The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations:
Vizinex RFID;
FineLine Technologies, R.E.R. International;
Technavio;
ABTS Convention Services;
TagMaster North America, Watry; and Flowfinity.
PRESS RELEASE:
Vizinex RFID Updates Security Label
Vizinex RFID, the industry leader in developing and manufacturing high performance RFID tags tailored to specific applications, is pleased to announce a product update to further improve the ViziLabel RFID tag. The update includes changes to several aspects of the tag including: a smaller footprint, even better read performance and lower price.
“We are very excited to make an already good RFID tag even better,” said Ken Horton, CEO, Vizinex RFID. “In our business, the technology doesn’t drastically change from one day to the next. However, the applications for it grow by the day – and the way tags are created, packaged and sized becomes increasingly important. We are confident that these changes to the tags are for the better – and will result in satisfaction from our customers.”
Measuring 50mm x 14mm x 0.4mm, the ViziLabel is a thin, surface-conforming tag with the durability of our Sentry printed circuit board platform. It has a read range of 8 to 12 feet when applied to nonmetal surfaces. The tag provides 96-bit EPC memory plus 512-bit user memory and has a temperature tolerance of -58°F to 365°F. The ViziLabel performs well in both the US and EU bands of the UHF frequency spectrum.
PRESS RELEASE:
FineLine Technologies Receives RFID Patent, Acquires R.E.R. International
FineLine Technologies is pleased to announce that the United States Patent Office (USPTO) has issued Patent number US 9,652,733 B2 to FineLine Technologies for Systems and Methods for Measuring and Tracking Radio-Frequency Identification Tags.
The patent includes the systems and methods of input for various types of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) data, such as chip and inlay type, scan location, encoding scheme and payload. It also measures and tracks the data of different users at various points throughout a supply chain, and stores it in a database. The data can then be analyzed to determine defects in RFID tag quality and help prevent or minimize costly reticketing further down the supply chain.
“A variety of factors can affect RFID tag performance at different stages in the supply chain,” says George Hoffman, CEO/chairman, FineLine Technologies. “Examples include the use of non-approved inlays, physical damage and improper encoding processes.”
The technology is currently deployed in FineLine’s QCTrak application. QCTrak collects, assesses, tracks and reports on RFID tag quality throughout the supply chain. As a ready-made compliance tool, QCTrak is configurable to each industry’s needs and can be cost effectively and easily implemented. QCTrakTM Mobile software uses existing smart devices with the addition of a UHF reader to scan, collect, inform and relay metrics to the Cloud. QCTrakTM Cloud aggregates this information and provides comprehensive analytical reports to help supply chain owners quickly identify potential tagging problems as product moves through the supply chain.
Retailers and their suppliers utilizing RFID can verify the correct encoding of Electronic Product Code (EPC), RFID tag selection and tag readability by program for compliant labeling. The software is configured to user responsibilities. At the factory, a user can identify the correct EPC encoding and tag for different retailers’ programs and be alerted to errors with on-screen notifications so they can remedy issues prior to shipment. At the DC, retailers can confirm RFID tagging compliance across vendors providing different merchandise types. At the compliance office, vendor-submitted RFID tags can be quality checked for approval. Because the tag data from scans is stored, results can be compared across vendor, DC, store and HQ scans.
In other supply chains, such as event ticketing where the use of NFC is increasing, encoding schemes are very complex and can include far more data than a standard EPC such as: barcode number, ticket number, asset number, UID (Unique Identifier) and TID (unique tag ID). Early detection of RFID tag quality issues in these cases is critical to successful deployment since it may prevent patron admission or adversely impact the fan experience.
In addition, FineLine has acquired R.E.R. International, a manufacturer of tags and labels. The acquisition provides R.E.R. customers with the benefits of FineLine’s global production hubs in the USA and China. As part of the acquisition, R.E.R. has moved its headquarters from Forrest Hills, N.Y. to FineLine’s headquarters in Norcross, Ga. All of R.E.R.’s business is now conducted under the FineLine brand.
“We welcome R.E.R.’s great customer base to the FineLine family,” says FineLine’s CEO/Chairman George Hoffman. “Many of R.E.R’s customers already work with FineLine, and we know they will all enjoy the extensive benefits and capabilities that we offer. For example, China-based customers now have access to in-country services that will save them both time and shipping costs. Overall, R.E.R. customers can expect supply chain improvements with minimal changes to their business operations.”
PRESS RELEASE:
Technavio Identifies Top Six Vendors in RFID Printer Market
Technavio has announced the top six leading vendors in their recent global RFID printer market report. The top vendors are identified, taking into account their revenue, technology, geographical presence, and end-users.
With the growing popularity of RFID technology, RFID printer manufacturers are designing in-built solutions to meet the increasing range of business needs. Apart from the manufacturing and distribution segments, government agencies, libraries, and the oil/gas industry are adopting RFID printers. Even though RFID technology is specifically used for supply chain management, it is used for internally focused systems such as work-in-process tracking as well.
The intense competition among vendors and rapid technological changes are the significant risks for vendor operations. The increase in competition among vendors has led to the industry witnessing consolidation. The market has witnessed the acquisition of smaller entities by bigger entities to gain a competitive edge in the market.
“Vendors with a strong brand identity will dominate the market during the forecast period. Established vendors have the ability to diversify their product portfolios to suit several end-user applications and can sustain the competition. The less prominent vendors need to market their products aggressively and acquire more customers, especially in developing markets,” says Sunil Kumar Singh, a lead computing devices research analyst from Technavio.
Avery Dennison
Avery Dennison is primarily engaged in the production of pressure-sensitive materials and a range of tickets, tags, labels, and other converted products. The segments of the company include Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RBIS), Label and Graphic Materials (LGM), and Industrial and Healthcare Materials (IHM).
Honeywell International
Honeywell International is expanding its product portfolio to become one of the major players in the global RFID printer market. The company focuses on research and development (R&D) process and engineering. It also aims to expand its business ventures and is striving to develop new applications for scanners and readers. The company plans to reduce costs significantly through innovations in the manufacturing process.
Primera Technology
Primera Technology develops, manufactures, and distributes CD/DVD/Blu-ray disc duplication and printing equipment to enterprises. It offers entry-level BD/CD/DVD duplicators, professional-grade disc duplicators, software products, high-end disc duplicators and printers, label products such as label and RFID label printers and dispensers, label applicators, and rewinders.
Printronix
Printronix provides enterprise-grade industrial printing solutions to customers globally. The products of the company include thermal barcode and RFID printers, thermal media and consumables, industrial and mobile thermal printers, auto ID technologies, auto ID professional services, scanners, and software solutions.
SATO America
SATO America provides barcode, labeling, and RFID solutions in the US and Canada. It offers direct thermal and thermal transfer printers, RFID printers and tags, print engines, integration services, printer accessories, wide web thermal printers, thermal labels and ribbons, label design software, laser printers and tags, industrial thermal printers, value line thermal printers, desktop thermal printers, mobile thermal printers, horticulture solutions, printer supplies, specialty printers, and handheld labeling systems.
Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies follows a growth strategy that emphasizes on sustainability. Through this strategy, the company plans to introduce new products, especially eco-friendly products, and focus on penetrating wider markets. It also plans to leverage its technological strengths, which will help in increasing its market share. It focuses on optimizing costs, increasing the customer base, and maintaining and developing additional collaborative customer and industrial relationships.
PRESS RELEASE:
ABTS Convention Services Launches Wearable Bluetooth Beacons Powered by Renewable Energy
ABTS Convention Services (ABTS), a global meetings and convention services company with 22 years of experience, in conjunction with WisePower srl, is proud to announce the launch of our latest wearable beacon. BLUbadge Beacon is a Bluetooth LE (BLE) beacon powered only by clean renewable energy … No batteries! (Patent pending).
The ePower BLUbadge Beacon was presented at the 8th annual NiPS SUMMER SCHOOL, Gubbio Science meeting 2017, in Gubbio, Italy. The beacon was used at the meeting, providing engineers with valuable data. A significant problem with conventional passive RFID is that it requires a strong RF signal from a nearby reader device to power the tag’s chip and the subsequent transmission back to the reader. This limits the range and reliability of the tag.
The BLUbadge BLE Beacon is a reliable, cost effective Attendee Tracking and Lead Retrieval solution for events and meetings. The Beacon uses 2 distinct power sources: a Vibrational Energy module to harvest energy from typical human movement and Solar cells to harvest energy from indoor lighting (very low light). The collected energy is stored in a plurality of capacitors that power the proprietary Bluetooth LE (BLE) Beacon.
The multi-year project is a joint venture between ABTS Convention Services; NiPS Laboratory, University of Perugia, Italy; and WisePower srl – a company spun off from the University of Perugia dedicated to the design and prototyping of a new class of energy generators for mobile devices. All inquiries should be directed to Adam Graham, Executive Vice President of Information Technology at ABTS Convention Services at [email protected].
PRESS RELEASE:
TagMaster North America, Watry Design Partner on RFID-based Condo Parking
TagMaster North America, Inc., the leading provider of identification solutions installed 2.45 GHz microwave LR series readers for high rise condominiums with ground floor retail shops looking to streamline their parking process for both their residents and retail visitors.
Equity residential developers realized that it would be difficult to provide parking access to both condo owners and retail shoppers in a parking dense and limited space environment. An answer was needed to offer convenient parking for the retail shoppers, while not compromising access to secure and appointed spaces for the residents.
With their combined expertise and experience, TagMaster North America and Watry Design, Inc. teamed up and successfully integrated a hands-free, long range access control solution for the Parc on Powell luxury condominiums. “The solution needed to be efficient enough to cater to residents who were familiar with the technology and put priority on timely entry and exit while also being user friendly to visitors who may have never used the garage before,” said Watry Design Associate Principal Matt Davis. “A system that utilized both RFID and pay stations offered the perfect combination to satisfy each user group.”
By implementing TagMaster’s LR 6 readers and MarkTag MeMs, the long range reading allowed residents to open the gate from 20 feet away, while the retail shoppers have to stop and acquire a ticket. The residents are then able to access their secure, designated parking space through a roll down gate that is activated by the same RFID tag. This solution preserves the convenience and security for the residents at Parc on Powell, while still allowing nearby businesses to flourish by providing retail shoppers the ease of parking.
“The forwarding thinking team at Watry took advantage of the over 20 year experience of TagMaster RFID Solutions in the parking and vehicle access industry once again for Equity Residential developers,” commented Ali Khaksar, President of TagMaster North America, Inc. “Parc on Powell residents are able to conveniently and reliably gain garage access while maintaining security and improving the parking experience. As parking spaces become more premium, trusted TagMaster Identification systems continue to be a household name”
PRESS RELEASE:
Flowfinity Adds NFC Technology to Its Software for Faster Asset Scanning
Flowfinity Wireless Inc. today announced new features for its enterprise mobile application software that improve management of tagged assets in real-time. Flowfinity’s latest software update leverages NFC (Near Field Communication) technology on Android for rapid tag scanning, enabling digital information to be captured and stored faster.
Using Flowfinity point-and-click software, IT professionals and operations department staff can now create custom mobile forms and applications that support NFC technology for quickly scanning NFC objects in the field. NFC tags are a faster way to scan items than using smartphone camera-based barcode scanning software, as NFC only involves a single tap rather than a slower camera-based scan that requires image focusing. Android devices with built-in NFC technology also eliminate the need of purchasing additional custom scanning hardware. Now, business applications created with Flowfinity enable field staff that use Android devices with a built-in NFC scanner to gather accurate information, quickly and with less effort.
For organizations with a barcode system already in place, Flowfinity offers a combined barcode and NFC feature so NFC can serve as an improved alternative or in addition to barcodes for easy transition.
“We’re excited to support NFC for Android devices so organizations can track field assets faster and more conveniently,” said Larry Wilson, VP of Sales and Marketing, Flowfinity. “This allows management to make quicker, informed decisions by having a live view of business assets directly on their smartphones.”