 | Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issue 762 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story provides an overview of the RFID labs and test centers that proliferated in the wake of the mandates. These facilities are designed to serve RFID end users that want to learn about the technology without purchasing their own equipment. This article explores the types of facilities, services, and fee structures that end users can expect to encounter. The second part of this two-part series will provide a listing of RFID labs and test centers around the world.
RFID software developer epcSolutions has released a version of its RFIDTagManager platform specially designed to meet the recent Sam's Club mandate. "We have seen rapid adoption of our Sam's Club RFID solution. We have added over a dozen new customers since Sam's Club released their letter," CTO Chuck Williams said in the release, referring to the letter to Sam's Club suppliers notifying them of the new requirements (see Sam's Club Suppliers May Face RFID Fines from Wal-Mart for more).
epcSolutions isn't the only vendor that quickly responded to the new mandate with a tailored solution. Xterprise has released a software-as-a-service (SaaS) edition of its existing XARM package called the Sam's Club Pallet Tagging Service. See that announcement.
Lastly, IBM announced that its WebSphere RFID Information Center software's e-pedigree feature has been awarded compliance certification with EPCglobal's Drug Pedigree Messaging Standard. |
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| Products & Services | | - Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks (site) | | - Tag & SpyTM: NOX Surveillance by SimplyRFID (site) | | | Upcoming Events | | - RFID World Asia 2008, 8 to 11 April, Suntec Singapore (site) | | - SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China (site) | | - 5th Annual DoD RFID Summit - Feb 26-27 - Arlington, VA (site) | | - RFID Smart Labels USA - Boston, MA - February 20-21, 2008 (site) | | - Global RFID ROI 2008, 29th - 30th January, Munich, Germany (site) | | | Employment | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Research & Whitepapers | | - RFID Marketing Strategies Report from RFID Update (site) | | | RFID Tags & Labels | | - Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal! (site) | |
RFID Centers Offer a Chance to Try Before You Buy
Laboratories and research facilities played a large role in developing and commercializing some of the leading RFID technologies used today, and now are playing an important role in helping users implement RFID within their organizations. RFID end users can take advantage of a variety of labs and demonstration centers to get hands-on experience with RFID, test different tags on their products, simulate different usage conditions to evaluate readers, and to contract with the lab operator for more specific or sophisticated services.
RFID Update has identified more than 30 RFID laboratories and test centers around the world that are available to end users. Nearly all enable users to test their products or shipment packaging to evaluate how different tags and readers perform, or offer this testing as a service. EPCglobal Gen2 tag and reader testing capabilities are widely available, but labs and test centers also support a full range of RFID protocols and frequencies. Some facilities also have resources for testing RFID with various sensors, and for evaluating alternative wireless technologies.
"As RFID use and technologies continue to grow, people are going to have to do a huge amount of testing," Brian McGrane, RFID business development manager for the Sun Microsystems Advanced Product Testing Lab in Longmont, Colorado, told RFID Update. Sun formerly operated an RFID lab in Dallas, but consolidated it into the Longmont facility, which is also used for testing other wireless technologies and is equipped with an extensive variety of test equipment.
Facility operators usually fall into one of three categories: colleges and universities; industry groups or associations; or vendors. These categories aren't always mutually exclusive, because some facilities are managed by a collaboration among universities, associations, or vendors. Most RFID vendors can demonstrate systems at their facilities, but several make lab or testing facilities open for prospects and customers to use and evaluate equipment themselves. A few RFID end users have even opened their testing facilities to other companies, or jointly manage shared-use centers.
Terms of use and fees vary widely. Many facilities offer standard services at fixed prices. For example, a manufacturer that needs to provide RFID tags on its shipments to satisfy a customer request could contract a test facility to determine which RFID tag and reader combinations provide the best performance. Other labs and test centers make their facilities available and charge based on the time used. Vendor-operated labs in particular may provide some access and services for free in hopes of winning customers, or may offer facilities or services for a fee outside of any additional project work. University-based facilities sometimes receive grants for RFID research or may be contracted by commercial entities to perform specific testing or services.
"When there was the early push for RFID pallet tagging, there was a lot of need for tag testing, and a lot of labs started popping up. People thought they could make money from tag testing services, but that isn't always enough to keep the doors open," Dr. Bill Hardgrave of the University of Arkansas RFID Research Center told RFID Update. "Many of these facilities either closed or morphed to provide more services or consulting."
The RFID Research Center at Arkansas is considered one of the premier RFID facilities that is open to end users. It averages 1,000 annual visitors and is housed within an actually factory near the university campus, and includes separate areas to simulate manufacturing, warehouse, and retail store conditions within its 10,000 square feet. "We set up a real-life playground for RFID," said Hardgrave. "We are truly a neutral, unbiased lab where users can see how various things perform. We don't offer sales or consulting."
The center is an accredited EPCglobal Performance Test Center. The designation means that standards organization EPCglobal has certified the facility to provide unbiased information and offer the competence to test products for conformance with Gen2 and other EPCglobal RFID standards. There are a handful of EPCglobal-accredited facilities around the world, but the organization only makes the complete list available to its subscribers.
EPCglobal itself also operates or sponsors several RFID centers. The EPC system and technology were born out of university-based research and development at MIT. When the technology was ready to be commercialized, EPCglobal took over the process, while MIT and other universities remained involved in RFID research. Now there are seven university-associated Auto-ID Labs that conduct RFID research, with the EPCglobal Board of Governors serving as the primary advisor.
Several non EPCglobal-affiliated universities also offer RFID facilities and services.
In general, RFID labs proliferated over the last few years, on college campuses and elsewhere. In Part II of this series RFID Update will provide profiles and contact information for more than 30 RFID labs and test centers all over the world.
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| Products & Services | Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks
Meet the industry's most innovative award winning RFID solution that enables complete work-order traceability in manufacturing. Real-time web-based dashboards and multi-site monitoring for work-order pedigree and traceability, including proactive bottleneck management and real-time performance analytics optimizing shop-floor efficiency. All at the lowest TCO in the marketplace. www.omnitrol.com/WIP. | Tag & SpyTM: NOX Surveillance by SimplyRFID
Find out "Who Took It" and "Where It Is Now" with our "Stealth to Catch the Stealthy" RFID Surveillance systems. Alerts direct to your cell phone. Unprecedented accuracy and court-usable identification. Protect valuable equipment and documents! From the people trusted by more than 2,000 DoD (Department of Defense) Suppliers. Visit: www.SimplyRFID.com | | | Upcoming Events | RFID World Asia 2008, 8 to 11 April, Suntec Singapore
RFID World Asia 2008 is THE event for finding out the transforming power of RFID for your business and its future. Sign up now for RFID Asia Summit 2008, targeted at senior-level executives; to understand and reap the benefits of this new business tool. For more information go to www.terrapinn.com/2008/rfid | SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China
As one of the earliest, most specialized and authoritative exhibitions in China, approved and supported directly from State Ministry, the 8th SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008 will present you the impressive up-dated development and market of RFID technology in rising China. To know more, please go to www.scan-china.com. | 5th Annual DoD RFID Summit - Feb 26-27 - Arlington, VA
If you conduct business with the Department of Defense (DoD), you need to be at the DoD RFID Summit to stay abreast of the latest technology developments and take advantage of the "roll-up-your-sleeves" RFID implementation guidance that will be delivered for DoD personnel and DoD suppliers! Register now at www.DoDRFIDsummit.com. | RFID Smart Labels USA - Boston, MA - February 20-21, 2008
RFID Smart Labels USA 2008; the seventh annual analyst-driven event covers the hot RFID sectors, full technology analysis and market insight. February 20-21, 2008, in Boston, MA. Visit www.IDTechEx.com/USA to find out more and register. | Global RFID ROI 2008, 29th - 30th January, Munich, Germany
Taking place 29th and 30th January, Global RFID ROI 2008 is bringing together the leading RFID practitioners from a broad cross section of industries that will give you the opportunity of discovering the real ROI behind RFID implementation. View the full programme at http://www.rfid-roi.com/downloadpdfx2.asp and to register, please call 0044 207 202 7558. | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report from RFID Update
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now | | | RFID Tags & Labels | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com |
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RFID Update is the RFID industry daily. Launched in early 2004 to provide timely analysis of RFID industry news, RFID Update publishes editorial briefings every weekday for the growing ranks of top level executives involved in the deployment of RFID. Each issue delivers the breaking news and analysis most pertinent to successful RFID implementations, allowing readers to understand global RFID developments as they happen.
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