Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company, has introduced the Symbol XR480, an industrial-class radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader that supports todays European RFID standards and builds on the next generation architecture of the XR400. Early adopters in Europe are already using the Symbol XR480 reader to leverage the increased asset visibility and operational efficiencies of RFID across their supply chains.
The XR480 reader builds on Symbols commercially proven XR400 RFID reader platform and supports the European ETSI 302-208 standard reliable read performance for todays industrial-scale RFID implementations. The XR480 also delivers Generation 2 (Gen 2) dense-reader mode operation which enables the flexibility to support the European standard as it evolves.
The XR480 is the only commercially available EPC-compliant RFID reader approved for use in Europe to provide support for up to eight read points which helps decrease deployment complexity and increases flexibility. The Symbol XR480 is also the first commercially available EPC-compliant RFID reader in Europe based on the Windows CE operating system. By utilizing Microsofts Windows CE operating system, the XR480 RFID reader enables seamless integration and interoperability with existing IT infrastructure while reducing the support costs associated with multi-platform environments.
METRO Group is excited that Symbol is bringing their extensive supply chain and real-world application deployment experience to Europe, with their first commercially available European RFID reader, said Dr. Gerd Wolfram, Managing Director MGI METRO. Metro is evaluating Symbols RFID technology and agrees with its focus on robust RFID solutions, packaged systems and dense-reader environments. Symbols increased European presence will only serve to drive further adoption of RFID and promote the global business efficiencies and inventory accuracy that comes with the technology.
The new XR480 platform is backward compatible with Symbols XR400 reader and leverages existing XR400 capabilities such as application hosting. This allows end-users, partners and third party application developers to easily develop specific, customer-driven applications that can be embedded and run directly on the reader.
The XR480 European RFID Reader builds upon Symbols diverse customer and application experience with large-scale RFID implementations, said Anthony Bartolo, Vice President and General Manager, RFID Division. By allowing customers to manage and move information instantly upon data capture, the XR480 truly extends business intelligence to the edge of the enterprise. The XR480 complements our existing comprehensive product platform as Symbol enables global early adopters to move from RFID pilots through to full scale deployment.
The new XR480 reader also provides Control I/O and USB interfaces to manage devices ranging from motion sensors and lights to memory sticks and display screens. With these peripherals, enterprises can use RFID to activate various business processes, including dynamic assembly lines that are reconfigured based on the specific products being received on the conveyor belt; real-time alerts that allow forklift drivers to change delivery locations for urgent items, and rules that prevent delivery of products to incorrect locations and handle with care rules, that signal an items fragility at the moment it passes through the dock door reader.
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