TMCnet News

RFID News with Lantech, Zebra Tech and Two Canadians
[February 16, 2006]

RFID News with Lantech, Zebra Tech and Two Canadians


By DAVID SIMS

TMCnet CRM Alert Columnist

RFID news for today:

It pays to read blogs, folks. Other than oases of sanity like Michelle Malkin and Little Green Footballs, there's Six Meat Buffet, which has the top RFID story of the day.



It seems on St. Valentine's Day, a couple of Canadian dimwits agreed to exchange not flowers or chocolate or kisses, but implanted RFID tags.

Six Meat points to a piece at Canadian TV, which reports that "Jennifer" and "Amal" have each had an RFID chip "implanted under their skin that grants access to each other’s front doors and home computers. The system works like a key-card. A simple swipe of the wrist across an electronic sensor, and they’re in."


Sadly, CTV reports, "The couple sees the decision as a modern declaration of love that also happens to be functional." This reporter considers a wedding to be a rather functional way to express undying love. Plus you get to keep your computer password to yourself.

Lantech has developed a fully integrated RFID tag-reading capability for stretch wrappers in a collaborative effort with supply chain management leader Exel, Packaging Network is reporting.

The first such machine, a Q-300 semiautomatic exhibited at Pack Expo in Las Vegas, has been delivered to Exel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it is being integrated into a RFID-enabled order fulfillment system.

“In collaboration with our industry partners, we’re evaluating the most appropriate methods for RFID implementation,” said Tony Hollis, Exel’s manager for RFID Strategy and Execution. “As a result of this collaboration, we are developing an integrated RFID offering that provides our customers with access to a scalable and cost-effective product.”

Zebra Technologies, a vendor of on-demand printing products, announced that its UHF RFID printer/encoders are now available for sale in 39 countries on five continents worldwide.

Zebra recently received regulatory approval from Taiwan and South Korea for its R4Mplus model. Additional approvals are pending in several more countries, which will bring Zebra’s RFID printer/encoders to customers in most major markets globally.

UHF RFID regulations are not uniform around the world, giving those with local market expertise a decided edge.

David Sims is contributing editor for TMCnet. For more articles please visit David Sims' columnist page.


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