 | Thursday, March 12, 2009
Issue 992 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
|
Editor's Note: Today's top story is a roundup of the most notable stories and announcements from around the RFID industry over the past week.
In yesterday's RFID Update, we profiled the Chinese RFID manufacturer Invengo (see the story). It was the inaugural edition of a new feature in which we shine the spotlight on companies and people who are making news in the RFID industry. These profiles are not focused on a company's new product, service, or announcement. Rather they seek to tell the story behind a company and its people. If you would like your firm to be considered for coverage, please let us know. |
|
RFID Weekly News Roundup March 12, 2009
By John Burnell
This week's RFID news roundup won't read like the recent issues of The Wall Street Journal -- it actually contains some good financial news. Two companies reported increased annual revenues and another received fresh capital while also attaining good growth, though not all the financial news was good.- GlobeRanger received $8.3 million in Series C venture funding from a mix of old and new investors, the company announced this week. GlobeRanger plans to use the money for product and business development in the government, aerospace, defense and industrial markets. The company noted it achieved 40 percent annual growth the past two years.
- I.D. Systems of Hackensack, New Jersey, increased full-year revenues by 58 percent for the year ended December 31, 2008. The company, which specializes in solutions for tracking industrial vehicles and other assets, posted annual revenue of $27.0 million and a net loss of $4.2 million. See the earnings release.
- Traverse City, Michigan-based Versus Technology grew its first quarter revenues 13 percent over the year-earlier period to $1.6 million, the privately-held company reported.
- Sirit, headquartered in Toronto (results in $ Canadian) reported full-year revenues of $19.8 million, a sharp drop from the company's record revenues of $24.7 million in 2007. The 2008 totals include revenue from RSI ID Technologies, which Sirit acquired last April (see Sirit to Acquire RSI ID Technologies). Sirit posted a $3.3 million net loss for fiscal 2008 and ended the year with $3.3 million in cash.
- Digital Angel, whose viability was questioned last year (see Implantable RFID Business 'Not Self-Sustainable'), today reported it generated $1.5 million in cash flow from operations for the fiscal year. See the company's complete 8-K filing here.
- RF Code of Austin, Texas, announced Asset Manager, a turnkey system of software, active RFID tags and readers for tracking assets in data center, office and industrial environments.
- XIO Strategies won a contract to provide passive RFID technology and Unique Item Identification (UID) consulting service for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. The Wright Brothers Institute and Alien Technology's RFID Solutions Center in Dayton, Ohio, will also be involved in the project. See the announcement.
- International standards body ISO has introduced a new standard for tagging shipping containers. Called ISO/TS 10891:2009, Freight containers -- Radio frequency identification (RFID) -- License plate, the new standard defines specifications and testing procedures to ensure the proper functioning of a container RFID tag. More details are in the announcement.
- The New Hampshire state government held a hearing on RFID regulation. Representatives from Winco ID participated and posted this summary.
- Mitsubishi will resell Omni-ID's specialty RFID tags and services in Asia, giving the California startup a significant distribution channel in the region (see RFID Tag Demand Helps Omni-ID Net $15M in Funding).
Following is the previous RFID Update coverage from this week:- Chinese RFID giant Invengo is going small in its entry to the North American market -- small prices, small staff and a gradual buildup of activity (see Newcomer Brings New RFID Cost Model to North America).
- Exclusive RFID Update research found fewer firms are recognized as brand leaders in the RFID industry. Two firms are closely ranked as the best-known RFID brands, two more enjoy good recognition, but few others are seen as leaders (see Leading RFID Brands Stronger Now Than Ever).
- A firm that is trying to improve personal safety by using temperature sensors and RFID to monitor people for signs of heat stroke is about to release its first product. Football players may be the first to use the new system from HotHead Sports, but the technology may be available soon for firefighters, soldiers and those who where hard hats(see Cooler Heads Prevail with RFID-enabled Helmets).
Forward this to a colleague | Request reprints: reprints at rfidupdate dot com |
|
|
|
|
| RFID Tags & Labels | Invengo inlays with EAS. 224/512 bit – 5.8¢ and 7.2¢/5M
Invengo inlays use NXP UCODE chips to provide a unique custom command set, such as Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS). Long read range due to high chip sensitivity. Ease of tag assembly due to high chip input capacitance. Consistent performance on different materials. Tel 703.793.0085, visit www.invengo.com or click Info@invengo.com. | Handheld RFID Asset Tracking Software: NoxVault
The NoxVault RFID scanner finds assets over 20 feet away and can inventory about 1,000 items per minute -- if you're fast on your feet. NoxVault is great for tagging and tracking documents, PC's, laptops, and office equipment. Our handheld asset tracking RFID starter kit usually ships same-day for just $3,995. | | | Research & Whitepapers | 2009 RFID Brand & Marketing Strategies Reports
The latest follow-up to RFID Update's well-regarded 2006 research, this 2009 companion set of reports includes the most recent Top-10 rankings of the current RFID leaders and provides marketing, branding, and advertising guidance to vendors of RFID products and services. Purchase the reports now. | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | 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 | | | 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. | | | Upcoming Events | RFID World Asia | April 22-24 | SUNTEC Singapore
RFID World Asia is Asia Pacific's largest and most comprehensive RFID innovations and multi-application exhibition and conference. Explore a more than 10,000sqm exhibit space, discover the latest RFID innovations, and see live multi-application demonstrations. It is the place to network with industry peers in the RFID marketplace. For more information, visit www.rfidworldasia.com.sg |
This email was intended for , who subscribed
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.
RFID Update Editor: Will Smith, editor at rfidupdate dot com
Press releases and public relations inquiries should be directed to Will.
To advertise in RFID Update, email advertising08 at rfidupdate dot com to request a media kit.
RFID Questions? Ask at RFID Talk (www.RFIDtalk.com).
Forward this issue of RFID Update to your colleagues, or tell them to subscribe free at: www.RFIDupdate.com
View all past issues of RFID Update in the archive.
Update your subscription settings: subscriptions08 at rfidupdate dot com
We take your privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here.
RFID Update -- The RFID Industry Daily
3213 Duke Street #266
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.rfidupdate.com
© 2008, ALX Technologies. All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
