November 2002

Tagsys, a leading specialist in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems design, has joined force with Philips to develop what the two companies say is the first low-cost electronic product code ("ePC") smart label system using 13.56MHz RFID technology.

The ePC specification was developed by the Massachusetts Institute for Technology's Auto-ID Center in association with industry. It allows users to define a unique identification solution for ojects, in which only the code, not the actual information, is stored in the tag. The code serves as a cross-reference for externally-held data, reducing the memory overhead in the tag itself.

Tagsys reckons the total item tagging market in the fast-moving consumer goods supply chain amounts to more than 100 billion labels per year.

• Kaysersberg Plastics, part of DS Smith Plastics, is offering its Duro-Pallet with an RFID option. The tag is embedded in the structure of the the pallet, and can be read by handheld readers or fixed devices from a distance up to 90cm.