Nov 10, 2016The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations: Denso; Suprema; Smartrac, Linxens; GS1 US; Digi International, FreshTemp; and HID Global.
Denso Launches NFC-Enabled Point-of-Sale Scanner
Mobile data-capture device maker Denso has unveiled a new scanner that leverages Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The QK30-IC is equipped with an integrated NFC RFID reader for use with a variety of applications, such as e-ticketing, e-couponing and membership loyalty cards, and is suitable for use at the point of sale (POS) when integrated in cash registers.
The QK30-IC can be used as a fixed or built-in device that can read QR codes printed on smartphone displays on paper labels. What's more, it can interrogate RFID tags that comply with the ISO 14443 Type A/B specifications.
Suprema Adds Android Support to RFID-Fingerprint Scanner
Suprema, a global provider of biometrics and ID solutions, has announced that it is adding support for Android devices to its BioMini Combo, a dual-authentication RFID-fingerprint scanner.
The BioMini Combo is designed to provide two-factor authentication solutions that combine contact and contactless smart cards and Near Field Communication (NFC) with fingerprint authentication. The scanner features an optical sensor with a large platen for easier capturing and Suprema's Live Finger Detection technology, in addition to fingerprint authentication. It complies with certifications including FBI PIV and Mobile ID (FAP20) for fingerprint authentication, and also supports various RF standards, including contact or contactless (RFID) smart cards.
With the new Android support, the BioMini Combo is now compatible with a range of Android-based mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets and PDAs. Android compatibility will allow users simpler operation by eliminating the need for a PC, the company reports, and provides versatility with custom-made Android apps for ID projects, including electronic ID and e-government applications. It also enables users to capture fingerprints under harsh environmental conditions, as well as under direct sunlight up to 100,000 lux.
Smartrac Sells Secure ID & Transactions Business to Linxens
RFID and Internet of Things solutions provider Smartrac has announced an agreement to sell its Secure ID & Transactions (SIT) business division to the Linxens Group, a manufacturer of smart-card connectors, inlays and LED light sources. Linxen's connector products are used in smart cards to enable the communications and transactions of financial and public-sector applications used by consumers, according to Smartrac, including banking cards, SIMs for mobile telephony, ID and health cards.
Smartrac's SIT business division consists primarily of the company's Pre-Laminates and White Card product lines, which are sold mainly for use in contactless payments, enterprise access, public transportation and government/eID applications. The sale does not include Smartrac's RFID inlays and tags, hard tags and solutions businesses, according to the company. Smartrac will retain its production facilities in Fletcher, N.C., Guangzhou, China, and Kulim, Malaysia.
According to the terms of the agreement, Linxens will take over all employees and assets assigned to Smartrac's SIT business division. Linxens will be allowed to use the Smartrac brand for the SIT business for a period of up to 24 months after the sale is completed, and will meet all of Smartrac's SIT contractual obligations to employees, customers and suppliers.
"What we are announcing today sets the future direction for everyone at Smartrac. As a part of the Linxens Group, our highly successful and profitable Secure ID & Transactions business will face a bright future as a leader in payment, access control and identification technologies for maximum security and customer convenience," said Christian Uhl, the CEO and chairman of the management board at Smartrac, in a prepared statement. "At the same time, Smartrac's core business will be able to focus and accelerate its already successful transition into a leading provider of ready-made and customized RFID products and IoT-based solutions that enable businesses to identify, authenticate, track and complement product offerings."
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close by the end of 2016.
GS1 US Releases New Guidelines for Item-Level Pharmaceutical Traceability
GS1 US has introduced a new release of its "Applying GS1 Standards for DSCSA and Traceability" guideline, designed to help the pharmaceutical industry prepare for Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) serialization and item-level traceability requirements in 2017 and 2023, respectively. The new release, version 1.2, builds upon version 1.1 of the guideline and takes advantage of new features in GS1's Electronic Product Code Information Service (EPCIS) and Core Business Vocabulary (CBV) standards, to help trading partners share information regarding the physical movements and status of products as they travel throughout the supply chain, from business to business and ultimately to consumers.
EPCIS enables supply chain partners to capture and exchange information about supply chain events (for example, packing, shipping, receiving and dispensing) using a standard format. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration selected EPCIS as a method that can be used to comply with DSCSA data-exchange requirements. As a GS1 data-sharing standard, EPCIS provides the data attributes and message structure required for the information handling and retrieval provisions of the DSCSA law, the standards group reports.
"As industry completes its preparations to go live with DSCSA serialization requirements for 2017, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly focusing on the journey to DSCSA item-level traceability, which must be in place by 2023," said Greg Bylo, GS1 US's VP of health care, in a prepared statement. "The new release of the guideline provides the tools they need to plan, pilot and implement an EPCIS-based approach to address those requirements and supports the main goals of DSCSA—increased transparency and security in the pharmaceutical supply chain."
The guideline is being published in the new GS1 US DSCSA Implementation Suite, which also includes three reference documents containing additional guidance on business process applications. It was developed through the commitment and dedication of the GS1 Healthcare US Secure Supply Chain Workgroup, by which manufacturers, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, health-care providers, government agencies and industry associations worked together to examine how GS1 standards could best be applied to support DSCSA and traceability. The new release of the guideline updates the EPCIS traceability event specifications based on the latest release of EPCIS and CBV standards, which were ratified in September 2016. The workgroup's efforts also resulted in updated and expanded supply chain choreographies and exception scenarios (including detailed diagrams, flowcharts and XML examples) to show industry members how to apply and use the standards in business processes.
GS1 US reports that it will continue working with industry throughout the transition period to extend the guideline to support the management of historical and transactional data, contract manufacturing, repackaging, exception processing and lot- and item-level data management.
Digi Int'l Acquires Temperature-Tracking Solution Provider FreshTemp
Digi International, a global provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things connectivity products and services, today announced the purchase of FreshTemp, a provider of temperature-monitoring and task-management solutions for the food industry. Digi International says the acquired technology will continue to be supported, as well as leveraged within the Digi Honeycomb solution, in order to create an advanced portfolio of products for the cold chain market. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Digi Honeycomb is an automated food temperature monitoring service that encompasses front-of-house and back-of-house environments to alert users if the proper temperature is not maintained. Founded in 2011, FreshTemp has developed technology, services and domain expertise in complete food safety and operations management for commercial kitchens. It has a line of sensors based on Digi Xbee technology, and supports up to 20 sensors on a single gateway. For larger installations, multiple gateways can be configured to handle hundreds of sensors. The Digi Xbee technology includes modules available in a wide variety of RF frequencies. Using a single XBee design, developers can support frequencies including 2.4 GHz, 902 to 928 MHz, and 865 to 868 MHz.
The acquisition will enable the company's Digi Cold Chain Solutions division to expand its temperature-monitoring solutions to incorporate digital task-management capabilities to replace traditional manual logbooks and simplify daily restaurant tasks. Organizations will be able to streamline manual operational checklists and provide insight to managers regarding how well their teams are adhering to restaurant guidelines.
According to Jeff Rieger, FreshTemp's founder and CEO, the two companies' solutions are extremely compatible, and the deal will lead to the accelerated adoption of those solutions and support the growing demand for technology that ensures businesses are serving safe, high-quality food. Rieger and FreshTemp employees will become part of the Digi Cold Chain Solutions team. FreshTemp's core product line and task-management capabilities will be made available via Digi Cold Chain Solutions.
HID Global Intros Multitech Card for Government ID Programs
HID Globalhas introduced its Optical Secure Media (OSM) Multitech card. Government agencies and other issuers can laser-engrave information on the card's front side, engrave and encode identity information in the OSM stripe on the card's back side, as well as encode identity information on the RFID microcontroller chip inside the card.
Integrating the RFID chip into a standard-sized OSM card is made possible with HID Global's ultra-thin PC ePre-laminate product, which minimizes the footprint of the RFID chip and antenna, using the company's DBond technology, according to the company. Anti-crack technology also extends the card's durability, which is initially available with an NXP Semiconductors P60D080 RFID chip. The firm reports that it plans to offer additional RFID chip options in the future.
HID Global's OSM Multitech cards can be used for applications that include national and resident alien IDs; health benefit, public welfare and Social Security cards; driver's licenses; and gun permits. According to HID Global, the OSM, DBond and other technologies used for the Multitech card have been proven in numerous high-profile national ID programs, including the Irish Passport Card, as well as programs in Saudi Arabia, Angola and the United States. The Irish Passport Card is the first and only passport card deployed in Europe for border crossing, the company explains.
