SATO FlagTagSolutions also Support New RFID Gen2 Pallet-Labelling Technology

SATO, the worlds leading manufacturer of label and barcode printers and a specialist in data collection systems (DCS) and radio frequency identification (RFID), also supports the latest RFID Generation 2 with their advanced FlagTagSolutions. Within the scope of its broad-based RFID initiative, METRO Group has set itself the objective of having RFID Gen2 technology in place at its largest 100 suppliers by the end of 2005, from pallet level down to case level (outer packaging). RFID Gen2 chips have a 96 bit UID memory capacity, may be read more quickly, and feature a kill order option to delete sensitive data, as well as password protection. For sub-suppliers already working with RFID Generation 1 tags, a switch to the new Generation 2 further down the line could not be easier. All it takes is a simple software upgrade for their read-write units to enable the SATO RFID printers to process the new RFID Gen2 chips. For both transponders, the SATO FlagTagSolutions are the key to universal pallet tagging. SATOs FlagTag technology owes its particularly good readability to the special architecture, whereby the RFID antenna protrudes vertically like a flag from the actual surface of the label. This is what makes SATO FlagTag technology a universal solution even when the packing is of metal or contains fluids, both of which impair readability substantially for every kind of RFID chip, Gen1 or Gen2. SATOs FlagTagSolutions assure optimum readability of the RFID chip at all times, no matter what the pallet may contain.

SATO offers its future-proof FlagTagSolutions in three variants to cater for every RFID labelling need:

Automatic Print & Apply: This is the fully- automatic SATO FlagTag applicator, which is alternatively available as a dual-purpose applicator for parallel labelling with modern RFID and traditional barcode labels.

Semi-automatic Slap & Ship: With this process for medium volume RFID pallet labelling, the UHF-RFID FlagTag is pre-folded automatically and then applied by hand.

Manual Slap & Ship: The FlagTag label that is dispensed by the SATO CL408e UHF-RFID printer contains a double perforation, especially suitable to be folded and applied manually.

Irrespective of the material to be labelled whether packaging or pallets, metal drums or fluids the FlagTag developed by SATO in collaboration with UPM Rafsec always makes for optimum readability. What is more, all of these SATOs FlagTagSolutions are fully future-proof: Any supplier currently using a SATO RFID Gen1 solution can switch to RFID Gen2 tags at any time, whenever necessary or requested by METRO. Thanks to the open architecture of the SATO printers and print modules, this evolution may be done with a minimum of effort via a simple software update.