader, Mercury4e, and a handheld reader, Mercury4h. Mercury4 RFID readers are the only intelligent, network-ready RFID readers, and the only devices that can read any RFID tag.

Lowry RFID Uses TI Gen2 Inlays ...

Lowry RFID Uses TI Gen2 Inlays: LOWRY SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOR SMART TRAC™: EPC GEN 2 LABELS: Lowry is among the first label converters to offer EPC Gen 2 RFID labels ...

Lowry's RFID labels incorporate TI EPC Gen2 inlays to support Walmart and DOD RFID implementations ...

... "Lowry Computer Products, Inc., a leading provider of wireless, RFID-EPC, bar code, and data collection solutions, announced an agreement with Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), a worldwide leader in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Lowry’s label conversion facility will integrate TI’s Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) Gen 2 inlays into its Smart Trac RFID labels for retail and Department of Defense (DoD) RFID supply chain applications. " ...

Lowry Computer Products, Inc. is a synergistic organization made up of manufacturing, services, and systems integration, enabling the company to provide complete wireless, RFID, bar code, and data collection solutions in the vanguard of technology, equipment, and industry compliance. Lowry is a manufacturer of Print, Encode & Apply™ systems for case and pallet RFID labeling applications and Smart Trac™ RFID labels with tag inlays from leading suppliers, and a systems integrator of RFID printers, encoders, scanners and middleware from best-inclass partners. Lowry’s experienced professional services team has the skill set to conduct site surveys, recommend and install products, and determine optimal tag selection and tag placement for RFID supply chain applications. The company’s nationwide service network ensures that hardware is well maintained, whatever the location, and Lowry’s service team conducts authorized on-site and depot repair. Comprehensive service and media programs are available to customers. Lowry is a Founding Solution Provider of EPCglobal and a member of AIM Global, the organization for Automatic Identification and Mobility.

Texas Instruments is the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications.

Gen2 RFID inlay references:

Texas Instruments (TI) recently announced a delivery milestone of pre-production samples of Gen2 UHF inlays and straps to label converter and printer customers. TI will begin ramping to volume production in the millions beginning in July 2005, starting with its ultra-high frequency (UHF) EPC Gen2 inlays.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) a leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology (distributed in Australia through Electro-Com), today announced a delivery milestone of pre-production samples of Electronic Product Code™ (EPC) Generation (Gen) 2 inlays and straps to label converter and printer customers.

DOD RFID CAGE DODAAC Codes EPC Compatible ...

DOD RFID CAGE DODAAC Codes EPC Compatible: Suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense Can Now Use RFID Tags Based on EPCglobal Standards to Meet Shipping Requirements: New EPCglobal Tag Data Standard Adapted for DoD’s 60,000 Suppliers ...

... "U.S. Defense Department suppliers may now use Electronic Product Code (EPC) tags to comply with the department's request to integrate RFID into supply shipments by 2007. This new capability comes after the EPCglobal Inc Board of Governors recently ratified a revision of the tag data standard. The revision incorporates the Defense Department's Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and the Department of Defense Activity Address Code (DODAAC), enabling the department's 60,000 suppliers who use CAGE or DODAAC to use those codes to comply with the agency's request to apply RFID tags on all department deliveries by January 2007. " ...

EPCglobal US is an affiliate of EPCglobal Inc serving subscribers in the United States to help foster the adoption of the EPCglobal Network and related technology. The EPCglobal Network combines radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, existing communications network infrastructure, and the Electronic Product Code™ (a number for uniquely identifying an item) to enable accurate, cost-efficient visibility of information in the supply chain. The end result helps organizations be more efficient, flexible, and responsive to customer needs.

RFID Pilot Supply Center: Final Report

RFID Pilot Supply Center: Final Report: Final Report of the Passive Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) Project at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk, Virginia, Ocean Terminal ...

... "The goal of the FISC Norfolk Ocean Terminal passive RFID pilot was to increase manifest accuracy and inventory accountability within the Ocean Terminal by mitigating the number of errors introduced into the process by manual and/or nominally automated procedures. In its final configuration, the process has also been found to increase speed and efficiency of the cargo checking process. The Ocean Terminal now uses RFID tags to process all shipments except household goods, classified shipments processed by the division at a remote site, and outsized shipments processed in the outside storage area. During the receiving process, RFID tags are placed on each piece of the shipment and the corresponding Electronic Product Code (EPC) is linked with the appropriate Transportation Control Number (TCN) and piece number in the Ocean Terminal Management System (OTMS). " ...

RFID Open Standards EPC

RFID Open Standards EPC: Logistics and Materiel Readiness, Home page

... "Concurrently, efforts were underway to make it possible for computers to identify any object anywhere in the world instantly utilizing passive RFID technology. The key was to create a universal, open standard for identifying products and sharing information. Part of that work was to develop the Electronic Product Code (EPC) - a unique number that identifies a specific item in the supply chain. " ...

Entry Level RFID Solutions

Entry Level RFID Solutions: LOFTWARE’S TWO, NEWLY CONFIGURED & AGGRESSIVELY PRICED LABEL PRINTING SOLUTIONS FEATURE INDUSTRY-FIRST ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION FOR RAPIDLY EVOLVING RFID AND BARCODE MIXED ENVIRONMENTS: Company also announces it has major RFID pilot programs in progress worldwide ...

Loftware offers turnkey entry-level RFID solutions ...

... "The new entry-level solution is available immediately and is a perfect compliment for companies whose requirements for barcode printing and marking RFID label tags is limited. The new entry-level solution, called RFID Starter, is a two seat, RFID and/or barcode printing capable software solution that allows Tier-2 and Tier-3 companies facing limited RFID compliance demands meet their current mixed compliance requirements for barcode label and RFID printing software for a base price of $1995. " ...

Loftware with its headquarters in York, Maine pioneered the very first barcode label design and barcode printing software application for PC’s over two decades ago. Since that time the company has led the development efforts to provide best in class enterprise marking and identification software solutions including RFID technology to Fortune 100 and 500 companies supply chain operations across the globe. Loftware’s products now extend supply chain efficiencies beyond just bar-coding by supporting and complying with the latest EPC (Electronic Product Code) standards and specifications for programming and managing RFID Smart Labels and Tags. Industries including automotive, aerospace, electronic, medical, transportation are managing their supply chains everyday using Loftware’s latest technologies.

Accelerate EPC Generation2 RFID Deployment

Accelerate EPC Generation2 RFID Deployment: Philips and Texas Instruments join forces to accelerate EPC Generation 2 RFID deployment: Industry leaders team up to drive standardization and ensure worldwide interoperability of ultra-high-frequency Electronic Product Code RFID standard ...

... "Two of the leading radio frequency identification (RFID) semiconductor manufacturers, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN), today announced an agreement to cooperate on conformance testing for the technical interpretation of the EPCglobal Inc Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation (Gen) 2 RFID standard. This joint effort is aimed at ensuring interoperability and accelerating market deployment of Gen 2 products, such as labels, hardware and system solutions, to offer multiple sourcing for implementations of RFID throughout the world. The EPC Gen 2 standard, currently in the process of standardization by the International Standards Organization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for global adoption, is the newest and most advanced of the RFID specifications for the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band centered around 900 MHz. " ...

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world’s biggest electronics companies and Europe’s largest, with sales of EUR 30.3 billion in 2004. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 160,900 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions.

Texas Instruments is the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications.

RFID UHF Printer Leadership

RFID UHF Printer Leadership: Printronix Is the 2004 Global Leader: UHF EPC Printer Market Study Reveals: Recent VDC Study Confirms Printronix's Global Leadership Position; Printronix Addresses Industry's Need for RFID Printing Compliance and Seamless Integration Into Enterprise Networks ...

Printronix is recognized for their leadership in UHF RFID printing applications that are compliant with EPC standards ...

... "Printronix Inc. (Nasdaq: PTNX), the leading integrated supply-chain printing solutions manufacturer, led the worldwide ultra-high frequency (UHF) Electronic Product Code (EPC) printer market in 2004, according to the 2004 Global RFID Planning Service study conducted by Venture Development Corp. (VDC). Printronix led the industry in product revenue as well as RFID printer applicator installations. " ...

Since 1974, Printronix Inc. (Nasdaq: PTNX) has created innovative printing solutions for the industrial marketplace and supply chain. The company is the worldwide market leader in enterprise solutions for line matrix printing and has earned an outstanding reputation for its high-performance thermal and fanfold laser printing solutions. Printronix also has become an established leader in pioneering technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID) printing, bar code compliance and networked printer management.

Gen2 RFID Smart Label Solution ...

Gen2 RFID Smart Label Solution: Paxar Demonstrates RFID Gen 2 Solution ...

Paxar demonstrates its Gen2 compliant RFID solutions at the UConnect conference ...

... "Paxar Corporation (NYSE: PXR), a global leader providing bar code, RFID and identification technologies for the retail supply chain and the supplier of Monarch(R) products and services will demonstrate its use of EPCglobal's UHF Electronic Product Code (EPC) Class 1 Generation 2 (Gen2) RFID protocol at GS1's UConnect Conference. The RFID Gen2 display showcases Paxar's latest solution for fully EPC compliant smart label printing and encoding, including associated tickets, tags and labels. Paxar's new Gen2 smart label solution includes the Monarch(R) 9855(TM) RFID printer/encoder, Monarch(R) Gen2 smart labels, and Monarch(R) Q-Service(R) for RFID. " ...

... Vendors, such as Paxar, demonstrate their RFID Gen2 compliance at customer conferences.

Paxar Corporation is a global leader in the identification and tracking of consumer products worldwide. Paxar(R) products are used the world over by leading apparel brands. Monarch(R) products are used by 90% of the top 100 U.S. retailers and their supply chain partners to identify, track and price all varieties of consumer goods. Paxar is a member of EPCglobal, the agency managing the emerging standards for RFID.

Open Source RFID Software: iKonect

Open Source RFID: i-Konect Announces Singularity: A Complete Open-Source EPC-IS Solution ...

... "i-Konect announced the formation of Singularity, an open-source initiative for a complete Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Solution that includes RFID middleware and Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPC-IS). This software is designed to provide integrators and users the ability to more rapidly deploy RFID technology and significantly advance the realization of a return on investment. " ...

i-Konect is a privately owned integrator providing software solutions that promotes the use of open-source development platforms and adheres to the latest industry standards. i-Konect designs solutions to maximize scalability, reliability, as well as improving the ease to adapt, extend, and maintain. The company's expertise includes globally distributed enterprise solution architectures as well as the seamless integration of new technologies such as RFID, smart cards, and mobile devices with legacy systems.

RFID Shrink Management ...

RFID Shrink Management: Checkpoint Launches VAR Channel Partner Program to Serve Smaller Retailers

Checkpoint RFID shrink management solution meets the retail market through the VAR channel ...

... "Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CKP), the leading provider of radio frequency-based product identification and shrink management solutions for retailers and consumer package goods manufacturers worldwide, announced the launch of its Reseller Channel Partners VAR program designed to increase the availability of Checkpoint electronic article surveillance (EAS) solutions to smaller retailers nationwide. " ...

Checkpoint Systems, Inc., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of technology-driven solutions for retail security, labeling, and merchandising. Checkpoint is the leading provider of radio frequency (RF)-based shrink management solutions to the global retail industry, including over half of the worlds top 200 largest global retailers. In addition to its shrink management capabilities, Checkpoints end-to-end supply chain technology helps apparel and consumer product manufacturers and retailers brand, track and secure goods worldwide. Checkpoint has a presence in more than 80 countries and a global network of more than 25 service bureaus located in the worlds apparel manufacturing capitals. Checkpoints technology solutions include digital RF/EAS and RFID systems, RF source tagging, bar code labeling systems, EAS, handheld labeling systems, and retail merchandising systems.

EPC RFID Electronic Product Code

Radio Frequency Identification FR Doc 05-8369

... "Electronic Product Code TM (EPC) means an identification scheme for universally identifying physical objects via RFID tags and other means. The standardized EPC data consists of an EPC (or EPC identifier) that uniquely identifies an individual object, as well as an optional filter value when judged to be necessary to enable effective and efficient reading of the EPC tags. In addition to this standardized data, certain classes of EPC tags will allow user-defined data. The EPC tag data standards will define the length and position of this data, without defining its content. " ...

Gen2 RFID Printer Encoder ...

Gen2 RFID Printer Encoder: ZEBRA FIRST TO DEMONSTRATE EPC GENERATION 2 TECHNOLOGY IN AN RFID PRINTER/ENCODER ...

... "Zebra Technologies, a global leader in on-demand specialty
printing solutions for business improvement, today announced it is demonstrating the use of EPCglobal’s UHF Electronic Product Code (EPC) Class 1 Generation 2 (Gen 2) RFID protocol in its booth (#2221) at the Retail Systems 2005 Conference & Exposition through Thursday, May 26, in Chicago. Zebra is the first thermal printer company to demonstrate the technology using existing and readily available printer/encoders. Throughout the Retail Systems 2005 event, Zebra will showcase the use of EPC Gen 2 RFID tags with its industry-leading line of multi-protocol RFID printer/encoders. Zebra has been working closely with several of the industry’s foremost technology companies in the advancement and development of RFID solutions that support the new Gen 2 standard. " ...

Zebra Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, "smart" label, receipt, and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service. The company has sold more than 4 million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions and printing supplies.

Low Cost RFID Compliance

Low Cost RFID Compliance: HighJump Software Extends Offering With Introduction of Low-Cost RFID Compliance Solution to Meet Retail and Department of Defense Requirements

... "HighJump has helped numerous organizations meet RFID compliance initiatives of major retailers, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. Based on this experience and the discovery of unique ways to drive cost out of projects, HighJump developed Compliance Advantage Select. By combining a faster implementation methodology with a focused set of the most common workflows, this offering helps companies meet their RFID requirements quickly and within budget. With a total price starting at $70,000, HighJump's Compliance Advantage Select features everything needed for full electronic product code (EPC) compliance, including: software, RFID reader and printer hardware, implementation services, product testing and training. " ...

HighJump Software, a 3M company, is the global leader in providing highly adaptable, best-of-breed supply chain execution solutions that streamline manufacturing and distribution from the point of source through consumption. HighJump's tightly integrated solutions empower operational excellence in the warehouse and optimize the flow of inventory throughout the supply chain by facilitating collaboration with customers, suppliers and trading partners. These comprehensive solutions combine robust, standard functionality; a best practices-based implementation methodology; and a uniquely adaptable architecture that facilitates fast, cost-effective system modifications. The result: the industry's lowest total cost of ownership for more than 700 satisfied customers worldwide. As an independent subsidiary in the 3M family of companies, HighJump leads the SCE software industry in financial strength and delivers on an unmatched commitment to innovation and quality. HighJump leverages these advantages to continually expand its solution footprint and empower operational excellence for domestic and multinational customers.

US Government RFID Purchase Agreements

SAMSys to Provide RFID Readers to U.S. Government ...

SAMSys secures RFID purchase agreements from the US Government ...

... "SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY: TSX) announced today that two of its value-added resellers have been awarded Blanket Purchase Agreements authorizing the use of SAMSys new MP9320 v2.8 radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to comply with RFID mandates from the U.S. Department of Defense. The agreements are expected to result in the sale of at least 700 fixed RFID readers from multiple vendors over the next year during the first phase of a long-term initiative to implement RFID technology throughout the DoD's supply chain. The contracts were awarded to WFI Government Services, Inc., and CDO Technologies, Inc., both SAMSys resellers, as part of the DoD's Passive Radio Frequency Identification Electronic Product Code-1 (RFID EPC-1) project. The project requires DoD suppliers to place RFID tags on all cases and pallets containing products sold to the U.S. military. Multi-protocol passive RFID EPC-1 readers are needed to exchange data with the tags in order to expedite identification and tracking of DoD supplies. " ...

SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SAMSys), founded in 1995, is a world-leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions and RFID integration consulting services. SAMSys offers a family of products to simplify the installation and ensure the ongoing performance of the overall RFID hardware infrastructure. SAMSys is a public company whose shares are listed for trading on the TSX Exchange under the symbol: “SMY”. The Company has a total of 47.7 million shares outstanding.

RFID Supply Chain Software Solution ...

LATEST RELEASE OF THE LOFTWARE CONNECTOR® BRINGS PROVEN ENTERPRISE-CLASS RFID and Barcode Printing SOLUTIONS TO MUCH EXPANDED RANGE OF LEADING SUPPLY CHAIN APPLICATIONS: A Premier Barcode and RFID Solution in the Oracle WMS and MSCA Applications Space, Loftware Connector 2.5, Announced Today, is Optimized and Available for Leading Supply Chain Applications Including DB2 and SQL ...

... "Taking aim at a significantly broader market opportunity for enterprise-class RFID and barcode label printing software solutions for leading supply chain management applications, Loftware, Inc., today announced the immediate availability of version 2.5 of the Loftware Connector. Originally designed and customized approximately 24 months ago for Oracle-based warehouse management and mobile supply chain applications, Connector 2.5 has now been enhanced for compatibility with similarly-targeted DB2- and SQL-based applications from all leading vendors. In addition to the UNIX operating system, the Java-based Connector 2.5 now supports Linux and Microsoft Windows as well. " ...

Loftware with its headquarters in York, Maine, pioneered the very first barcode label design and printing software application for the PC over two decades ago. Since that time the company has led the development efforts to provide best in class enterprise marking and identification software solutions including RFID to Fortune 100 and 500 companies supply chain operations across the globe. Loftware’s products now extend supply chain efficiencies beyond just bar-coding by supporting and complying with the latest EPC (Electronic Product Code) standards and specifications for programming and managing RFID Smart Labels and Tags. Industries including automotive, aerospace, electronic, medical, transportation are managing their supply chains everyday using Loftware’s latest technologies.