Dec 21, 2005This article was originally published by RFID Update.
December 21, 2005—Wealth and asset management firm Robert W. Baird & Co., widely referred to as simply "Baird", has released its RFID Monthly for December. Baird has given RFID Update permission to reprint the Key Developments section (below), which serves as the report summary. For those wanting more detail, the complete twelve-page document is available free here.
In general, Baird is optimistic about RFID in 2006. The firm predicts increased end-user attendance at trade shows, more investment activity, and general market maturation in the US. The recently announced $20 million RFID investment from Japanese sensor manufacturing giant Omron was cited as evidence: "We believe such an investment from a key international player provides another data point that the U.S. market is becoming more clearly defined."
The report includes its usual matrix of primary RFID providers on page 7, and following are the key developments:
- Texas Instruments Extends Agreement with Impinj. TI and Impinj announced that TI will continue to use Impinj’s Monza RFID Gen 2 chips for use in its Gen 2 inlays and straps for the foreseeable future. Our contacts suggest that TI .13 micron technology silicon is not expected to be in production until 1H06. We expect Philips chipsets to be available beginning 1Q06.
- Investment Activity Continues to Increase. Three new major investment announcements were made in December from Impinj, Omron and Safeguard Scientifics. We see increased investment activity as an indicator that the RFID market is becoming more clearly defined. Impinj raised $26.5 million in its fourth round of funding, bringing total funds raised to over $76.5 million. Omron announced it will invest $20 million in RFID in order to increase its share of the U.S. market. Safeguard Scientifics announced it has acquired Acsis, a provider of enterprise data collection solutions, including RFID, for $26 million, paying roughly 1.2x annualized revenue. We expect to see increased investment activity during 1H06.
- Pfizer Maintains RFID Timetable; Increases Initiative. Pfizer reportedly began to ship all Viagra (sidenafil) for the U.S. market with RFID tags beginning December 15. This is in line with Pfizer’s announcement a year ago, which we highlighted in the November 2004 edition of RFID Monthly. The company expects all Viagra in circulation will be tagged in 1Q06 once non-tagged inventories have been expended. Recall, Pfizer’s primary intent of using RFID is to reduce counterfeiting.
Download the full Baird RFID Monthly (pdf)
