SCDigest Says: |
The Lexmark approach may also be very well suited to any application, including those in logistics and manufacturing, where a document and an RFID tag need to be produced at the same time.
Click Here to See Reader Feedback
|
To date, RFID labels – generally meaning a human readable label with an encoded RFID tag inside – have primarily been produced using thermal transfer-type printers from companies such as Avery Dennison, Intermec and Zebra. Those printers have an RFID encoder near the traditional thermal print head that has the ability to write data to tags at pretty high print speeds. They are often integrated with automatic “print and apply” machines for in-line label application.
Those types of printers work well in most distribution and manufacturing operations, but are not commonly found in traditional office areas. In addition, almost by definition, they are designed for producing labels, not “documents.”
For the past several years, Lexmark International has been working on adding RFID capabilities to its line of laser printers.
In 2007, Lexmark introduced a stand-alone RFID printer. Last year, it released an RFID option that is effectively a sealed paper tray with all the technology inside for encoding tags that could just be added to the T64x family of laser printers.
In August, the company released a new tray that can be added to its T654 family of monochrome laser printers. The big advance – tags can be oriented both horizontally and vertically, and be placed almost anywhere on a document. Print/encoding speeds have also increased in this third iteration.
The capability is added through the purchase of an additional “media drawer” that contains the encoding and reading/verification hardware, with the RFID technology sourced from ThingMagic (see graphic below). The RFID capability module/drawer has a list price of $2500.00, but will likely see a “street price” below that. One version of the base laser printer itself lists for $1199.00.
(RFID and Automatic Identification Article - Continued Below)
|