Checkpoint systems implements RFID Compliance Network
George Koroneos
In an effort to provide solution integrators in the pharmaceutical and retail industry with the latest tools to implement radio frequency identification (RFID), Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (Thorofare, NJ, www.checkpointsystems.com), has introduced the EPC Compliance Network, a consortium of solution providers and third-party logistic firms working together to find the best uses for RFID.
This initiative comes on the heels of a November announcement by the US Food and Drug Administration encouraging pharmaceutical distributors to pilot RFID in the warehouse environment.
According to John Thorn, Checkpoint’s general manager of supply chain solutions, the compliance network will provide members and their customers with tools and engineering resources necessary to better understand the characteristics of various tags (labels with embedded microchips) and how well specific tags work on various products.
“The pharma space has taken a serious look at item-level tagging with 1356 Mhz high frequency tags rather than the 915 Mhz tags being used in the retail industry,” says Kevin Donahue, director of EPC compliance and services at Checkpoint Systems. “With 1356 tags, the read-range is shorter, but you don’t run into problems with read-rate interference caused by certain metallic objects and liquids. This is very attractive to the pharma industry for item-level tagging.”
Members will be able to consult RFID experts about the tags and scanning equipment available. According to Checkpoint Systems, the organization will also provide technical training, sales, and cooperative marketing tools.
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