Mar 29, 2012The following are news announcements made during the past week.
UPM RFID Debuts a Bunch of New UHF RFID Tags
UPM RFID is introducing a variety of new inlays. Among them are its new UPM Buckle inlay, suitable for item-level retail, logistics, supply chain and similar applications. The Buckle inlay is made with Impinj's Monza 5 ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID chip, as well as an EPC Gen 2 and ISO 18000-6C protocol-compliant IC designed to support an encoding rate of up to 3,000 tags per minute, and comes with a 48-bit serialized tag identifier (TID) memory (see Impinj Launches Products to Speed Item-Level Encoding). In addition, the Monza Self-Serialization feature offers the ability to generate a unique serialized global trade item number (SGTIN) directly from each chip, and without the need for complex and costly unique serialization solutions or services. The UPM Buckle features an antenna measuring 40 millimeters by 40 millimeters (1.6 inches by 1.6 inches) and a die-cut size of 43 millimeters by 43 millimeters (1.7 inches by 1.7 inches), as well as 128 bits of EPC memory. Samples will be available at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla. In addition, UPM RFID has announced that its UPM Web and UPM Trap UHF inlays are now available with Monza 5 chips. The Web inlay with the Monza 5 IC has an antenna size of 50 millimeters by 30 millimeters (2 inches by 1.2 inches) and a die-cut size of 54 millimeters by 34 millimeters (2.1 inches by 1.3 inches), and is particularly suitable for item-level retail, logistics and supply chain applications. The Web inlay with the Monza 5 IC is approved by the University of Arkansas' RFID Research Center for denim and polybagged apparel basics, in addition to other product categories for retail suppliers. The Trap NF inlay with the Monza 5 IC is designed for item-level identification requiring a small footprint, combined with strong near-field (NF) UHF performance. The Trap NF has an antenna measuring 8 millimeters by 22 millimeters (0.3 inch by 0.87 inch) and a die-cut size of 11 millimeters by 25 millimeters (0.43 inch by 0.98 inch). Samples of these inlays are available immediately. High-volume production of the Web and Trap NF Monza 5 inlays is slated to begin during the second quarter of 2012. The company is also introducing two inlays featuring NXP Semiconductors' Ucode G2iL chip: the UPM Stamp NF UHF inlay and the UPM Jewel UHF inlay. The Stamp model has a small footprint that fits well on small items, UPM reports, such as jewelry, electronics or cosmetics. The inlay's antenna size measures 12 millimeters by 12 millimeters (0.55 inch by 0.55 inch), with a die-cut size of 15 millimeters by 15 millimeters (0.66 inch by 0.66 inch). The Jewel inlay is designed for jewelry and accessories tagging, and has a double-sided print area of 19 millimeters by 31 millimeters (0.75 inch by 1.22 inches). The Ucode G2iL chip is EPC Gen 2 and ISO 18000-6C protocol-compliant, with 128 to 448 bits of EPC memory and unalterable TID memory of 96 bits, including a 48-bit unique serial number. Additional user memory offers up to 640 bits. Samples of the Stamp and Jewel NXP inlays will also be available at LIVE! 2012, with production volumes expected to be ready during the second quarter of this year. Moreover, UPM is upgrading several of its other products to the NXP Ucode G2iM UHF chip, including the UPM Belt (suitable for supply chain management and item-level retail apparel), the UPM DogBone (designed for logistical and industrial applications), the UPM ShortDipole (applicable for supply chain management applications) and the UPM Web and UPM MiniWeb (built for item-level apparel applications). The firm will showcase all of its new inlays at Booth 512 during the LIVE! conference.
Voyantic Announces Upgrades to Reader Tester and Measurement Software
Voyantic, a Finland-based provider of RFID measurement equipment, is launching a new version of its test system for measuring the performance of ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID readers. The company is also introducing Tagformance 5, a new version of its measurement software that helps businesses verify that tags operate properly, and qualifies how well they function (see Voyantic Helps Companies Put RFID Tags to the Test). Voyantic's Reader Test system allows RFID reader manufacturers to verify their products' performance, the company reports, both in R&D and manufacturing. It also enables the testing of a new hardware or firmware revision's impact on reader performance, quickly and easily. RFID application developers and end users can utilize the system to benchmark different readers and troubleshoot applications. The new version can now measure a reader's output power and sensitivity (radiated or conductive measurement), and can provide visibility into the communication between that reader and the connected tag IC with an oscilloscope. Other features include a tabletop design to create a standard test setup, as well as a graphical user interface (GUI) that lets a user control the Reader Tester Unit's sensitivity and backscatter signal strength. The test system typically consists of the Voyantic Reader Tester Unit, in addition to accessories and control software for a PC. The Reader Tester Unit enables a user to measure a UHF RFID reader's functionality, output power and sensitivity. What's more, the system allows a user to eavesdrop on the communication between an RFID reader and a tag. The new Tagformance 5 model provides enhanced usability, the company adds, via improved measurement setup and measurement-results handling that allows a user to sort results automatically by type, date and name, or manually, and to save, delete, hide or show selected measurements with a single click. Other improvements include an updated scripter tool for predefined and automated measurements with user-defined variables, an updated application development suite with Backscatter Curves in Population Analysis and Fast Interference Sweep, and full screen support. Voyantic will demonstrate its products in Booth 1109 at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
Omni-ID Launches Family of RFID Tags for Tracking Tools, Rental Equipment
RFID tag manufacturer Omni-ID has introduced a new family of products designed for being attached to, or embedded into, tools and other equipment, in order to enable inventory tracking, location monitoring, foreign object detection and maintenance tracking within a variety of environments. Omni-ID's portfolio of tool-tracking products now includes 10 new durable tags in a variety of shapes and sizes that can be inserted or embedded into, or attached to, a variety of metal and plastic tools, as well as a flexible tag for cables and other tubular assets. Speedy Services, a tool and equipment rental company based in the United Kingdom, is employing Omni-ID's Tool Tracking tags in an on-site solution that lets workers automatically check out tools via RFID. "We were searching for a way to provide full 24/7 access to the rental tools and equipment that we typically manually deliver and distribute on-site to our customers," said Glyn Matthews, Speedy Services' senior project manager, in a prepared statement. "We tested a variety of RFID solutions, but only Omni-ID tags provided the variety of sizes along with consistent performance and reliability we needed for our new on-site, self-service 'pod.' Workers enter the pod, and they automatically check in/out the necessary tools via RFID, it's all tracked and accounted for—it's that simple." The solution has been named a 2012 RFID Journal Awards finalist for Best Use of RFID to Enhance a Product or Service (see Finalists Unveiled for Sixth Annual RFID Journal Awards). Omni-ID will debut its new Tool Tracking tags in Booth 924 at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
RFID software and sensor-driven applications provider InSync Software has announced the release of iApp Sapphire, its iApp 4.0 application platform for RFID-, GPS-and sensor-driven asset-tracking and -management applications. The software is designed to help businesses locate and track mission-critical assets in the field, improve safety and traceability within the nation's food supply, and maintain efficiency in construction and manufacturing. The new release supports a greater number of devices, and features improved integration capabilities. For example, it now provides GPS device support out of the box, letting customers add location-tracking features to their applications, such as historical reporting, alerts and other services associated with GPS tracking. According to the company, the iApp Sapphire GPS-configuration dashboard enables system operators to more quickly set up and define routes, geo-fences, time-fences, and standard and custom alerts. GPS vehicle-tracking visibility can be improved further through the vehicle telemetry feature, which records vehicle speed, direction and ignition on and off. Using these features and utilities, InSync reports, a user can more easily configure systems so that when assets are detected outside of specified routes or areas, alerts or instructions (such as directions) can be issued to the wayward driver. iApp Sapphire's mobile development and management utility has also been expanded to include smartphone support. It now supports the iOS and Android smartphone platforms, in addition to Microsoft Windows Mobile, extending iApp-powered asset-tracking and -management applications to users' phones, tablets and other mobile devices. The new iApp Sapphire release adds "kitting" processes to its library of prebuilt workflows, including maintenance and inspection. This feature is especially relevant for customers deploying aerospace or automotive parts-tracking, tool-tracking, and other manufacturing and assembly applications, according to InSync Software. iApp Sapphire has more than a dozen natively supported and configurable kitting constructs, enabling businesses to incorporate their kitting processes, and to configure and deploy asset-tracking applications that include paired assets, parent-child relationships and groups. In addition, iApp Sapphire has added several capabilities for the load-balancing and partitioning of applications, so that a single app can span a server farm, or multiple applications can coexist on a single iApp installation. Live demonstrations of the iApp Sapphire platform will be shown in Booth 310 at RFID Journal LIVE 2012!, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
Metalcraft Offers Double-Sided Variable Printing for RFID and Bar-Code Products
Metalcraft has announced new capabilities in its production processes that enable the printing of variable data on both sides of its ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) hangtags, rearview mirror tags and windshield tags, as well as other RFID and bar-code products for a range of tracking and control applications. "Metalcraft is responding to requests to print the same information on both sides of our durable RFID products," said Steve Doerfler, Metalcraft's president, in a prepared statement. "Our new printing techniques reflect Metalcraft's commitment to adding value to our low-cost ID solutions." According to Metalcraft, the company's RFID Hang Tag is suitable for asset-tracking applications on metal or non-metal surfaces that do not allow for attachment directly to an asset. The inlay is completely encapsulated within the tag, thereby protecting it from environmental conditions that could have an adverse effect on the tag's performance and lifespan. Hangtags are attached to the asset using mechanical fasteners, rather than via an adhesive. Metalcraft's RFID Windshield Tag and Rearview Mirror Tag are designed for access control in parking lots, gated communities and other locations where vehicles come and go. The Rearview Mirror Tag is subsurface-printed on thick polyester for durability and rigidity, Metalcraft reports, and is suitable for temporary access-control applications, as it is completely removable and reusable. The RFID Windshield Tag provides a read range of more than 30 feet, and adheres directly to the glass; its passive UHF RFID technology is encapsulated between thin layers of polyester for improved durability and readability. The company will debut the products and make samples available in Booth 1106 at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
CipherLab Intros UHF Handheld Bluetooth RFID Reader
CipherLab USA has introduced its 1861 Handheld Bluetooth RFID Reader, an ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) interrogator designed for applications in warehouse operations, logistics, manufacturing and retail operations. The device is compliant with the ISO 18000-6C and EPC Gen 2 standards, and can be used as a supplement to CipherLab's own 8400 or 9600 series of mobile computers and many other Bluetooth-enabled mobile computers. The 1861 Handheld Bluetooth RFID Reader features read-write capability enabling workers to read tags from a distance of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet), and to write to tags from up to 0.5 meter (1.6 feet). It has been extensively tested for durability, the company reports, and can survive multiple drops onto concrete from a height of 1.5 meters (5 feet) and 1,000 tumbles at 1 meter (3.3 feet). What's more, CipherLab adds, the reader is IP64-rated, ensuring its protection against harsh conditions. The company will demonstrate the reader in Booth 1417 at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
CAEN RFID, a supplier of ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID systems, has introduced its qID Model R1240I mobile UHF RFID reader, compliant with the ISO 18000-6C and EPC Gen 2 standards. The device features a Bluetooth communication interface, the company reports, and is suitable as an add-on UHF RFID reader for any Bluetooth-enabled host, such as a PC, a smartphone, a PDA or a tablet. The qID reader is compatible with the Microsoft Windows XP/7 and Windows CE/Mobile operating systems, as well as Android and iOS. It can be connected with another device via a USB cable or the Bluetooth interface, and can store up to 4,000 Electronic Product Code (EPC) numbers in its internal memory when a communication link (USB or Bluetooth) is unavailable. For mixed bar-code/RFID label environments, CAEN RFID offers an optional 1-D/2-D bar-code scanner. The company will showcase the new reader in Booth 324 at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
InfoChip's Tiny HF Bluetooth Reader, Embeddable UHF Tag
InfoChip—a Canada-based a provider of RFID-enabled software for maintenance and inspection applications, as well as RFID tags and readers—has announced the release of its latest RFID product, the Bluetooth Easy Reader. The high-frequency (HF) 13.56 MHz interrogator is designed for industrial applications, and has a built-in display that can show its two most recent scans, along with configuration options and battery level. Compliant with the ISO 15693 standard, the reader has an IP67 rating, indicating that it is dustproof and waterproof, and is able to scan RFID tags embedded in metal, including InfoChip's own line of tags, according to the company. The new reader is also fully compatible with InfoChip's comprehensive asset-management software suite. "Our new HF Bluetooth Easy Reader simplifies RFID adoption," said Chris Gelowitz, InfoChip's president and CEO, in a prepared statement. "It requires no special setup or software to immediately gain the benefits of RFID asset tracking. It simply scans the unique chip ID into any application or form on almost any Bluetooth-enabled device, including handhelds, popular phones, laptops and desktops." The HF Bluetooth Easy Reader is available now through authorized InfoChip distributors worldwide. In addition, the company has announced its patent-pending glueless metal-embeddable DuraPlug RFID tag, now available with a passive UHF inlay. The DuraPlug is available in 9-millimeter (0.36-inch), 10-millimeter (0.4-inch) and 12-millimeter (0.5-inch) sizes suiting various read-range requirements. InfoChip provides form drills that enable the quick and accurate drilling of a cavity to fit the DuraPlug in a metal asset without the need for glue. The InfoChip DuraPlug is encased in a polymer alloy that makes the tag resistant to impact, moisture, chemical, ultraviolet (UV), radiation, temperature, humidity, autoclave and other environmental threats. The company will showcase its new products in Booth 1408 at RFID Journal LIVE! 2012, being held next week in Orlando, Fla.
Jolly Supports Zebra Technologies' UHF RFID Printers
Security software provider Jolly Technologies, a Zebra Technologies partner, has announced support for Zebra's line of ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID label and card printers. The combination of Jolly's Lobby Track software, designed to help manage and control visitor access, and Zebra's card printers and UHF cards enables companies to issue RFID-enabled ID cards and check visitors in upon their arrival. According to Jolly, as a visitor moves throughout a facility, his or her location can be monitored in real time, using strategically placed UHF readers, and when the visitor leaves the site, that individual is automatically checked out, and his or her visit details are logged. Jolly's other software, such as the firm's Event Track package, can be combined with Zebra's printers and cards to issue badges to admit attendees, thereby allowing a company's event-production staff to track attendance without requiring that badges be scanned individually using a handheld scanner. When utilized with Jolly's Asset Track solution, Zebra's UHF tags can simplify the process of performing inventory counts, the firm reports. Companies can process all assets within a room, and also track hard-to-reach assets that cannot be scanned manually, such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) units, as well as items within locked or otherwise inaccessible areas. Free trial downloads of the new software (Version 6, which includes support for Zebra's UHF products) are available at www.jollytech.com.
