RFID Metal Packaging Works as Antenna

QinetiQ and Crown collaborate to develop adaptation of QinetiQ's Omni-ID Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for use on metal packaging. The improvements will enable RFID tags at the unit-level on metal items. Technology advancement is expected to integrate the metal substrate as part of the RFID tag's antenna. ...

... "This will enable brand owners to integrate ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID tags into metal packaging for a wide variety of applications at the single item level. Designed to mitigate issues such as signal reflection, detuning and grounding which reduce or negate RFID's effectiveness on metal packaging or with aqueous-based products, the unique technology leverages several of metal's inherent properties and shifts the format into an advantageous position.

QinetiQ's standalone Omni-ID tags and integrated Omni-ID packaging technology allows a UHF tag to be mounted directly onto the metal substrate. Measuring substantially less than 1mm in thickness, the unique Omni-ID structure collects and focuses RF energy and enables highly efficient coupling to the chip. Another advantage of the system is that RFID chips require only a short coupling antenna rather than the large dipole usually incorporated in UHF tags, significantly reducing manufacturing costs. Crown and QinetiQ are continuing development of the technology for metal packaging to further optimize design. In the near future, it is expected that the metal substrate itself will have an integral role in the way the technology functions. Using a beverage or food can as an example, the can itself would serve as the antenna, simplifying production of the RFID tag and further reducing costs. " ...

Via Qinetiq: Crown teams up with QinetiQ to resolve challenges of RFID on metal packaging ...

RFID Company Merger, Private Placement

InfoLogix expands through private placement and merger to accelerate its growth strategy in the RFID healthcare market. ...

... "2006 has been a monumental year for InfoLogix, said David Gulian, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of InfoLogix. We have been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as the sixth fastest growing company in the nation, and have reached significant milestones in installing over 1,900 customer solutions and 1,100 solutions specifically for hospitals. With $17 million of equity financing behind us, we can confidently execute our growth strategy as a public company. Gulian noted that the market for healthcare and RFID-based solutions continues to witness exceptional growth. Our RFID-based software, infrastructure, and services solution portfolio is poised to take advantage of this market opportunity. " ...

Via InfoLogix: InfoLogix, Inc. Completes Over-Subscribed $17 Million Private Placement and Merger with Publicly Traded New Age Translation, Inc., Creating Newly Public RFID & Healthcare Technology Company ...

Singapore RFID Cooperation ...

Singapore companies collaborate to develope RFID track and trace solutions in order to take advantage of Singapore's role as a trade hub for Southeast Asia. ...

... "The National RFID Centre was launched on Friday, in a bid to boost the adoption of the technology among Singapore companies. " ...

Via Channel News Asia: National RFID Centre set up to boost adoption of technology in industries ...

Java RFID Sensor Community ...

Sun launches community for RFID sensor development using Java as the software foundation. ...

... "RFID (radio frequency identification) and sensor-based applications are being used increasingly in a variety of industries, including manufacturing retail health care, pharmaceuticals, transportation, logistics, aerospace and government. They can dramatically reduce costs for companies, increase operational efficiencies, improve security and accountability of assets, and help ensure the authenticity and integrity of products. However, the complexity of developing and integrating RFID and sensor solutions can slow adoption while developers come up to speed.

The Sun RFID Community has grown out of the experiences of technical collaboration among internal Sun experts and the more than 350 members of Sun's RFID Partner Advantage program. Any developer can access the Sun RFID and Sensor Community by joining Java.Net. Members of the Sun RFID Community can participate in e-mail lists, code-building projects, and community activities. The Sun Java System RFID Software, toolkits and documentation are freely available for download. " ...

Java RFID Sensor Community: Via Sun Microsystems: Sun Launches New RFID and Sensor Community for Java Developers ...

RFID Antenna Manufacturing Differentiation ...

RCD Technology differentiates with RFID antenna technology ...

... "RCD Technology Corporation makes extremely low-cost, high-range, radio-frequency identification antennae. We take advantage of the enhanced reading distance inherent with high-conductivity copper traces. " ...

RFID Antenna Manufacturing Differentiation: Via RCD Technology Corp.: RFID antenna manufacturing for RFID tags or inlets used for EAS, and I-Code keyless entry etc. ...

RFID Supply Chain Pilot: China EPC Initiative ...

VTech implements RFID supply chain pilot to enable Walmert compliance ...

... "Cisco Systems and Intel Corporation announced that VTech (Telecommunications division), a leading supplier of corded and cordless telephones, has selected a radio frequency identification (RFID) solution from Cisco and Intel for its pilot participation in the Hong Kong EPCnetwork initiative directed by EPCglobal Hong Kong. Upon completion, VTech will be able to comply with Wal-Mart's RFID request requiring key suppliers and business partners to become RFID-compliant. This will also help VTech improve the efficiency of warehouse operations and management through automation, as well as serving to enhance visibility throughout the supply chain.

VTech's pilot participation demonstrates that the Hong Kong EPCnetwork of EPCglobal Hong Kong has made significant strides since its launch last year. The Hong Kong EPCnetwork initiative aims to bring end-to-end supply chain visibility to the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region through the use of a common, standards-based data exchange allowing easy, secure, real-time communication between manufacturers, logistics companies and retailers. Manufacturers and logistics companies in the PPRD can expect to enhance their connections and relationships with retailers worldwide through the EPCnetwork initiative.

The RFID solution, comprising Cisco AON for RFID and Cisco Services for RFID, is based on platforms powered by Intel technologies including Intel Xeon-based servers, RFID readers and PCs. The solution delivers integrated and intelligent RFID capabilities that connect the VTech and Wal-Mart RFID systems. The Hong Kong EPCnetwork project will enable VTech to take advantage of next generation RFID technology to track telecommunications products from the Dongguan factory to Wal-Mart distribution centers in the US. " ...

RFID Supply Chain Pilot: China EPC Initiative: Via Cisco: VTech Selects Cisco and Intel RFID Solution for Supply Chain Pilot ...

Walmart RFID Commitment ReAffirmed by New CIO ...

Walmart CIO, Rollin Ford, reaffirms committment to the Walmart RFID program, praising company innovations and the efforts of Linda Dillman. ...

... "The pioneering work at WalMart to mine the supply chain benefits of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) will continue unabated under the Wal-Mart Information Systems Division's new leader. Rollin Ford, WalMart's new executive vice president and chief information officer, who previously served as the company's executive vice president of logistics and supply chain, strongly endorsed RFID technology at the biannual CIO summit, hosted by WalMart on Wednesday in Bentonville. Ford told the audience of CIOs he was thrilled to be in his new position and that both logistics and information systems were at the center of WalMart's competitive advantage. Ford said he intended to build on the success of his predecessor, Linda Dillman, who was named executive vice president of risk management and benefits administration at Wal-Mart. " ...

Walmart RFID Commitment ReAffirmed by New CIO: Via WalMart Stores: New CIO Confirms Wal-Mart Commitment to RFID ...:

RFID IBM AS400 Solution ...

Partners collaborate to deliver RFID solution for the IBM AS400 architecture ...

... "Enterprise Information Systems, Inc. (EIS), a national RFID systems integrator, and T.L. Ashford, the leader in bar code labeling software for IBM midrange systems, announce a partnership to provide a complete RFID compliant solution for the AS/400 and iSeries community. EIS's Compliance 1st is a RFID compliance package that bundles hardware, service and software together to take advantage of T.L./Ashford's RFID printing and encoding capabilities to help AS/400 and iSeries users achieve fast, easy-to-use and cost-efficient RFID systems. T.L. Ashford's Barcode400 RFID option prints and encodes the RFID Smart Labels with data directly from the iSeries system. T.L. Ashford also provides Smart Label templates for companies such as Wal-Mart, Target Stores, Department of Defense and others. After label printing and encoding is complete, Enterprise Information Systems then provides the components that enable point of action verification of the RFID data and interfacing back to the AS/400. " ...

RFID IBM AS400 Solution: Via EIS: EIS Partners with TL Ashford

Intelligent RFID Readers: Next Generation Through Partnership ...

iAnywhere and Applied Wireless will partner to deliver next-generation intelligent RFID readers ...

... "iAnywhere, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY) and Applied Wireless Identifications, Inc. announced a partnership to jointly develop next generation intelligent RFID readers that take advantage of the features of the iAnywhere RFID Anywhere Appliance Edition. As part of this new relationship, Applied Wireless Identifications (AWID) will embed the iAnywhere RFID Anywhere Appliance Edition into a new line of low-cost readers that include essential security features, multi-protocol communication support, and enhanced remote management and upgrade capabilities. Additionally, the two companies plan to jointly market iAnywhere RFID Anywhere 2.0 to purchasers of the new AWID RFID devices. RFID Anywhere 2.0 enables administrators to easily manage and upgrade a network of RFID readers, including data filtering and aggregation, as well as the execution of business logic. As a result, enterprises deploying RFID networks can reduce their associated administrative overhead through highly efficient management of remote readers. Reader configurations that have been lost or corrupted, for example, can be immediately and automatically restored. Further, logic at the reader level enables local data filtering and smoothing, reducing overall data volumes across the network and making transmitted data more immediately actionable. " ...

Intelligent RFID Readers: Next Generation Through Partnership: Via iAnywhere: iAnywhere And AWID Partner To Deliver Breakthrough Price And Performance In The RFID Intelligent Reader Marketplace ...

Best Buy RFID Compliance: LG Experience

LG's RFID implementation was completed quickly and successfully certified to meet Best Buy's RFID compliance requirements. ...

... "The deployment was completed in less than two months and has been certified by Best Buy to meet the retailer's January 2, 2006 mandate. As a global supplier of televisions, mobile phones, and other consumer electronics, LG began investigating RFID technology when Wal-Mart and Best Buy issued mandates last year. In the initial deployment, LG plans to tag three SKUs to be shipped from their warehouse in Texas to Best Buy distribution centers. According to Sam Ismail, Director, Logistics Advanced Engineering at LG Electronics, this infrastructure gives LG the ability to tag and ship additional SKUs from the warehouse and manufacturing facility as more retailers mandate the use of the technology and as more business cases are determined to add value. " ...

Best Buy RFID Compliance: LG Experience: Via OATSystems: LG Electronics Goes Live with OATSystems: Implementation Completed in Record Time ...

OATSystems, Inc. is the recognized RFID framework leader with software that empowers businesses to achieve competitive advantage from radio-frequency identification (RFID). As pioneers in the development of RFID technology, OAT has been setting the standard in RFID for over half a decade and is responsible for industry firsts that include the largest scale and largest scope of deployments, as well as the most innovative approaches to providing enterprise-wide RFID solutions. OAT's multinational client base, which includes companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Gillette, consists of over 50 customers in retail, CPG, consumer electronics, manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace and defense.

RFID Industry Consolidation: AIDC Services ...

There is consolidation occuring in the RFID industry. In this case, an RFID and automated identification data collection AIDC services company was acquired. ...

... "Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE) announced that it had completed the acquisition of Acsis, Inc., of Marlton, NJ, for approximately $26 million in cash. Acsis provides enterprise data collection solutions to global manufacturers. Its software enables manufacturers to automate plant floor/warehouse operations and take advantage of emerging technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID). Manufacturers leverage Acsis solutions to improve visibility of goods throughout their supply chains, ultimately resulting in increased revenues and reduced costs. Spending on enterprise data collection software and services has been growing significantly and Acsis believes it currently exceeds $700 million annually. Recent mandates from major national retailers as well as government agencies have prompted manufacturers to upgrade their existing data collection infrastructure with RFID technology. " ...

RFID Industry Consolidation: AIDC Services: Via Safeguard Scientifics: SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ACSIS, INC., AN ENTERPRISE DATA COLLECTION SOFTWARE FIRM ...

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE) advances the value of revenue‐stage information technology and life sciences companies. Safeguard provides growth capital as well as a range of strategic, operating and management resources to help its partner companies build value in their businesses. Safeguard participates in expansion financings, management buyouts, recapitalizations, industry consolidations and early‐stage financings.

Datalogic To Acquire PSC: The Next Wave of AIDC Industry Consolidation: "Furthermore, although consolidation continues to be a consistent theme in the AIDC market, bigger has not necessarily meant better - at least not recently. Overall performance among tier II AIDC vendors (PSC, Metrologic, Hand Held Products and Datalogic) has exceeded that of tier I vendors over the past two to three years in several technology segments. "

Logistics News: Logistics - Shipping - Packaging: Research and Markets: Major Consolidation Occurring in US Logistics Market: "The US Logistics market is characterized by a wide range of business models. Consolidation and M&A activity have contributed to a blurring of the lines that traditionally segment the industry. As a general rule, companies are increasingly searching out activities that provide customers with higher margin value-added services. "

RFID Cards Enable IP Telephony Mobile Workforce ...

RFID security enables mobile workforce for IP telephony. ...

RFID Cards Enable IP Telephony: Via LiteScape Technologies: LiteScape Adds New Capabilities to Facilitate Enterprise-Wide Communications via IP Telephony ...

... "OnCast Directory facilitates the secure creation and distribution of content-rich, enterprise-specific broadcasts, launches conferences calls, and utilizes IP phones to lookup profile information and other timely content from a variety of sources. In addition, by leveraging authentication methods such as passwords, RFID cards and biometrics, users can move from site to site and immediately access their personal data to quickly broadcast collaborative messages and engage in IP-based communications. By providing phones with real-time access to enterprise-wide indexes, OnCast Directory streamlines everyday business processes and enhances the overall productivity of large, mobile enterprises, while taking maximum advantage of investments in IP infrastructure. " ...

RFID Plant MES Software: 3M

3M expands its HighJump software, used in RFID applications, for MES applications in its plants. ...

RFID Plant MES Software: 3M: Via 3M: 3M Selects HighJump's Manufacturing Advantage Software to Standardize Plant Systems Worldwide ...

... "3M announced it will implement HighJump Software's manufacturing execution system (MES), Manufacturing Advantage, as part of its ongoing global initiative to standardize manufacturing systems. 3M will use the Manufacturing Advantage software at 70 locations worldwide to improve management of shop floor activities, thereby enabling more efficient production. 3M is continuously striving toward a demand-driven, lean supply chain where its industry-leading products are manufactured based on customer demand. To this aim, the HighJump MES system will help 3M build its products just in time, in the right quantities, and according to the highest standards for quality and turnaround. Since Manufacturing Advantage is part of HighJump's adaptable Advantage suite, 3M will be able to configure its applications quickly and cost-effectively. This will allow the company to carry out its goal of supporting a diverse set of plant-specific requirements without supporting a diverse set of systems. HighJump has already provided supply chain solutions for 3M in the areas of RFID compliance and data collection. The success of these projects influenced the MES selection. " ...

RFID Smart Library ALEPH Interface ...

Intellident interfaces its RFID smart library solutions with the ALEPH library system, ILS. ...

RFID Smart Library ALEPH Interface: Via Intellident: Intellident release Ex Libris ALEPH interface ...

... "Intellident are pleased to announce this month that work has been completed on the Smart Library interface to the Ex Libris ALEPH 500 Integrated Library System (ILS), enabling users of the system to take advantage of the latest Intellident developments in RFID Smart Library solutions. Ex Libris, a leading supplier of Integrated Library Systems to academic institutions, worked in partnership with Intellident to ensure that the standards based connectivity between ALEPH 500 and Intellident's Smart Library solution was operational. The result of this announcement is that customers wishing to take advantage of RFID within their library can now choose the Intellident option to be used in conjunction with Ex Libris' ALEPH 500 ILS system. This announcement reinforces Intellident's position as the leading RFID library solutions provider in the UK. Building a close working relationship with Ex Libris is another stepping stone to continued innovative development of products for the UK library market. " ...

RFID Interchange: Tibco MasterData Integration

Tibco expands capabilities in RFID master data integration through technology acquisition. ...

RFID Interchange: Tibco MasterData Integration: TIBCO adds Master Data Management Capabilities and Expands Focus on Consumer Markets: Technology Acquisition Strengthens Enterprise Software Portfolio with Industry Leading Platform; Drives Customer Success with Process-centric Master Data Management ...

... "Master data management is a strategic component of TIBCO’s industry-leading supply chain optimization and RFID offerings (refer to TIBCO’s July 25, 2005 RFID Interchange announcement). TIBCO defines a unique and comprehensive approach with out-of-the box information management processes and flexible data modeling capabilities. In addition to helping TIBCO customers gain competitive advantage, this new approach provides real-time access to accurate product information; enables the removal of value chain inefficiencies by eradicating duplications and errors in product and related information and by automating the processes required to maintain this dynamic information; and provides an ordered framework for the people, processes and systems that impact product information, both internally and amongst trading partners. " ...

TIBCO RFID Interchange is a non-intrusive solution that seamlessly incorporates RFID event data into business processes and provides business context to aid decision making across the supply chain. TIBCO RFID Interchange supports EPC Global’s Application Level Event (ALE) specifications and real-time streaming of information from RFID Edge devices. It also supports leading readers and printers, is fast and easy to deploy and enables centralized configuration and management of devices. TIBCO RFID Interchange’s browser and GUI-based, slap-and-ship business process templates are configurable to meet the unique distribution processes and various retail compliance mandates.

RFID Tag Production: Dominant Semicon ...

Dominant Semicon offers RFID tag production services, including conversion process, across a range of tag frequencies. ...

RFID Tag Production: Dominant Semicon: High Quality RFID Tags from DOMINANT ...

... "Featuring an international certified quality assurance acclaim, DOMINANT now provides a total solution for the production of RFID tags. This includes the converting processes such as inlay assembly, lamination and test from raw materials to finished goods such as smart labels, smart tickets and tags. There are three kinds of tags are available in DOMINANT. There are categorized by the radio frequency: High Frequency tags (13.56MHz), Ultra High Frequency (860MHz – 960MHz) and Microwave (2.45GHz). By adopting RFID technology, companies are able to optimize the accuracy of data collection – something that is not always possible with traditional systems. As a result, it undoubtedly hold a lot of promise and RFID have the advantage over barcode systems as they have ability to be read without line-of sign and it can be read through in a environmentally challenging conditions such as around water or metal. " ...

DOMINANT Semiconductors is an excellence-driven organization, offering a comprehensive variety of product range and selection for diverse industries and applications. With extensive industry experience and relentless pursuit of innovation, DOMINANT Semiconductors, with its state-of-the-art manufacturing, research and testing capabilities, has become a trusted and reliable brand across the globe. Established in 2001 DOMINANT is one of the leading suppliers in RFID Tags. It develops and manufacturers high quality RFID (radio frequency identification) tags used in automatic identification, tracking and supply chain management, which are specialized in high quality, high volume production.

Speed RFID Adoption: Compliance Software

Speed RFID Adoption: Compliance Software: Via IDVelocity: IDVelocity Makes Dramatic Move to Speed RFID Adoption: Company Licensing RFID Compliancy Software Effectively Free ...

... "IDVelocity, in a bold move to lower the costs of complying with RFID mandates from Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and the Department of Defense, is offering its ComplianceNow software effectively free. For the same cost as IDVelocity originally charged for one year of maintenance and support, companies can license the software and receive their first year of maintenance and support to meet their mandates. The price is $5,500 per instance of software with no limit to the number of devices or users attached to the instance of software. In addition, the software is double byte enabled allowing the ComplianceNow software to be deployed in any single byte or double byte language, a tremendous advantage as organizations begin to push the tagging requirements to the point of manufacture. " ...

RFID Technology: Strategic Value

RFID can provide tangible ROI in the business processes where traditional automated identification technology provides returns: supply chain operations, inventory working capital, and so on. However, the additional strategic value of RFID technology may be in increased visibility and faster speed of decision making which yields a higher degree of agility in the marketplace, a potential competitive advantage. Marlo Brooke and James Williams, Avatar Partners, discuss the business benefits of RFID technology ...

RFID Technology: Strategic Value: Via IT Business Edge: Getting a Return from RFID: Maximizing IT Investments ...

... "Are companies focused too strongly on the ROI of RFID - perhaps so much so that they neglect to see the possible strategic value of the technology? " ...

RFID Innovation Center: Supply Chain Visibility

RFID Innovation Center: Supply Chain Visibility: RedPrairie RFID Solution Powers CHEP Innovation Center with End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility: CHEP implements RedPrairie Solution to demonstrate RFID usage and benefits for customers ...

Innovation center uses RFID technology to demonstrate the value of supply chain visibility ...

... "CHEP, the global leader in pallet and container pooling services, is utilizing its Innovation Center to demonstrate usage and benefits of RFID for customers and prospects as well as representatives of the supply chains where CHEP participates. CHEP recently expanded the RFID capabilities of the Innovation Center to showcase end-to-end tracking of pallets, cases and items from receiving and put-away, to inventory management and shipping. RedPrairie provides the warehousing management solution and visibility to all supply chain participants involved in the movement of goods – including the manufacturer, transporter, distribution center and retailer for this demonstration. " ...

CHEP is the global leader in pallet and plastic container pooling services serving many of the world's largest companies. With Americas headquarters based in Orlando, the company has more than 7,700 employees in 42 countries. Combining superior technology, over five decades of experience and an asset base of more than 265 million pallets and containers, CHEP handles pallet and container supply chain logistics for customers in the consumer goods, produce, meat, home improvement, beverage, raw materials and automotive industries.

For over 30 years RedPrairie has enabled leading global companies to create competitive advantage through supply chain excellence. RedPrairie’s comprehensive technology solutions provide rapid and sustainable return on investment by optimizing the performance of people, places and processes. RedPrairie provides industry-tailored solutions for diverse markets, including consumer goods, direct to consumer and traditional retail, food and beverage, high tech / electronics, third party logistics, industrial / wholesale, automotive and service parts, and pharmaceuticals.