TOSHIBA TEC prints transponders

In fact the name "RFID printing system" stands for a bar code label printer with a flexible adjustable print head for printing on a self-adhesive label with a RFID chip including antenna inside. So doing this without damaging chip and antenna!
Besides that the printer programmes by means of an inside transmitter the chip. With the same information as is put into the bar code on the label as well as the eye readable text on it, while a so called tag verifier and a bar code verifier both check the readability of both chip and bar code.
So if a bar code on a label cannot be scanned because of printing mistakes or the chip doesn't react to the wireless signals of the tag reader, the embedded software of the printer concludes a fault. Than it stops automatically the printing process to allow the operator to remove the bad chip (in fact the unscannable label) from a series or at least to mark it. Thus to prevent having an unreadable one in the series after applying them onto all products.
It is not an unrealistic scenario, according to Business Unit Manager Guido Debontridder of TOSHIBA TEC Europe Retail Information Systems S.A./N.V. in Brussels, who is glad to announce that 'his' printing systems cannot make this kind of mistake.

Asked but vulnerable

"RFID is much asked but also vulnerable", Mr Debontridder says in an exclusive interview. Large end users like retail organisation Metro demand from their suppliers that all transport packages like pallets and boxes are delivered with RFID-transponders for fast and reliable internal logistics.
But these suppliers can be coped with problems according to the readability of certain chips in relation to the environment.
"Most transport packages and especially the one way items like cardboard boxes but also bottles out of glass or metal are very difficult to tag. Unless you put a self-adhesive label on it and that is exactly the solution, most manufacturing and distribution companies are looking for", Mr Debontridder says.
TOSHIBA TEC is one of few suppliers of industrial printing systems, who present reliable products to the industry. Which of course brings responsibilities because of a well-known reputation.

Reliable and applicable

"Indeed we have to produce and deliver a reliable system", the TOSHIBA TEC manager admits. Already several end users know 'his' RFID printing system. "We supplied already these kind of printing systems to suppliers of the Metro Group", Debontridder explains. It is a wide range of companies like food manufacturers and toy factories as well as those of clothes and shoes who use the printers. "It is in this case also very important that we can supply a printer which programs as well the so called low-frequency transponders as those of the second generation, the well-known Gen2 transponder", he says.
Then there is the aspect of the costs. RFID labels are rather valuable because of their high production costs. And because they are also vulnerable it is necessary not to damage them during printing of the bar code or the eye readable information. And it is also necessary not to damage them during applying processes.
"So we represent a reliable system for printing on RFID labels", the Business Unit Manager explains. Who already has been informed by several of his partners (distributors and business developers, system integrators) about the answered expectations.
Debontridder is glad about it, foreseeing a great future for RFID and especially for the combination barcode/transponder, because of its ability to be used in more than one reading system. "You can close a logistic chain completely with it", he says. But also applications are thinkable in environments like museums. For example to trace visitors and to present applied information to them about a certain item on a screen or by means of a sound carrier. Also with fairs and of course in situations where security plays a big role. "The RFID-label is flexible in use because it can be put on every surface and be scanned by a barcode scanner as well as a tag reader", Mr Debontridder ends the interview.
By using reliable transponders in reading as well as cheap ones and by printing the labels with no problems giving and reliable printing devices, Mr Debontridder expects a great future for these technologies. Wherein TOSHIBA TEC likes to participate to serve the end user with her technical knowledge.

At the photograph:
Guido Debontridder, Business Unit Manager with TOSHIBA TEC Europe Retail Information Systems: "RFID-labels will be an important part in almost all identification techniques and this asks for good and reliable label printers, which code a transponder as well and check the same moment both the bar code and the transponder on scannability to avoid non-reads in the daily use."

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