March/April 2005

It is a measure of the rapid progress of RFID (radio frequency identification) into the supply-chain mainstream that data capture specialists are now launching products that take advantage of the new technology.

A prime example can be seen in a development involving LXE and Sirit, an RFID equipment specialist, which brings the technology into the realms of fork-lift truck operations.

In the words of LXE product management director Dick Sorenson: "As companies move beyond pure compliance operations, it becomes evident that a robust, reliable implementation for forklift-based operations is required."

The company's response is a truck-mounted reader module supporting EPCglobal Class 0, Class 0+, Class 1 and UHF Gen2 protocols. The reader incorporates Intel's IXP4XX network processor product line, which is based on its high-performance, low-power XScale technology.

 

LXE sees this new model as complementing its existing MX3-RFID handheld product.

- as SATO teams up with Oracle

SATO, a leading supplier of barcode printing and labelling products, and more recently also of RFID solutions, has announced an alliance with Oracle. As a member of the Oracle Alliance, it plans to offer a full range of RFID compliance solutions including consultancy, services, hardware and enterprise software.

SATO sees its expertise in the physical layer of RFID solutions (tags, labels, printers, applicators, readers, antennae) combining with Oracle's capabilities in the global enterprise software market to provide integrated RFID-compliant solutions.