RFID technology helps deliver efficient supply chains: from tags to printers, RFID solution providers are gearing up for the next phase of package tracking technology. Here's where you can find what you'll need - Special: RFID technology - CCL Label Inc. Schaumburg, Illinois - Matrics Inc

Food & Drug Packaging, Feb, 2004 by Anthony Coia

An important requirement for efficient supply chain management is keeping track of your inventory at the pallet, case or item level. Advances in tracking technology for packaged goods have entered a new phase with the latest development in automatic identification and data capture technology: radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

More RFID systems are being designed to operate at the ultra high frequency (UHF) level, so systems can now scan items at much greater distances than with HF technology.

As demand for RFID products and services increases, prices will go down and new players will emerge.

Our article "RFID comes of age PDQ" on p.20 discusses the reasons for RFID in the supply chain. Here, we present the available options for implementing an RFID supply chain system. A successful solution requires multiple components: RFID Tags/Labels; Label Applicators; Software/ Middleware; Readers; Tag Printers; Chip Antennas; and Solution Service Providers.

RFID Tags/Labels

The RFID tag is at the heart of an RFID system. These tags are devices that basically consist of an antenna used to transmit product information and an integrated circuit or inlay on a chip. Most RFID tags are of the passive variety (read only), whereas the rest are active or semi-active, which use batteries. These active tags allow data to be captured and recorded at various points of a product's distribution.

The latest RFID tag designs are Electronic Product Code (EPC) compliant, which is an evolution of the traditional Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code technology. However, unlike bar codes, RFID tags do not require a direct line of sight to be read.

Most RFID tags are converted into pressure-sensitive labels that also hold human readable text and a bar code. These "smart labels" can be automatically applied and allow manufacturers to integrate with a variety of supply chain management systems while the industry makes the switch to RFID.

* Tom Coyle, vice president of supply chain solutions at Matrics Inc. (410-872-0300; www.matricsrfid.com), explains that one of its tags, called the two-dimensional smart label DDS-001, contains two antennas on the chip. The dual dipole antenna can transmit from any orientation, and has a read range of 20 to 30 feet.

* CCL Label Inc. (508-872-4511; www.cclind.com) specializes in converting RFID tags into labels. Last November, the company introduced the 4 x 6-inch carton label with UHF frequency, 915 MHz, designed to meet warehouse and inventory applications. According to Robert Ryckman, CCL Label's director of market and product development, "The read range is more than twice that of our earlier product, which was HF, 13.56 MHz. In addition, our custom material used in the converting process is a protective layer that offers protection against breakage."

Label Applicators

Since smart labels can be supplied preprinted in roll form, typical label applicators may work just fine in applying RFID tag labels to your cases and/or pallets. However, many solutions look to print-and-apply labelers to attach the tag to the product. This gives you the flexibility of also printing variable information on the label, as well as possibly encoding or "writing" to the RFID tag at the same time.

* MPI Label Systems (330-938-2134; www.mpilabels.com) introduced the 360 RW Label Applicator, which validates, reads, writes and affixes an RFID label in real-time at speeds up to 40 to 50 labels per minute. Gerard Kelly, general manager, corporate machine division, says, "If the transponder is defective, the dual action slide applies it to a false target. Other systems require writing to the transponder before the point of application. But, since information changes frequently, users could end up with a prewritten roll of labels with inaccurate transponder information."

* NJM/CLI (603-448-0300; www.njmcli.com) is collaborating with select vendors to develop new label applicating equipment that will initialize, apply and verify RFID tags cost effectively inline. Vice president technical sales Bill Delmolino says, "The features are the same, but the capability of doing RFID tagging on demand is different. Whereas the current system requires using an entire roll of labels, with the new system they will be able to selectively verify and apply labels."

Software/Middleware

Another component of an RFID solution is RFID middleware, which is the software layer that resides between RFID readers and enterprise applications. This allows you to transfer the collected data into useful information to help you make real-time supply chain decisions.

* Matrics (410-872-0300; www.matricsrfid.com) offers the Visibility Manager, a system that handles the complexities of collecting data from potentially millions of RFID tags, and is responsible for managing the reader network. "For example, if two readers are reading the same tag, there needs to be a way to break up the dispute. Visibility Manager automatically troubleshoots," says Coyle.

* Apriso Corp. (562-951-8000; www.apriso.com) specializes in software applications for RFID. FlexNet, the most recent version which was introduced in January, enables companies to track materials and processes. The user can determine how frequently they want to collect the data.