Checkpoint Systems Launches New Tags, Encoding Solutions

By Beth Bacheldor

Feb. 24, 2012—Checkpoint Systems has announced expanded and new radio frequency identification encoding solutions, as well as the expansion of its RFID tag portfolio for apparel brand owners, their retail partners, and closed-loop apparel retailers and department stores. According to the company, its latest offerings are designed to meet the needs of retailers and vendors scaling up their RFID initiatives.

Checkpoint now offers three ways in which suppliers and retailers can uniquely encode tags: high-speed bulk encoding, RFID service bureaus and in-plant printing services. The high-speed bulk-encoding solution enables a distribution center to encode RFID tags applied onto multiple items within a single box at operational speed—which, Checkpoint reports, can reduce the amount of time required to encode large quantities of merchandise. To integrate the high-speed bulk-encoding solution, the firm reviews a DC's existing operations and then implements an RFID system customized to address that facility's unique needs. This solution, Checkpoint indicates, ensures the fastest and most accurate encoding of Electronic Product Code (EPC) numbers, without the need to manually open boxes and handle individual garments. The solution leverages what Checkpoint calls best-in-class hardware and software, and the company is currently implementing the solution at multiple locations.

High-Kick RFID Tag

While Checkpoint does not currently leverage Impinj's newly announced Monza Self-Serialization chip-based method of serializing EPCs (see Impinj Seeks to Make Serializing Data Easy) as part of its bulk-encoding solution, the firm indicates it may opt to do so in the future. In fact, a company spokesman says that Checkpoint will support Impinj's chip-based serialization for bulk encoding using its own OATxpress software if customers require it to do so in the future. To take advantage of Monza Self-Serialization, a business must employ EPC Gen 2 tags containing Monza 5 RFID chips, as well as Impinj's Source Tagging Platform on its readers.

In addition, Checkpoint has expanded its RFID service bureaus—which it will now offer in Asia, Europe, Central America and North America—where the firm encodes unique EPC numbers, prints variable data on labels at its own print shops and then ships the labels to suppliers' tagging locations worldwide.

Whirl RFID Tag

Finally, Checkpoint now offers in-plant printing services to address the requirements of apparel brands and closed-loop retailers that need to manage the tagging process from remote locations that may lack reliable Internet service, thereby inhibiting their ability to obtain EPC numbers necessary for printing and encoding RFID on demand. Checkpoint reports that its new in-plant services enable businesses to locally manage the complete process, including number serialization and tag printing from these sites.