Inlays/Labels/Tags

T301-B Tags with Display Through Ekahau

Ekahau Inc. has announced that it is developing a WiFi enabled badge designed to support a variety of new location tracking and communications applications on enterprise campuses. The T301-B tag is the industry's first tag that combines location capabilities with a display, which supports wireless text messaging and enables users to acknowledge messages by using the tag's two integrated call buttons.

"WiFi RTLS location tracking technology and text messaging in a single product gives enterprise customers a foundation for many new wireless applications for personal safety, work flow, and equipment management. With such a solution, enterprises can further capitalize on their investment in a campus-wide WiFi network to support a wide array of voice, data, and location services," says Antti Korhonen, President and CEO of Ekahau.

The T301-B tag incorporates audible alarm signals, multicolored LEDs, and a screen to provide messaging capabilities. As a result, the Ekahau system can provide audible, visual, and text-based alerts or work-flow messages to individuals carrying or using the T301-B tags, much like traditional paging or text messaging services.

The display and call buttons will enable applications such as location status reporting for assets the require regular maintenance and venues where patrons must wait to be seated or receive VIP services. Tags will be available with or without the display.

PanGo's Third Generation WiFi Tag

The third generation of PanGo's WiFi based active tag that is able to identify and monitor the locations of thousands of mobile assets, inventory, and personnel is now available. This new tag features an updated ergonomic form factor, enhanced functionality, and extended battery life at a reduced cost.

With a smaller form factor, a battery life of over five years, and an alert-button feature, the third generation tag proves to be smaller and better than before. Integrators in markets such as healthcare, manufacturers, transportation and logistics, and government will be able to optimize their business processes through RTLS and RFID technology. Along with the key features of the tag, it is the first to be compatible with Cisco Certified Extensions Tag Protocol, which is a WiFi communication mode that offers a higher level of location accuracy for customers of the Cisco 2700 Series Location Appliances. Visit www.pangonetworks.com.

MIKOH Offers SecureContainers for Supply Chain Security

MIKOH Corporation (www.mikoh.com) releases its SecureContainer technology, which uses a pressure sensitive seal to protect its contents from tampering and theft. The secure container is designed for markets where product tampering can impede security or threaten the lives of consumers.

While the use of cardboard boxes is common throughout supply chains, the possibility of product tampering or theft is greater than that of secured containers. Boxes are easily penetrated, leaving valuable shipments such as pharmaceutical products open for thieves and counterfeiters. MIKOH's SecureContainers eliminate this risk by using a single entry point on the container. A disposable plastic insert is secured to the container doors by a tamper-resistant seal that becomes damaged upon opening. Employees or container trackers can then examine the product for potential tampering.

SecureContainers are re-useable and do not require clean up after use since the seal is only in contact with the plastic inserts. They work with any pressure sensitive security seal and offer RFID and holographic seals. RFID enabled applications run on MIKOH's Smart&Secure technology (using tamper evident RFID tags) that alerts the reader, or disables the tag if it has been moved or tampered with. Smart&Secure tags are placed in consistent positions on each SecureContainer to maintain position and orientation for readers, improving accuracy.

Moscow Metro Updates their Contactless Travel with UPM Raflatac

UPM Raflatac (www.upmraflatac.com) has been selected to provide RFID inlays for contactless passenger tickets for the Moscow Metro.

The Moscow Metro was the first European metro system to implement smartcards in 1998. Seasonal tickets are currently using smartcards. The magnetic striped travel cards used now for an allotted amount of travel destinations will be replaced by the smartcard technologies.

Other metro systems have seen great improvements in travel speed and efficiency by using contactless tickets. The London Underground uses RFID technology in its Oyster passes which act much like the Moscow Metro's season passes. Travel time is significantly cut for passengers, which will be convenient for the 8.2 million customers using the Moscow Metro on any given weekday.

Five million pieces per month will be used for the first stage, and will increase to approximately 30 million further down the line.

Metalcraft's New RFID Labels and UID Service

Metalcraft (www.idplate.com), a North American manufacturer of nameplates and labels, has announced RFID labels and a Unique Identification (UID) service to meet supplier's needs of U.S. DoD compliance.

Durable RFID labels are available for immediate shipping and are print-ready for use with Zebra RFID printers. Labels and nameplates are made from tough materials such as polyester, anodized aluminum, and stainless steel to name a few, and can withstand mild to extreme environments, caustics and acids, solvents, high temperatures, and UV rays. Prices start at $0.25 a label and vary by quantity.

The UID On Demand service helps speed production, and lowers the cost of UID for suppliers who seek a limited number of UID labels and name plates. This system is an alternative for on-site marking equipment which can be costly and ineffective.

Secure Pharma Labels From Cortegra

Cortegra, formerly New Jersey Packaging, (www.newjerseypackaging.com) offers a full range of RFID embedded labels, including the new RxTrackNSecure RFID labels.

These labels are pre-printed and die-cut pressure sensitive labels, offering 100% readability. The tags can be used for item, case, and pallet level tagging, with implementation support offered from Cortegra to ensure success. These tags use anti-diversion, anti-counterfeiting, and anti-fraud printing technologies to guard against product fraud and maintain consumer safety and confidence. Labels are cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant, guaranteeing that they are up to date on FDA regulations for the preparation of drug products.