Businesses fearful of lost productivity due to RFID labeling startup tasks such as needs assessment, equipment installation and operator training can turn to Avery Dennison Printer Systems for a new turnkey RFID label printing package called the RFID Starter Kit. Avery Dennison Printer Systems is a part of Avery Dennison Retail Information Services (RIS) and of parent company Avery Dennison Corporation, a Fortune 500 company.
The comprehensive equipment-and-service RFID Starter Kit enables companies facing retailers' 2005 RFID labeling mandates to easily establish a cost-efficient in-house capability designed to meet current and anticipated RFID standards. Companies purchasing the kit will benefit from a unique processing advantage:
The kit's high-speed 64-05 RFID label printer features "jump-the-bump" printing, a capability that is not available with any competitive RFID label printer. During print operations, the system's print head "jumps" over the "bumps" made by embedded RFID chips. As a result, there is far less likelihood of costly label waste caused by chips damaged during the printing process. Avery Dennison 64-05 printer advantages also include near edge printing technology, which provides precise control for printing bar codes, text and graphics, and a "detect-and-deflect" process that identifies labels with faulty RFID chips, marks them with an x and then reprints the information on the next label.
In addition to the high-speed Avery Dennison 64-05 RFID label printer, the RFID Starter Kit equips customers with 500 class 1 RFID carton and/or pallet labels, an optional interrogator/reader with two antennas, demonstration software, onsite setup assistance, training services and 12 months of technical support. The kit also includes Avery Dennison Label Management System (LMS) software, which uses Windows drivers to control printer functions, and a sample bar code 4 x 6-in. data stream.
RFID Starter Kit bonuses include a free upgrade to the printer and software when EPC UHF Generation 2 is adopted as the worldwide RFID protocol standard, and 500 Class 0+ or Gen 2 labels as soon as they become available.
The Avery Dennison RFID Starter Kit is available in two versions: Version 1 is supplied without a reader, and is priced at $7,395. Version 2 comes with a reader and two antennas. Price for Version 2 is supplied via quote. Interested parties can obtain a free needs assessment and an estimated system-installation time frame by calling 1-215-728-8054.
According to Marketing Manager Dan Williams, companies concerned about the cost of keeping pace with rapidly evolving RFID technology will find the free printer and software upgrade to the Generation 2 protocol standard to be an especially attractive kit feature.
"RFID technology is advancing at high speed," Williams says, "and requirements by retailers and government agencies for vendors to comply with soon-to-emerge new standards will be firm. At Avery Dennison Printer Systems, we address this consideration with our new turnkey RFID package. As requirements evolve, we will empower our RFID Starter Kit customers to painlessly evolve right along with them."
Williams adds that the RFID Starter Kit allows for software and printer upgrades to accommodate Generation 2 at no charge within 12 months of purchase. "Support is available to assist in the upgrade process. Field upgrades can usually be completed with little disruption to production lines."
Williams notes that with the LMS demo, no programming is required to produce bar code or RFID labels. LMS is compatible with Windows® 95/98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP as well as SAP and others.