CORFIDA Sponsors OTA’s RFID Training and Certification Program to Address Critical Worker Shortage

gif The Colorado RFID Alliance (CORFIDA) has partnered with OTA Training, LLC. to address the statewide shortage of RFID trained workers. The two entities have arranged a series of training sessions to be held at Sun’s APT test lab from June 3-6. The sessions will be presented by Dallas-based OTA Training, LLC.

“Although RFID is getting a lot of publicity these days, the blunt truth is that we’re facing a critical shortage of trained and certified workers across all industries,” says CORFIDA President Gary Bresien. “Knowing what can be done — and how to approach RFID implementation — is a great first step to reducing the worker shortage and ensuring that business can maintain their competitive edge. These training sessions provide the basis for both short-term and long-term business success (and career success) through RFID initiatives.”

In addition to educating students on the basics of RFID technology and the types of applications that are proving to be successful in the marketplace, the Denver sessions will include region-specific content for industries such as breweries, ski areas, and IT asset tracking.

A one-day managers' class will be available, as well as the four day course, “A System’s Approach to RFID Implementation,” with the option of getting RFID+ certified. The training sessions begin the morning of June 3rd and continue through the afternoon of June 6th.

“We’re excited to be holding these sessions at the Sun APT Lab,” says OTA Training CEO and Founder Robert Sabella. “Top-notch trainers in unparalleled facilities with the support of CORFIDA will give students a clear picture of what is achievable through RFID. These sessions will prepare students for near-term and long-term success. This is a great opportunity for Denver area businesspeople.”

Each student will gain a solid foundation in the skills needed to implement RFID successfully plus the industry recognized CompTIA RFID+ Certification to validate the quality of their knowledge in RFID to the industry. All sessions will be held in the Sun APT Test Lab, which combines a world class environmental lab with a comprehensive RFID testing lab. This facility offers RFID portal testing, AS5678 Aerospace testing, Sam’s Club testing, and DoD testing. The lab has the ability to produce environmental extremes for tags, readers, and antennas with its extensive array of temperature chambers, shock and vibration tables, and salt, fog, and altitude chambers.

OTA conducts training throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and India. Along with their current course offerings, OTA continually expands its course portfolio built off of its modular approach to include vertical specific training for those looking to gain a deeper understanding of RFID in specific areas. To register, visit www.otatraining.com/schedule.php.

Schober’s Smart Tag and Ticket Processor

jpg Schober’s STP (Smart Tag and Ticket Processor) incorporates Gen 2 RFID technology with the ability to read HF, UHF, and EPC Gen 2 tags. The STP product line is ideally suited for contactless readable tickets for public transportation, entrance/access authorization, security identification, as well as airport baggage tracking tags, pallet and case tracking, and asset and supply chain management.

New features on this version include a redesigned tag dispenser with web tensioning, strategically placed start/stop buttons, and greater information gathering capabilities. An optional static discharge protection package rounds out the new features. Wet or dry Inlays are placed under a pre-printed web (or multiple webs), for a cost-effective RFID solution. Interchangeable laminating, die cutting (including cut and place) and punching stations provide flexibility in the processing steps, allowing jobs to be completed in reel, zig-zag folded, or as single product. On board RFID readers ensure the readability of each RFID tag. Ink jet printing and encoding are optionally available.

STP technology is built upon the Schober RFID-TI platform, which has many standard features built-in. This includes an automatic web guide system for base material, mechanical cross-register for transponders, auto-advance for missing transponders, servo-driven labeling head for opaque and transparent label reels, and electronic rewinder with tension control for assembled labels. Visit www.schoberusa.com.

FDA Approves Covidien Contrast
Delivery System with RFID

Covidien announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Covidien Imaging Solutions’ contrast delivery system with RFID technology. The components integrate novel RFID technology to create a system that is designed to enhance patient safety by reducing the risk of medical errors in radiology departments.

Covidien’s contrast delivery system combines its unit-dose Ultraject™ prefilled contrast media syringes with its Optivantage™ DH power injectors to provide the only RFID-enabled contrast delivery solution available in North America. RFID captures, stores, and transmits data between the Ultraject syringe and the Optivantage DH power injector.

“Covidien’s new, innovative system has the potential to reduce medical errors and increase efficiency in CT imaging,” says Steve Hanley, President of Covidien Imaging Solutions. “We expect this technology to be the platform for future innovation.”

With RFID technology, the system creates an intelligent interface between the contrast media syringe and the power injector that enables radiology technologists to better ensure that each patient receives the prescribed drug and drug dose during a procedure. The interface allows the injector to physically alter the RFID label on a syringe once it is used, which substantially reduces the probability of life-threatening air injections or air embolisms because the system automatically prevents the injection of contents from a previously used RFID-labeled syringe. Covidien’s system also indicates if the drug in an RFID-labeled syringe is past its expiration date. Additionally, the system automatically transfers drug and achieved exam protocol information onto a printed label for the patient record, which reduces the need for manual data entry, thereby improving efficiency and accuracy.

With its prefilled syringes for contrast imaging, Covidien helps customers reduce the risk of certain medication-dispensing and mislabeling errors that may occur when clinicians manually fill syringes from bulk packaging. The integration of RFID technology into the Covidien contrast delivery system builds on the company’s ongoing efforts to address safety-related needs in radiology departments. RFID-labeled syringes strengthen Covidien’s ability to help radiology facilities address Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) and U.S. Pharmacopoeia 797 standards, which are aimed at ensuring compliance with labeling and unit-dose requirements, as well as the use of aseptic techniques. Covidien expects its contrast delivery system with RFID technology to be available in the summer of 2008.

“Risk reduction is one of the key challenges facing the radiology community,” Hanley adds. “Our new delivery system underscores Covidien’s commitment to helping our customers address safety-related concerns.”

Weber’s New-Generation RFID SmartTrak
Label Printer-Applicator

jpg Weber Marking Systems releases its Model 5300rfid, the newest generation of RFID SmartTrak label printer-applicator designed to easily print, encode, verify, and apply pressure-sensitive RFID labels to cartons and pallet loads in one preset operation. The system helps meet the emerging RFID labeling requirements of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club and companies that wish to streamline the tracking of products through their manufacturing and distribution systems.

Weber’s Model 5300rfid offers a selection of print engines that utilize thermal-transfer technology to produce SmartTrak labels with text, barcodes, and graphics at 203 or 300 dpi. Additionally, the unit comes with enhanced RFID processes for throughput and is upgraded with the latest protocols.

As labels are printed, digital information is instantly encoded on thin, ultra-high frequency (UHF) inlays that are embedded in the SmartTrak label material. That encoded information is immediately verified by the system, which then applies the SmartTrak label to the top or side of a carton or pallet load as it moves down the production line. If a SmartTrak label cannot be validated, a “void” is printed on it and is rejected and retrieved before it is applied. Labels up to 4.5” wide and 6” long can be dispensed and applied using the non-contact, tamp-blow method.

In addition, for companies that currently utilize Weber’s existing Model 5200 or 5300 label printer-applicator systems, a retrofit kit is available to upgrade those units into RFID-capable systems.

The SmartTrak labels are formatted using Weber’s proprietary Legitronic® print-apply software, a package that combines label design, editing, printing, and RF-encoding to create readable SmartTrak labels. Various RFID encoding schemes are already built into the Legitronic® software for ease of use.

Weber also provides a complete offering of SmartTrak labels with common label sizes available on shelf for immediate delivery. Each SmartTrak label is manufactured, inspected, and replaced via Weber’s exclusive in-line inspection process, yielding 100% RF-readable SmartTrak labels.

U.S. Army Awards Software Contract to Savi

Savi, a Lockheed Martin company, has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC) for a government-developed, automated information system (AIS) that supports depot-level ammunition logistics functions. The award was made by Army Sustainment Command on behalf of the JMC.

Munitions Total Management Systems-Field Module (MTMS-FM) provides extensive business process automation functionality for employees at all ammunition locations throughout the U.S. MTMS-FM software, which Savi has provided since 1999, automates, integrates, and streamlines depot operations, allowing users visibility of shipment data throughout the outloading process. The software application automates about 40,000 movement transactions per year and dramatically reduces keystrokes, dual-entry notations, manual errors, and inventory reconciliation time.

The software provides features that enable users to automatically manage, update, and reconcile inventory records, generate receipts of incoming supplies, and keep track of internal warehouse movements and outbound shipments. Real-time data identifying munitions supplies that are equipped with 2D barcodes or active RFID tags is uploaded by handheld computers to Savi’s asset management software. Information from Savi’s software also is integrated with the U.S. Army’s Standard Depot System software for network-wide visibility.