Jul 06, 2007The following are news announcements made during the week of July 2.
RSI ID Technologies Announces Channel Partner Certification Program
RSI ID Technologies, a manufacturer of RFID antennas, inlays and tags and also a systems integrator, has launched its RFID Channel Partner Certification Program. To become certified, prospective RSI resellers and integrators must first complete an educational program developed by RSI ID. The Web-based program includes a 13-course curriculum designed to maximize RFID industry knowledge, while also increasing awareness of the RSI product line and preparing participants for the CompTIA RFID+ certification exam, created by the Computing Technology Industry Association to provide a standardized certification for RFID technicians. The program features a basic RFID introduction, as well as classes in best practices, RFID tag and interrogators, testing and troubleshooting, system design, standards and regulations, and numerous other topics. After successfully completing these courses, graduates will become RSI RFID Certified Channel Partners. Those interested in taking the course should contact RSI ID.
BlueStar Distributing Datamax Printer-Encoders
BlueStar, a Florence, Ky., distributor of point-of-sale, hospitality, RFID and other auto-ID products, is now distributing the Datamax H-Class line of RFID printer-encoders to resellers providing RFID solutions for logistics, retail, library systems, inventory control and asset management. The Datamax H-Class printer family uses a modular design, enabling easy servicing and replacement of key components. Three models are currently available: the H-4212, the H-4310 and the H-4212X. All three come with either an HF or UHF reader module. The HF module is compatible with the ISO 15693 13.56 MHz air-interface protocol, while the 915 MHz (UHF) module supports the EPC Class 0, 0+, 1 and EPC Class 1 Gen 2 (ISO 18000-6c) air-interface protocols. The H-4212 and H4212X versions have earned EPCglobal's Gen 2 interoperability mark, certifying that they will work interchangeably with other EPC Gen 2-certified tags and interrogators, including those made by different manufacturers.
Elektrobit Buys 7iD Technologies
Elektrobit, a Finnish company based in Helsinki, has purchased 100 percent of the shares in 7iD Technologies, a small RFID firm located in Graz, Austria. Elektrobit develops embedded software and hardware solutions for automotive and wireless technologies, while 7iD provides services and products for system integrators and RFID companies, and develops solutions for supply-chain and asset-management applications in the pharmaceutical, paper, aviation and automotive industries. 7iD's core RFID software products—its Reader Service reader management software and Acquisition Service RFID edgeware—have both earned EPCglobal's Gen 2 software conformance marks (see EPCglobal Announces EPC Software Certification, RFID Deployment Tool). According to a statement from Elektrobit, 7iD's software tools will strengthen Elektrobit's Identification Network Architecture, designed to enable the management of large RFID reader networks across a facility. The terms of the transactions have not yet been released.
Assa Abloy ITG Acquires Tag Maker Aontec
In a move that will enable the company to respond to the growing demand for such secured electronic documents as passports, national IDs and driver's licenses, Assa Abloy Identification Technologies has acquired Aontec, a manufacturer of inlays for security documents. Assa Abloy develops, manufactures and markets RFID components, products and services for national ID and e-passport programs, as well as corporate access control, supply-chain management, animal tagging, financial transactions, transport and various industrial or manufacturing solutions. Based in Ireland, Aontec manufactures high-frequency (13.56 MHz) prelaminated inlays composed from a range of thermoplastic materials, including PET and polycarbonate. In addition to a selection of stock inlay products, Aontec also offers customized solutions for specific customer requirements. Governments in the United States and several other countries are either planning to launch or have already begun electronic ID projects, wherein RFID inlays are embedded in identity cards and passports to provide electronic, remote verification of the documents' authenticity. According to Assa Abloy, the acquisition of Aontec enables it to expand into new geographical markets, and to further grow its market share. The terms of the agreement have not yet been made public.
Systech International Adds Serialized Tracking to its Pharma Packaging Application
Systech International, a Cranbury, N.J., provider of software designed for the pharmaceutical, health-care, and food and beverage industries, has added RFID capabilities to its Systech Guardian application. This product is designed to help pharmaceutical companies collect, manage and analyze data—such as facility productivity data—from packaging operations, as well as share the data via XML with enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and other corporate applications. The updated version now includes integration with Systech's Serialized Product Tracking (SPT) software. SPT is used to verify data on the RFID tag and bar code, as well as establish the parent-child relationships in which the products are placed, such as cases and pallets, and store the information in a secure database. The integration of SPT and Systech Guardian allows manufacturers to leverage RFID data directly in the application, enabling them to assign, encode and record EPC serial numbers for both RFID tags and 2-D bar codes used in track-and-trace initiatives within their packaging operations. The new version of Systech Guardian is available now.
