The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations:
Xerafy;
Smartrac;
STMicroelectronics;
FineLine Technologies, Data2 Corp.;
HID Global;
STAR Systems International; and
Mayer Brown.
Xerafy Intros RFID Tags for Challenging Outdoor Applications
Xerafy, a provider of on-metal tags, has announced that it has expanded its RFID product line with the launch of its new Container Trak RFID tag. The company has also upgraded its existing Cargo Trak and Versa Trak RFID products. Xerafy debuted the new tags at the RFID Tomorrow conference, held in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Sept. 27-28, 2017.
The new additions to the Trak Series are more versatile, accommodate multiple attachment methods and are suited for a wider variety of applications, according to the company. The upgrade increases read range, Xerafy notes, thereby providing long-range performance in a smaller form factor.
“With the launch of our new and upgraded Trak Series tags, our family of RAIN RFID tags is complete,” said Dennis Khoo, Xerafy’s CEO and founder, in a prepared statement. “These new tags have expanded our high-performance RFID solutions to a wider variety of applications and environments. The new Container Trak, Versa Trak II, and Cargo Trak II tags provide the versatility and flexibility customers need in demanding environments.”
The Container Trak tag, based on Impinj‘s Monza R6P IC, operates at 902 to 928 MHz and offers a read range of up to 20 meters. The tags are IP68-rated, making them suitable for harsh outdoor environments, as well as exposure to water and contaminants. Container Trak tags have an operating temperature range of -40 degrees Fahrenheit to +185 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celcius to +85 degrees Celcius), and can be attached using high-performance adhesives, via a rivet hole or using a cable tie.
The Versa Trak II and Cargo Trak II tags provide the same memory and performance as their predecessors, the company reports, but with additional mounting methods, as well as more rugged casings for outdoor and industrial use. They feature a large on-tag printable area suitable for most application requirements.
Each product includes an anti-UV industry-grade polymer casing and IP68 Ingress Protection rating for outdoor applications. This level of durability is intended to increase the tag’s lifetime to 10 years, even in harsh industrial environments. The Trak tags are designed for vehicle chassis and trailer tracking, Unit Load Device (ULD) identification, logistics management, yard management and other demanding applications.
With the increasing demand for RFID solutions for asset- and inventory-management applications in manufacturing, logistics, oil and gas production, health care and other sectors, a growing number of companies are seeking ways in which to achieve real-time visibility. The Trak Series of tags provides reliable performance for on- and off-metal applications under challenging environmental conditions, according to the company.
“Xerafy is committed to providing advanced RFID solutions for the most demanding environments,” Khoo added in the prepared statement. “With the release of the new Trak Series tags, we can help our clients extend the value of our high-performance RFID tags, whether they are used in a warehouse, on a vehicle chassis or exposed to water, extreme temperatures or other harsh conditions.”
Smartrac Showcases RFID, NFC, IoT Temperature Sensor Portfolio
Smartrac recently presented its latest portfolio of temperature-sensing, cold-chain-monitoring products and solutions at the 15th Annual Cold Chain Global Forum, held last month in Chicago, Ill.
As the demand for global industrial logistics grows, temperature-controlled applications are rapidly evolving in parallel, according to Smartrac. Therefore, the company has developed products and solutions intended to enable a trusted cold chain by sensing temperature and moisture levels, logging and indicating temperatures, and providing authenticity and traceability.
During the event, Smartrac showcased its Temperature Logger NFC sensor, a battery-powered label solution for logging data in temperature-control supply chain applications. The Temperature Logger NFC can be read via a smartphone app that allows rapid mobile data control and analysis, helping customers make informed decisions regarding shipment quality, inventory and logistics.
By measuring and recording temperature readings during the transport of sensitive items, Smartrac reports, the new sensor complements its portfolio of temperature indicators. Providing RFID-based sensors and the ability to manage product-related data via the company’s Smart Cosmos enablement platform allows customers to leverage the range of opportunities offered by RFID technology and the Internet of Things.
“This year’s Cold Chain Global Forum [was] the perfect occasion for Smartrac to introduce our latest sensor product and IoT-based data unification and authentication capabilities to the public,” said Ted Danhauser, Smartrac’s VP of sales for the Americas, in a prepared statement. “Building end-to-end trust into a chain of custody for cold-chain market players is our ultimate goal.”
STMicroelectronics Offers Software Kit for Bluetooth Mesh Networking, Connected Smart-Lighting
STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor company serving customers in a range of electronics applications, has announced new software for creating smart objects that connect using the latest Bluetooth wireless mesh-networking features. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) recently released its Bluetooth 5 specification, which standardizes mesh networking—connecting large numbers of devices capable of communicating among themselves, as well as directly with mobile phones.
According to STMicroelectronics, all smartphones currently on the market can connect to objects in Bluetooth mesh networks without requiring a central gateway or router, thus allowing easier control of smart lighting, general building automation and other Internet of Things (IoT) applications, such as environmental sensing, industrial monitoring and asset tracking. Mesh networking in Bluetooth 5 presents an industry standard that enables OEMs to create interoperable products that provide flexibility and freedom of choice for users.
ST’s BlueNRG-MESH Software Development Kit (SDK) enables the creation of networked devices and the smartphone apps needed to control them. The three-part SDK provides two app-developer packages for Android and iOS, along with embedded development software for building smart objects, such as light fittings and sensors. These three packages provide the software building blocks required to get applications running using ST’s BlueNRG mesh-ready Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) ICs.
“Bluetooth 5 will become a powerful force in the IoT market, and we have invested heavily to deliver solutions that support its important new features, like mesh networking,” said Benedetto Vigna, the president of STMicroelectronics’ Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group, in a prepared statement. “Adding BlueNRG-MESH to the ST BlueNRG portfolio ushers in an era of connected smart things all around us, like smart-home appliances or lighting switches, and enables secure and convenient control from the feature-rich and stylish user interface of a smart mobile application.”
FineLine Technologies Acquires RFID Tag Provider Data2 Corp.
FineLine Technologies has announced that it has acquired Data2 Corp., a St. Louis, Mo.-based global service bureau provider of bar-code and RFID tags and labels. As part of FineLine’s continuing expansion program, the acquisition equips the business with bar-coding and RFID-enabling technologies for hard-to-tag products in retail and other industrial supply chains.
“The acquisition of Data2 furthers our strategy of becoming the world’s premier barcode and RFID tag and label service bureau,” says George Hoffman, FineLine’s chairman and CEO, in a prepared statement. “In addition to obtaining Data2’s hard-to-tag RFID and barcode ticketing technology, FineLine will make use of the business’s existing market penetration to deliver our FASTtrak online ordering and fulfillment solution to new market sectors.”
“FASTtrak delivers retail tickets, RFID and barcode labels to customers worldwide faster than any other service in the industry,” Hoffman said in the prepared statement. “It enables our retail customers to more effectively and accurately manage their global supply chains. With the Data2 acquisition, FASTtrak now becomes available to a broader range of industrial markets, including the tires, healthcare, library and electronics segments.”
Data2 Corp.’s CEO, Jack M. Delo, added in the statement: “We share the same values and goals of providing our customers with the best speed, service and innovation. Together, we offer businesses worldwide, across a host of industries, barcode and RFID ticketing solutions that help streamline their supply chains.”
HID Global Announces Cloud-Based Personalization and Issuance Solution for Cards, Credentials
HID Global, a provider of trusted-identity solutions, has introduced its HID FARGO Connect cloud-based solution, which is designed to simplify and streamline the issuance of ID cards and credentials. FARGO Connect offers a new approach to ID issuance, the company reports, replacing the paradigm of standalone printers tied to a dedicated PC workstation.
With this solution, ID cards can be issued from anywhere and from any device via a Web interface in a trusted environment. FARGO Connect allows users to remotely monitor and manage consumables, helping them to avoid out-of-stock issues and better manage replenishment processes.
“HID FARGO Connect is the biggest innovation that the ID card issuance industry has seen in more than a decade, and with it, HID is changing the way cards and credentials are issued forever,” said Craig Sandness, HID Global’s VP and managing director of secure issuance, in a prepared statement. “HID Global is introducing a game-changing way for people to issue IDs, and we’re turning HID FARGO printers into smart, secure, web-enabled, edge devices for the Internet of Trusted Things.”
Among the first to use the FARGO Connect system is Kent State University. The process of issuing student IDs to thousands of people during orientation has been simplified and streamlined through its shift to a cloud-based approach.
“As one responsible for issuing thousands of IDs at our Kent Campus and at our other sites, I see HID FARGO Connect as providing us a next-generation platform for producing cards for our students that impacts them in only positive ways,” said Michael O’Karma, the university’s office systems coordinator for flashcard operations, in the prepared statement. “The advantage to the students is that they do not have to wait in line any longer, and the advantage to us in the administrative office is that we can provide a better service that’s more cost-effective and efficient.”
HID FARGO Connect uses secure cloud technologies with end-to-end encryption and transport layer security. Users can create new cards, encode data, issue replacements and manage print queues, all in a single trusted system designed to meet regulatory security and data privacy requirements.
STAR Systems International Unveils RFID Antennas for Electronic Tolling
STAR Systems International, a provider of RFID hardware, tags and professional services, has announced the availability of its new high-performance Avior narrow-beam tolling antenna. Avior was developed, designed and built to be an over-the-road tolling antenna for all electronic tolling systems, using passive RFID tags. It allows system designers to create an optimal read zone in either a multi-lane free flow/open road or in a plaza-based tolling lane.
Toll operators using passive tags require dependable, focused antennas to maximize read rates and the accuracy of automatic transactions. Avior was created specifically with toll operators in mind, the company explains, and maximizes read rates and isolates tag identification to desired read zones. This helps users avoid cross-lane and stray transponder reads, while mitigating adjacent lane interference.
Avior’s compact footprint and reduced weight is unique in the market compared to other similarly featured competitive products, according to STAR Systems. The compact size allows for a more efficient and safer installation over roads, reduces shipping and storage costs, and facilitates installation.
Avior has a wideband frequency design, allowing it to operate in the 865 to 928 MHz range, which makes it applicable for use around the globe. Built from heavy-duty aluminum with a weather-resistant housing, Avior is meant to last for years in the harshest of roadside environments. Avior is available now from STAR Systems International and its authorized distribution network.
Mayer Brown Launches Practical Guide on Hot Topics in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Including the IoT
Mayer Brown has announced the launch of a new practical guide titled “Staying Ahead of the Curve: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy – Hot Topics for Global Businesses.” The guide explores the unique legal challenges arising in several emerging and cutting-edge topic areas related to cybersecurity and data privacy worldwide.
Authored by lawyers in the firm’s global Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, the guide highlights key cybersecurity and data-privacy developments and priorities, from the Internet of Things and the cloud to complying with China’s new cybersecurity law and Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation. The guide serves as a valuable resource for in-house counsel, executives and other stakeholders as they address cybersecurity and data-privacy challenges in a manner that is consistent with business needs and evolving legal requirements.
“Businesses of all sizes are facing unprecedented threats to their data, systems and products on a global scale and must strive to stay at the forefront of change, rather than risk falling behind dynamic regulatory requirements, customer expectations or competitive pressures,” said Rajesh De, the leader of Mayer Brown’s global Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice and the former General Counsel of the National Security Agency, in a prepared statement. “Mayer Brown’s interdisciplinary team of global cybersecurity and data privacy lawyers launched our third practical guide to help companies around the world stay ahead of the curve by identifying, assessing and responding to emerging cybersecurity and data privacy challenges.”
This marks the third guide produced by Mayer Brown’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, which previously issued a cybersecurity regulatory handbook in 2016 and an incident preparation and response guide in 2015. The guide’s launch coincides with the start of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2017. For the third consecutive year, Mayer Brown has become an official Champion of NCSAM.