Stanley Bolsters RFID Portfolio With VeriChip's Ex-Subsidiary

These products, Merrill says, will be folded into Stanley Security Solutions' personal security offerings, which include its Senior Technologies business. The Senior Technologies business currently offers WanderGuard, an active 500 kHz RFID system that utilizes a proprietary communications protocol and is designed for tracking patients in long-term care facilities, such as senior centers. Todd Tyler, director of new product development with Senior Technologies, says the Xmark product line will provide Stanley Security Solutions an inroad into the acute care health-care market.

But the acquisition will also offer Stanley Security Solutions increased breadth and depth with RFID technology in general, Merrill says, adding that his division is developing RFID-enabled products for its mechanical access, access security and personal-security businesses, as well as its Stanley Convergent Security Solutions unit, which provides monitoring and alarm systems, video surveillance systems, integrated solutions, online services and more.

"RFID is kind of a cross-over technology for us," Merrill explains. "Since we are in the security solutions environment, we are using RFID for multiple tracking applications."

Stanley Security Solutions' Stanley Correctional Services unit already offers an RFID-enabled solution for the corrections sector to monitor and track inmates. Additionally, Stanley Security Solutions plans to test an RFID-enabled cash-tracking system with a fast-food company that has requested not to be identified. The solution, designed to help fight cash losses, employs RFID to track cash deposits and withdrawals from safes within the restaurants.

"This intelligent system uses RFID to capture the deposit information, monitor the cash inside the safe and track the cash withdrawal," says Phil Pitt, director of marketing for Sargent and Greenleaf, a division of Stanley Security Solutions. "It provides real-time information to loss prevention and treasury departments so they are informed at all times."