RFID technology round-up
sector is the fact that labelling giant Avery Dennison has decided
to form a new business unit to manufacture and sell low-cost RFID
inlays and tags.
To date, the technology has mostly been pushed forward by smaller companies. But Avery Dennison chief executive, Philip Neal, said that RFID is expected to be "the company's largest long-term health opportunity."
The new RFID business unit will be headed by Mathew Mellis, who has also been appointed vice president, RFID and speciality converting. Stan Drobac, vice president of RFID Applications, will continue to lead the division's sales, marketing, research and development activities and will report to Mellis.
In other news, GE's security business has developed and begun field-testing a container security solution for use in maritime shipping, marking the company's debut in the global cargo security market. The details of the company's new solution were announced at the US Maritime Security Expo in New York last week.
The palm-sized container security device (CSD) fastens (without the need for any special tools) to the doorjamb inside any standard maritime container. The cargo's manufacturer then uses a wireless handheld device to arm the device with a unique identity code.
In addition, Siemens has announced the expansion of its RFID systems for 860 to 956 megahertz frequencies. This will help companies lower customer warehousing costs, improve supply chain visibility and enhance tracking and tracing applications.
The RFID systems' functionality corresponds to EPC Global and ISO/IEC 18000-6 standards, and the readers will communicate via TCP/IP with PC or SIMATIC controllers as servers.
Brewer Gambrinus has signed a three-year license agreement with Orbid Corporation, a developer of secure track and trace systems used in the identification and protection of products. Gambrinus will use the firm's patented 2DMI technology for keg tracking and tracing in its overall asset management and protection strategy.
There are also a series of RFID conferences to look forward to. For example, the ID World International Conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from 17 to 19 November 2004.
The conference will address issues such as security, government, retail, logistics and supply chain. Special attention will be given this year to EPC in retail and other sectors.
Another upcoming conference is the 3rd Annual RFID Journal Live! executive conference, is due to take place 10 to 12 April 2005 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, in Chicago, US.
Topics will include the current state of RFID adoption; the impact RFID is having on businesses; the costs of deploying the technology; and how to deploy the technology cost-effectively so that it delivers a return on investment.
RFID technology is based on a relatively simple concept. It consists of two elements that communicate through radio transmission - a tag and a reader. The tag contains a small chip and an antenna and can be placed on any object. The information on the tag, such as an identification number, can be transmitted to an RFID reader over a distance of a few metres.
