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RFIDReader

A Blackroc Technology Publication

Meet the new Speedway® xPortal™ from ImpinjCompact, flexible, high-performance integrated portal reader

The Speedway xPortal provides superior performance in the most demanding applications and is the smallest, most flexible and cost-effective RFID portal solution on the market.

Designed for retail, office, hospital, and other indoor environments, the Speedway xPortal reader is ideal for monitoring tagged items, pallets, equipment, files, or people passing through doorways.

Features at a glance:

• Weight less than 4 kg• EPCglobal UHF Class 1 Gen 2 /

ISO18000-6C• Dual-Linear Phased Array

antenna technology• Power over Ethernet

(PoE) IEEE 802.3af• High impact strength, UV, chemical

and cleaning solution resistant• IP 52 rating

Impinj, Speedway, Powered by Impinj, xPortal, and Autopilot are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Impinj, Inc. Other brands and names may be claimed as the property of others.

Visit www.blackroc-technology.comOr call +44 (0)1785 218 500

The Speedway® xPortal™ and the full range of Impinj products are available in the UK from Blackroc Technology.

Call us today for more information.

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ForewordIn the last decade RFID has become infamous as being the most talked about but least deployed technology in our industry. When you combine this negative stance with the high level of technical expertise required to sell and deploy RFID solutions it’s no wonder that the channel is cautious about committing time and resource to RFID.

However, RFID has been evolving and at Blackroc we feel that there are now significant opportunities in key areas for the channel. Our 20 years experience in RFID plus our key relationships with the world’s leading vendors and independent experts gives us valuable insight into the future of RFID.

The purpose of this publication is to share some of that insight with you.

We hope you enjoy RFIDReader 2010.

Tony JephcottCEO Blackroc Group

MAY 2010

Foreword 1Radio Frequency Identification – Getting Started 2RFID - Past, Present and Future 4Impinj 6M3 Mobile 8Sato 10Datalogic Automation 12Magellan Technology 14Psion Teklogix 16Confidex 18RFID Technologies at a Glance 20Further Blackroc RFID Partners 21

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Radio Frequency Identification – Getting Started

As we move towards a world increasingly dominated by information and communications technology the need for automatic or machine-readable identification will assume increasing significance. The onward thrust of electronic commerce (E-commerce) in all its guises will require, in dealing with tangible product, a data handling capability that is matched to the immediacy, speed and flexibility of transactions that the new commercial paradigm is being seen to provide. This requirement encompasses the needs for efficient and effective data gathering and communication to host information management systems. The natural expedients for satisfying these needs reside in the use of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) and radio frequency data communication (RFDC). Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an area of AIDC that also exploits the benefits of radio communication to transfer data.

Unfortunately, over the last decade or so, misunderstanding, misconceptions and overly exaggerated claims for the capability of RFID has created a hiatus in the take-up of the technology and some hesitancy in even considering the technology. Too often RFID has been promoted as a displacement technology for other data carrier structures such as bar codes, when in reality it should be seen as complementary and selected

according to needs. Greater awareness is often required in order to select the technology to meet the needs, and particularly so for RFID in the wake of over hyped expectations and the practical considerations demanded with respect to the application environment.

Within this decade or so of slow take-up and user uncertainty there has however been optimism on the part of developers and a substantial amount of development – to the extent that we now have an even wider array of technologies and a still wider array of associated products. RFID has now reached a point in its evolution where these associated products exhibit price, function and performance attributes that are becoming increasingly attractive to a prospective broad based user community. The range of technologies now includes sensory, security and processing platforms. Added to these developments is an increasing body of supporting standards at international level and more moves to regulatory agreement. For many this has created bewilderment and the need for guidance in navigating the maze of technical and practical considerations required in applying the technology. The potential is there, it is awareness and recognising what support is available to assist potential end-users

in exploiting the potential in process development and new products and services.

This where AIM UK and its members, like Blackroc Technology Ltd come in. AIM UK can offer a 5 minute diagnostic to assist companies new to RFID in gaining a quick appreciation, based upon business attributes, of the potential that RFID may have to offer. AIM UK can offer training in RFID, at various levels from business awareness to technical understanding. Its RFID-specialist members, such as Blackroc Technology can assist with the practicalities of applications development, systems integration, products and consultancy support.

RFID does have a future, a very promising future, so why not get the support of AIM UK (www.aimuk.org) and its members in helping to avoid the hype and to embrace the future with confidence and understanding.

Prof Anthony FurnessTechnical Director, AIM UK

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A few years ago, there was a massive upsurge in market interest and subsequent hype surrounding RFID technology, driven in part by the activities of MIT and the development of the electronic product code (EPC), and the subsequent adoption of EPC by Walmart together with it’s forceful RFID mandate to suppliers. This interest was further fuelled by the successful roll-out of RFID by the US Department of Defense and suddenly it appeared that the world was changing and everything was going to be RFID tagged.

This triggered frenetic activity on the standards front with the development of a new air interface standard (UHF Gen2), and radio standards bodies worldwide worked to accommodate changes in radio spectrum management to allow more efficient use of the “new” technology.

Many IT companies and new startups raced to create a new range of software (middleware) to handle the interface between the RFID hardware front end and major ERP back-end software systems to cope with the swathes of information that the RFID reader systems would generate.

New technology publications dedicated to RFID began to

appear. One even claimed that RFID was probably the most important technological advance since the discovery of electricity. Or words to that effect.

All of this activity was primarily focused on just one aspect of RFID – UHF passive technology – which promised the breakthrough the market needed in terms of very low tag cost, very good read range (particularly for dock door supply chain scenarios), and fast data transaction speeds allowing rapid movement of goods past read stations.

So, 5 or 6 years on, people sometimes ask: Where is it? What happened to it? The hypesters have gone quiet, and we still don’t yet see widespread adoption of the technology.

Well, adoption of standards and RF air interface acceptance has taken longer than anticipated. Technical issues such as phantom reads, metal screening and detuning problems, moisture penetration problems, the cost of tags and IT restructuring, all took time to improve and this hampered progress and dampened enthusiasm.

Somebody once described disappointment as the difference between expectation and

delivery. In this sense the market became damaged by oversold expectations, and the realisation that the technology did not fully live up to it. Indeed the disappointment affected market perception of the whole of RFID not just UHF. This happens all too often in the world of high tech – I recall the same roller coaster of high expectation and subsequent disappointment happening with Bluetooth technology. Sometimes high tech seems to shoot itself in the foot.

The good news is that the damage is not permanent if the core technology is fundamentally sound. Bluetooth recovered to become a widely used technology that eventually found it’s place, and I believe that RFID has survived it’s own hype.

At the start of this new decade, RFID has a much better understanding of it’s place in the area of identification, and a more realistic view of it’s future. It remains one of a group of technologies available for identification alongside linear and 2D barcodes, vision systems, biometrics and others, and it is best used in conjunction with them and not seen as a replacement technology.

RFID - Past, Present and Future

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It is however, outstandingly good in those applications where it is best suited and it is getting better all the time. Some of the key issues surrounding UHF such as standards ratification, and worldwide acceptance have largely been, or are being, resolved and issues like the troublesome “phantom read” problem, (where tags from one group are unintentionally read by a reader in a neighbouring domain), are being systematically reduced by better “controlled read volume” antenna design and improved software including received signal strength software. Impinj, regarded by many as the thought leaders in UHF, are right at the forefront of these technical improvements and innovation in UHF, and their innovative development of the hybrid near field/far field tag facilitates reading at both short and long range.

RFID is not just UHF however. The other, earlier market, RFID frequencies of HF and LF still flourish in areas where they were already well established, or where such frequencies are preferred for various reasons. Indeed the most successful implementation of RFID in terms of market size and tag volumes sold is in the

area of HF contactless smart cards, dominated by NXP’s Mifare, and Sony’s Felica technologies. The development of the NFC standard (Near Field Communications) which unites the various contactless systems and enhances their scope, allows for near contact readers to communicate with each other and provides huge potential for a range of simple consumer interfaces, offers significant market opportunity, particularly when most mobile phones (as is increasingly the case), come enabled with NFC.

HF (ISO18000 Part3 Mode1) is still the preferred (and legacy) solution for libraries at the library book level, and if you need to track documents right down to individual sheets, there is nothing in the market that can perform like Magellan’s PJM (ISO18000 Part 3 Mode2). PJM is also an HF technology, but uniquely uses a form of modulation called phase jitter which provides exceptional communications speed. Magellan’s stack tag is also unique in RFID in that tags can touch each other without interference, and this allows tagged objects to be stacked, touching, deliberately or accidentally, without loss

of performance. Indeed PJM is able to achieve six sigma performance levels.

HF and LF are both still used in close control situations on production line conveyors, and LF is still the dominant choice for animal identification.

So what is the future?

There is a growing body of opinion which thinks that as the technology continues to improve, and worldwide acceptance increases, UHF will (albeit belatedly) increasingly dominate new and general applications in RFID, with HF focused on legacy applications, near contact systems, and stacking, with LF still strong in animal ID and it’s own legacy areas. It is hard to refute this view.

Tony JephcottCEO, Blackroc Group

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ImpinjImpinj®, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of UHF Gen 2 RFID solutions. The company delivers a wide range of products and solutions including high-performance tag chips, readers, reader chips, software, antennas and systems integration. Impinj products provide unprecedented performance, integration and cost effectiveness to a global customer base, in applications across numerous vertical markets.

ProductsImpinj maintains market leadership in UHF Gen 2 innovation. All Impinj products perform accurately and reliably, with built-in capability to adapt to changing and challenging environments.

Speedway® xPortal™ Integrated Portal Reader• Light-weight,

low profile unit• EPCglobal UHF

Class 1 Gen 2• Dual-Linear Phased

Array (DLPA) antenna technology

• High impact strength, UV, chemical and cleaning solution resistant

Impinj Reader Antennas

• Full range of UHF Gen 2 reader antenna products

• Tightly controlled read zones

• Application-optimised beam width

Also available from Impinj

Monza 4 Tag Chips

• Delivers unique privacy, performance and memory benefits

• Industry’s best read and write sensitivity

• True3D™ antenna technology

• Two fully independent antenna ports

Speedway Revolution Readers

• 2 and 4 antenna port configurations

• Power over Ethernet and WAN connectivity

• Autopilot™ technology for optimal performance

Industry standard application interface with support for EPCglobal Low Level Reader Protocol

Speedway Revolution Evaluation Kit

• Speedway R420 reader• Set of antennas• Tag sample pack • Access to firmware,

testing software and programming libraries

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Key Markets:

• Global Supply Chain Management

• Retail• Healthcare • Asset Tracking• Brand Management• Race Timing• Apparel Tracking

Case Study Germany’s Metro Group used RFID to improve supply chain visibility, real-time inventory, strategic data mining and enhance customer service.

Challenge• With a turnover close to 60 billion Euros, Metro required

an end-to-end UHF, EPC global standards-based solution, operating from the warehouse to the point-of-sale

• Metro also needed a solution that easily integrated with its existing enterprise level systems

Solution• Each apparel item is tagged at the distribution centre• RFID readers read individual garments as they leave the

DC, arrive at the store, move to the sales floor, and as they’re taken by customer into a dressing room before finally leaving the store

Benefits• Improved customer service via smart shelves fitted

with monitors indicating available garment sizes and style choices

• Real-time sales floor inventory• Efficient checkout via RFID-enabled point-of-sale terminals

“Impinj’s ability to deliver an end-to-end UHF, EPCglobal standards-based solution, which operated from warehouse to the point-of-sale, and at performance levels exceeding our requirements, helped to ensure the success of our RFID deployment.”

Dr. Gerd Wolfram Managing Director MGI, METRO Group Information Technology

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M3 MobileM3 Mobile is a global manufacturer of Rugged PDAs and mobile computers. Thanks to its endless dedication and proactive support for its customers all over the world, M3 Mobile has been well recognised for offering high quality and reliable products that are available at very competitive prices.

Products

M3 Mobile computers have been specifically designed to meet increasing requirements for industrial and outdoor environments. The terminals are rugged, reliable & affordable and offer High Frequency RFID capabilities at 13.56 MHz to support a wide range of applications.

Key Markets:

• Healthcare• Pharmaceuticals• Public transport• Government• Retail • Warehousing• Manufacturing

M3 RFID

• HF Read/Write capability• Supports ISO15693 and

ISO14443A/B• Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6.1• 128MB RAM and

128MB Flash storage• 802.11 b/g, GPRS/Edge/

HSDPA and Bluetooth• 1D/2D barcode scanners• 3.5 inch TFT LCD • IP65 rated and drop tested

from 1.5m

Also available from M3 Mobile:

M3 White RFID

• Designed for all healthcare applications

• AEGIS antimicrobial technology casing

• RFID Module available: HF, 13.56 MHz

• Supports ISO14443A/B, ISO15693

• Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.1• 128MB RAM and

256MB Flash storage• 3G and HSDPA • 1D/2D barcode reader• 3.5 inch TFT LCD, QVGA• IP65 rated and drop tested

from 1.5m • Colour Camera

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Case StudyWeetabix Food Company use M3 Green mobile computers and Tracesoft TQM software to understand and manage downtime problems.

As one of the best know suppliers of breakfast cereals, the Weetabix Food Company manufactures a wide range of products throughout its sites in the UK under both the Weetabix brand name and ‘own label’ brands for markets across the world.

Challenge• Like many manufacturing companies, the production

team at the Weetabix Corby factory were conscious of the cost to the business of production line downtime, but needed to get a “real handle” on the causes.

• Paperwork systems were in place, but these were only of any value with a considerable amount of manual effort to analyse the data collected. The company needed a way of collecting down time data quickly and easily that would facilitate immediate access to the analysed information.

Solution• Using the M3 device, downtime is recorded

automatically and data is wirelessly transmitted to the server so it is ready to be analysed.

• The new system enables Weetabix to quickly produce reports which identifies problems by product, size, content etc.

Benefits• Reduction of downtime to almost zero• Elimination of paper work• Ensuring accuracy of data

“Tracesoft allowed us to produce reports which identified problems by product, size, content etc. It also provided a simple mechanism to measure the significant operational improvements that were achieved.”

Alex Cosgrove, Factory Manager

Key Markets:

• Healthcare• Pharmaceutical• Public transport• Government• Retail • Warehousing• Manufacturing

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SatoSATO is a pioneer in the AIDC industry, and the inventor of the world’s first electronic thermal transfer barcode printer. It offers a wide range of desktop label printers and OEM print engines designed for use in tough industrial environments, low-cost printers which meet the demands for low volume printing requirements, and portable printers for mobile applications.

Products

SATO is one of the first in the industry to introduce a complete, multi protocol EPC compliant, UHF RFID solution. The new generation of RFID printers are available as HF and UHF solutions and fully comply with the latest industry standards. SATO also prides a software solution, Label Gallery, allowing streamlining the processes of RFID tag programming and range of RFID labels.

GT Series

• Rugged industrial high performance

• RFID-Ready• Full interface range• Easy-to-navigate

menu options• Large LCD and

Multifunction buttons

SATO manufacture high performance RFID labels in the UK and supply into a wide range of applications throughout Europe.

Also available from Sato:

CG2

• Compact HF RFID Printing Solution

• Stand-alone printing• Small Footprint • Anti-microbial casing

CT4i

• High performance desktop thermal printer

• HF RFID Printing Solution • Bluetooth and

Wireless LAN

GL4 Series

• Industrial mid-range solution

• Field upgradeable UHF RFID option

• Integral Tri-interface port for various connectivity

• Full network manageable

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Key Markets:

• Administration• Automotive• Chemical• Construction• Government• Warehouse & Logistics• Manufacturing• Product Traceability

Case StudyNestlé introduces UHF-RFID technology at a highly automatic level to improve data capture operations and product traceability.

Problem• Nestlé needed a solution that allowed it to automatically capture data about pallets of goods

as they pass through the RFID gates on the production line• Being able to utilise a single RFID tag design and automatically apply the tags to all pallets

with different contents

Solution• Two print modules and a double-deck applicator were installed to label all types of pallets

using UHF-RFID tags complete with text and barcode information printed onto the surface of the label using Sato thermal transfer printer

• The data content of the RFID device can be read automatically when the pallet passes through a gateway fitted with an RFID reader

• Two pairs of antennae at each gate, set at two different levels, were installed to read double-deck pallets while passing through the gate

Benefits• Detailed product traceability • Full automation of the production process• Universal readability of RFID tags irrespective of the point of application and content of the pallet

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Datalogic AutomationDatalogic is a world-class producer of bar code readers, data collection mobile computers, RFID systems and photoelectric sensors for the industrial automation sector. Offering innovative solutions for many industrial applications, from manufacturing to transportation & logistics and retail.

Escort Memory Systems (EMS) has been part of the Datalogic Group for many years and now under the Datalogic Automation brand continues to offer economical, rugged industrial RFID systems which can be easily integrated on the factory floor.

Products

The Datalogic Automation product range is a result of its extensive experience in industrial automation applications. All products are able to operate in harsh environmental conditions and come with wide connectivity and frequency options. Products include controllers, antennas and range of tags.

COBALT HF Controllers

The flagship, full-featured RFID product range for industrial automation.• High frequency, supports

ISO15693 and ISO14443A• Full range of compatible

antennas support read/write range from 5 to 50cm (2-20”)

• Large range of interfaces, Profibus, Profinet, Ind. Ethernet, TCP/IP, DeviceNet, RS232, RS422, RS485 and USB

• Rugged design, IP66 rated• Modular controller/

antenna configuration

Also available from Datalogic Automation:

C Series (C0405 - C1007)

• Easy integration with industrial control systems

• Easy to read LED indicators• Advanced

electronics for longer read/write distance

Cobalt HF Antennas

• Any HF-ANT model can be used with any HF controller

• Direct-mount antenna installation eliminates cabling restrictions

UHF & HF Tags

• Wide range of tag sizes and forms permit installation on pallets, carriers, packages, and products

• High Temperature (HT) models can withstand up to 240°C/464°F for use in automotive paint ovens and similar environments

• Conformance to the International lSO15693 and ISO14443A (13.56 MHz) RFID and lSO18000-6C (860- 950 MHz) RFID Standards

• Rugged enclosures and heavy duty resistance

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Case Study Disk Drive Manufacturers optimise their manufacturing operations and gain visibility into the internal supply chain with RFID-Enabled Media Process Line.

Problem• Disk drive manufacturers rely on a strategy of ownership and vertical integration of key

underlying technologies. • In recent years, leading HDD manufacturers have been under pressure to drive down their

operating costs by a price sensitive consumer market.

Solution• The implementation of solution consisting of Cobalt HF integrated reader/antennas

demonstrated significant improvements in yield through the reduction of manufacturing bottlenecks and provision for preventative actions.

• The system alerts supervisors when quality measurements are outside of manufacturing specifications and facilitates immediate corrective action to eliminate redundant processing and reduce scrap.

• Downtime is tracked through the system and identifies manufacturing bottlenecks.

Benefits • Real time visibility into the internal supply chain• Reduction in material variances • Detailed product traceability • Reduction in labor retraining and management costs.

Key Markets:

• Airports• Automotive• Field Service• Government• Healthcare• Pharmaceutical • Manufacturing• Electronic & Solar

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Magellan TechnologyFounded in 1985, and based in Sydney, Australia, Magellan Technology is an RFID technology company providing class leading RFID solutions based on its unique, patented PJM technology which is a super fast High Frequency (13.56MHz) technology. It’s very high speed and superior anti-collision technology, allows PJM tags to touch each other without mutual coupling and consequential loss of read, a feature which plagues all other RFID systems.

This has allowed Magellan to create a class of Tag called Stack Tag, which, as it’s name implies allows tags to be stacked even as closely as a sheet of A4 paper, and still provide robust reading. So for situations where tags either normally or accidentally can touch each other Magellan is unsurpassed. Therefore, for applications such as gaming(stacked poker chips), document management, management of precious stones in thin envelope wallets,

and similar applications Magellan PJM is the RFID system of choice.

Products

Magellan’s HF PJM products provide the very best solution for applications where tagged articles are required to be read and identified at extremely fast rates, are placed in very close proximity to one another and need to be identified with 100% reliability, regardless of their orientation. The product range includes readers, antenna units and tags.

MARS Readers

The Multiple Antenna Reader System (MARS) is an RFID reader/writer designed to meet the requirements to verify, inventory, monitor and control a large number of valuable items located in one position or moving on a conveyor at high speed.

• MARS-1-6 – capable of operating 1-6 antennas

• MARS-24 – capable of operating up to 24 antennas

Document Tray Reader

• Reads and writes reliably to tightly stacked, overlapping or touching tags

• Operates reliably with up to 60 tagged documents

Tunnel Reader

• Very high speed identification, reading, writing and verifying up to 600 tags per second

• Reliable identification of tightly stacked, overlapping or touching tags

SRRM

• Ideal for mobile computers and printers

• Read range 20mm to 75mm

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Case StudyZimmer Tracks Medical Implants with Magellan PJM Technology

Challenge• Individual orthopaedic implants form part of a kit

supplied to hospitals and operating theatres• Zimmer required 100% picking accuracy as this is a

mandatory process in preparing kits for operating theatres• Items need to be easily visible and scanning individual

barcodes had proven to be time consuming

Solution• Individual items are tagged using PJM StackTags®

• StackTags continue to work even in close proximity to one another allowing an entire kit of orthopedic devices can be accurately identified by PJM readers in seconds

Benefits• No orthopaedic implant errors have been recorded

since RFID was introduced many months ago on all their orthopaedic items

• Inventory record accuracy has improved due to the fact that missing items from returned kits can be quickly identified.

“Magellan’s technology has significantly improved the reliability, accuracy and speed of our processes. After a fast rollout and a few months of operations we are already experiencing more than 4 percent savings in inventory due to faster inventory turns.”

Michael Schaffler from Zimmer

Key Markets:

• Casino Gaming• Healthcare• Diamond/Jewellery• Document Management

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Psion TeklogixPsion Teklogix has pioneered the design and development of rugged mobile computers for the last 40 plus years and has unrivalled experience in mobilising field sales and service, logistics, supply chain and transportation solutions. Psion Teklogix terminals are designed to drive down the total cost of mobility, improve task efficiencies and make workers more productive enabling them to enjoy their jobs more, get more done, add more value, and delight more customers.

Products

The Psion Teklogix range of RFID products cover all the major standards and frequencies – giving you the power to choose the right technology for your specific application.

WORKABOUT PRO3

• HF, MIFARE, LF and UHF Module Options• Windows CE5/Mobile 6 O/S• 1 GB Flash ROM, 256 MB RAM• 802.11a/b/g, GPRS/HSDPA and Bluetooth• 1D laser scanner/1D & 2D imager• 3.7inch VGA colour touch screen• Long lasting advanced battery• IP65 rated and drop tested from 1.8m

Also available from Psion Teklogix

HF RFID Reader for Ikôn

• Multi-protocol reader ISO15693, ISO14443A, ISO14443B and NFC enabled

• RFID demo Software to read and write tags

7535 G2/RD7950

• UHF EPC UHF Class 1 Gen 2

• Large range of accessories

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Key Markets:

• Airports• Automotive• Cold Chain • Postal/Courier• Field Service• Government• Healthcare • Retail• Transport• Warehousing &

Distribution• Ports/Container Yards

Case StudyThames Valley Police use WORKABOUT PRO Gen 2 handheld computers to track equipment used at investigation scenes.

Challenge• Thames Valley Police required an effective way to track their

equipment at the scene of a crime or an accident. • They also required a system that could assign a unique code

that couldn’t be altered, cloned or deleted. • An industrial grade product that can withstand the harsh

environments in which the police typically find themselves during investigations.

Solution• A Psion Teklogix WORKABOUT PRO Gen 2 handheld

computer, with Trovan RFID reader installed, at the central store reads equipment going into the call out van.

Benefits• Details of who the equipment is being booked out to, the

incident type and location are all entered directly into the WORKABOUT PRO Gen 2 to instantly provide asset trail.

• The RFID system also manages the mechanical and PAT equipment testing by providing an automated maintenance schedule, ensuring that equipment is fit for use in the field.

• Paperwork previously associated with this process has been eliminated.

“You cannot compare our old system to the RFID system. The new solution not only gives me the information I need to manage our equipment efficiently, it lets me know where items are on a day to day basis and when they are due for servicing or electrical testing.”

Keith Henderson, Thames Valley Police

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ConfidexConfidex is the world’s leading supplier of UHF RFID tag solutions and services which help to make supply chains and authentication of goods more efficient and secure. The company aim is to innovate and explore the technology and how it can help people and companies to address their problems and challenges by fusing a strong combination of RFID tag design competence, RF engineering and customisation to manufacturing experience.

Products

Confidex UHF RFID hard tags have been designed to be used directly on metal surfaces and are often encapsulated to provide resistance against exposure.

Confidex Ironside™

• EPC Class 1 Gen 2 compliant passive on-metal tag

• Read range: 6-7m • Memory 240bit

EPC/512bit EPC+• IP68 rating

Steelwave™

• EPC Class 1 Gen 2 compliant passive on-metal tag

• Read range: 4-6m • Memory 96 bit EPC• IP54 rating• Ideal for tagging

IT equipment

Steelwave Micro™

• EPC Class 1 Gen 2 compliant passive tag

• Read range: 3-4m• Memory 96 bit/

240bit EPC + 512bit• IP67 rating• Ideal for tagging

IT equipment

Ironside Micro™

• EPC Class 1 Gen 2 compliant passive on-metal tag

• Read range: 3-4m • Memory 96 bit/512bit EPC +• IP68 rating

Survivor™

• EPC Class 1 Gen 2 compliant passive tag

• Read range: 8-12m• Memory 240bit/512bit EPC + • IP67 rating

Halo™

• EPC Class 1 Gen 2 compliant passive on-metal tag

• Read range: 5-7m • Memory 240bit/512bit EPC + • IP67 rating

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Case StudyAB Foods tracks metal tanks in its factory and improves visibility of transported tanks with Confidex Ironside tags

Challenge• Monitoring current position of each tank in factory and

creating automatic billing system on delivery time• Tracking of lost and stolen tanks• Finding a tag that can be used directly on metal surfaces

and is acid resistant

Solution• Each metal tank is tagged with Ironside• Passive UHF RFID antennas get proper signal from Ironside

that pass through gates• Collected information enables AB Foods to track the tanks

Benefits• Accurate data collection• Reduced people work• Low cost system for tracking expensive assets

Key Markets:

• Public transport • Electronics • Manufacturing• Post & Parcel• Transport & Logistics• Government

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Type Frequency Standards Key strengths Weaknesses Key application areas

UHF 865–868 MHz (Europe)

ISO18000 Part 6

• Long Read range (up to 5m typical, 15m possible)

• Fast data transfer rates• GS1 Gen 2 standard

accepted in Americas, Europe and Japan

• Wide range of readers from different Vendors. Wide range of low cost tags

• Uncertain performance at short ranges. (Now greatly improved by Impinj hybrid near field/far field tags)

• Phantom read issue (being resolved by RSS software techniques and much improved antenna design from companies like Impinj

• Still has problems with high moisture content products, but this can be alleviated by use of Impinj near field tags

• Item, case, and pallet level tracking of most goods. Dock door scenarios now greatly improved

• Apparel tagging is a key growth area because of UHF reading range even to a handheld

• Tracking of people through wide access portals, and tracking of high value IT equipment moving through portals

HF MODE 1 13.56 MHzISO18000 Part 3 Mode 1

• Established technology.• Worldwide standard• Wide availability of tags

and readers• Not badly affected

by moisture

• Short range (1m max)• Limitations in metal rich

environments which can be overcome with tag design and intelligent systems and reader design. NOTE: All RFID systems are affected by metals but design can overcome these problems in most cases

• Many systems at conveyor, production line and machine control level. The dominant technology for tagging library books

HF MODE 2 13.56 MHz

ISO18000 Part 3 Mode 2 (PJM)

• Stackability and speed. Nothing comes close to PJM for tagging items in stacks or in very close proximity

• As with HF Mode 1

• Dominant technology in gaming for gaming token ID, strong in Orthopaedic implants, document tracking and small jewellery items.

HF PROXIMITY 13.56 MHz ISO14443

A and B

• Ease of use• Wide range of card

base products available including some with on board microprocessors and advanced encryption for cashless payment systems

• Short range by design (10cm) so not a weakness for intended market

• Contactless smart cards such as Mifare and Felica dominate the access control and contactless payment and ticketing markets. Oyster card in London uses Mifare technology. Increasingly being used for sports and event ticketing

NFC 13.56 MHz ISO18092 (ECMA340)

• Makes communication between diverse devices extremely simple. Readers can act as tags.

• Enables simple downloading of information from the Internet to mobile phones using “touch and go” principle

• Massive market potential particularly for consumers, but final agreement on standards has taken a while. All basic standards are now agreed with final issues about to be ratified

• Needs major market driver to accelerate growth (e.g. if Apple put NFC in I-Phone 4g, then exponential take up could occur with plethora of innovative apps

• Mobile phone ticketing systems

• Mobile phone payment systems

• Simple comms touch connection between devices

LF 125–134 kHz ISO18000 Part 2

• The original commercial passive technology. In use for 20 years or so. Wide range of tags and readers.

• Preferred technology for livestock and pet tagging

• Read range 1m. Relatively slow data transfer speed

• Tags generally need wire wound antennas, with limited flexibility and higher cost

• Been around so long it is used across the board, but newer HF and now UHF is limiting it’s use in new systems

ACTIVE Varies

• No problems with read range. Up to several hundred metres possible. Low cost readers

• NOTE: Battery assisted passive tags are not strictly Active tags, but can be used to improve the return signal strength and hence the range of passive tags

• Tags have internal battery so tend to be large, inflexible and fairly costly. If you need range better than say 5 to 8 metres, you need active tags

• Tagging of large containers and stillage level products in factories and storage yards. Tagging of vehicles both for traffic management and tolling, and also in storage compounds

RFID Technologies at a Glance

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Dectag are a UK manufacturer of bespoke RFID tags, warehouse labels and rugged barcodes using proven technologies. The products are easy to adopt and designed around customer requirements and include solutions for metal roll cages and returnable transport items, wooden pallets, plastic containers and high value assets Dectag professional services can also assist in the evaluation and deployment of turn key solutions in areas such as asset tracking in healthcare and tracking of returnable transport items.

IDENTEC Ltd was created to design, develop and market RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems based on its own Intellectual property. Such systems are used in the identification of people, articles, animals and vehicles and to monitor their movements. They are also used in sports timing events, emergency evacuation analysis (of aircraft or buildings) and team data analysis as well as stock control.

Intermec’s fixed, handheld and vehicle-mount readers, printers, tags, labels and inlays are supported by RFID implementation services to guarantee system performance. Designed for global use, Intermec supports EPC Gen 2, and ISO18000-6B and 6C standards and meets ETSI and FCC RF certifications. Our certified compatibility with enterprise software such as IBM Websphere, Microsoft® BizTalk Server , SAP, Oracle and Sun makes integration for customers seamless.

HID Global is the trusted leader in providing access and ID management solutions for the delivery of secure identity. HID Global is focused on creating customer value worldwide with technology-based access solutions, issuance solutions, embedded technology solutions and logistics technology solutions. As a leading manufacturer of secure identity solutions and contactless smart card technology for physical access control, HID is selected more than any other brand in the convergence of physical and logical access control.

TAGSYS Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems are currently being used to track and trace millions of individual items — from drugs to library books to fashion apparel and luxury goods. Our integrated systems automate business processes, enable real-time supply chain strategies, and safeguard goods. TAGSYS’ RFID systems includes purpose-built tags and readers, as well as RFID management software, all designed to work together seamlessly, at the highest performance levels, in the most demanding environments.

UPM Raflatac’s labelstock products are designed to meet the needs of demanding applications in a vast array of end-uses. These include everything from personal and home care to applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Each product is designed to offer excellent printability, convertibility and durability in the latest labelling machinery.

Trovan, Ltd develops and markets radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, telemetric systems and delivery technologies. Trovan, Ltd. holds a broad portfolio of patents and other intellectual property and has long-standing relationships with a number of licensed contract manufacturers for the production of its transponders and readers in ISO9001-certified facilities. Trovan, Ltd. is a world leader in electronic animal identification.

Further Blackroc RFID Partners

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Blackroc Technology LtdDrummond Road, Astonfields Industrial Est, Stafford ST16 3HJ

T: +44 (0)1785 218500 F: +44 (0)1785 218501E: sales@blackroc.com W: www.blackroc-technology.com