WHILE the use of RFID tags is probably the most discussed technology around at present, it is becoming obvious RFID is not suitable for every application.
The humble barcode still has much to offer industry, however, as costs come down and knowledge of the technology rises, it’s clear the use of RFID technology will only proliferate in Australia, starting on high ticket items, but eventually becoming more commonplace down the food chain.
RFID technology has much to offer manufacturers including the data needed to know exactly where stock is and at what levels. A stock can be carried out in a few minutes.
However, with Coles and Woolies showing no signs of following Wal-Mart’s lead, especially after they have spent so much time and effort implementing their own EDI systems, local manufacturers have no need to panic.
Bruce Wong, Printronix’s local business development manager, believes both bar code and RFID will co-exist in the foreseeable future.
“I think industry needs both, labels and RFID tags. Users still need visual information when the reader is not available. Printing and coding needs to be together. Just in case a tag fails,” Wong told Manufacturers’ Monthly.
“That’s why we have produced a printer that can do both. It’s a two-in-one device, it prints thermal labels and encodes the EPCglobal RFID tag, what we call ‘smart’ labels. With our printer you can simply encode or just print a barcode, or both.”
Wong sees RFID tags being used primarily on pallets and cases in the supply chain, as well as for asset tracking. “But due to the limitations of UHF RFID tags, there are problems reading through metal and liquid at the moment, some users would stick with bar codes.”
According to Wong RFID tags were still around $1, “but it depends on what type of tag. The latest is a 96 bit tag, but there are 64 bit tags, which are cheaper. It also depends on the class of tag, some read and write, while some just read.
While reliability still only around 95%, Wong says the yield of the tags is getting better. “With a roll of 1000 tags, before up to 30% might be duds, now its down to 10%.
“With our printers, any faulty tag is picked up before it’s applied. When the printer goes to encode the tag, if it’s a silent tag or bad tag, the printer will put a strike on it so it doesn’t get into the supply chain. All tags encoded by our printer are certified as good tags.
“Data from the tags can then be collected and download into an ERP or WMS system.
“We have an RFID developer’s kit, which includes the RFID printer, the tags, the migration tools software to convert bar code data to RFID data, plus a programming manual as well as technical support for companies looking at an RFID pilot,” Wong said.
Printronix’s recently introduced 5r multi-technology thermal printing platform is said to be the first UHF, RFID printer for EPC applications, plus it is capable of supporting multiple printer languages developed for Zebra, SATO, Intermec and TEC printers, as well as Printronix PGL.
The SL5000r MP RFID printer family employs Printronix’s RFID Smart encoding technology, based on the AWID reader module. It is compatible with EPCglobal Gen 2 and can deliver RFID solutions that address a range of applications requiring EPCglobal Class 0, 0+, 1 and Philips 1.19 standards.
Wong says EPCglobal Gen 2 will be upgradeable via free firmware updates, with field kits for global frequency changes.
The printers also have a new Intelligent Media Detection feature, which provides advanced notification and remote alerts if a non-RFID job is sent to a printer containing RFID labels. This is designed to save users from the costly mistake of wasting expensive RFID labels on a standard barcode print job.