RFID Radio Frequency Identification information for fashion clothing and apparel industry

Radio Frequency Identification - RFID - Directory of Technology Companies supporting RFID

Technology Directory RFID Definitions Hangtags Price Tickets EDI UPC Fashion Industry Software Logistics Technology Consultants

Aim Global / RFID.org : AIM Inc. is the global trade association for the Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) industry. Our members are manufacturers or service providers of technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), bar code, card technologies (magnetic stripe, smart card, contactless card, optical card), biometrics, and electronic article surveillance (EAS).

Alien Technology : Alien Technology has developed, and holds exclusive patent rights to, a manufacturing assembly technology called Fluidic Self Assembly (FSA®) which was invented at UC Berkeley by Prof. John S. Smith. FSA allows for the efficient placement of arbitrarily large numbers of small components across a surface in a single operation. The company plans to first use the technology to manufacture very low-cost RFID tags, but it will also be applied to antennas, sensors and other devices.

EPC Global : EPCglobal is leading the development of industry-driven standards for the Electronic Product Code (EPC) Network to support the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in today’s fast-moving, information rich trading networks. They are a member-driven organization comprised of leading firms and industries focused on creating global standards for the EPCglobal Network. Their goal is increased visibility and efficiency throughout the supply chain and higher quality information flow between your company and its key trading partners.

Intermec : Intermec Technologies Corporation, based in Everett, Washington, is a UNOVA, Inc.(NYSE:UNA) company. UNOVA, a $2.1 billion global organization headquartered in Woodland Hills, has two primary business segments -- Automated Data Systems (ADS) and Industrial Automation Systems (IAS). Intermec currently is a leader in global supply chain solutions and in the development, manufacture and integration of wired and wireless automated data collection, Intellitag™ RFID (radio frequency identification) and mobile computing systems. The company's products and services are used by customers in many industries to improve productivity, quality and responsiveness of business operations, from supply chain management and enterprise resource planning to field sales and service.

KSW Microtec : KSW Microtec focuses on the development and application of low cost advanced interconnection technologies for microelectronic packaging solutions.

National Retail Federation's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Resource Center : RFID is an important technology that is rapidly developing into a critical resource. Companies globally are adopting RFID in a wide range of applications, including inventory tracking, supply chain management, and wireless payment. This website has been designed to serve as comprehensive source of critical information for both retailers and consumers.

OATSystems, Inc. : OATSystems, Inc. is the recognized radio-frequency identification (RFID) solution leader with software applications that empower businesses to achieve a competitive advantage and ROI. It provides solutions supporting the entire RFID process from tagging to data capture and filtering to analysis. As a pioneer in the development of RFID technology, OAT has been setting the standards for more than half a decade and is responsible for industry firsts that include the largest scale and scope of deployments, as well as the most innovative approaches to providing enterprise-wide RFID solutions. OAT’s multinational client base consists of more than 80 customers in the retail, CPG, industrial and other markets. Headquartered in Waltham, MA, OAT has offices in Austin, Chicago, London and Bangalore. Address: 265 Winter Street, Waltham, MA 02451 (781) 907-6100 (781) 907-6098 Helen@oatsystems.com Contact: Helen Stefan

Philips : Philips is the leading manufacturer of RFID ICs. The Fashion industry is one of their focus segments for RFID on item level. They offer a complete portfolio of ICs for low frequency (LF) high frequency (HF) and ultra high frequency (UHF). With projects at focus customers like Metro, Gerry Weber or Otto they have proven that RFID works in the fashion industry on a technical level but it also makes sense in economical terms. They strongly support a harmonized approach through their standardization effort at EPCglobal and ISO as well as though cooperation with the AAFA, German Fashion or the Japanese Apparel Industry Council. Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 29 billion in 2003. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 165,600 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located by clicking here .

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Printronix : Established nearly 30 years ago, Printronix is a leading provider of industrial and back-office enterprise printing solutions for customers the world over. The long-term market leader in line matrix printers, Printronix has earned an outstanding reputation for its full selection of thermal, laser and network solutions technologies, all supported by unsurpassed service. A solid, reliable, smart label printer is the foundation of any RFID system. Printronix adds 30 years of know-how in providing tough industrial printers that endure the harshest environments where dust, dirt, and temperature extremes stop ordinary printers. Below you'll find a range of world-class UHF printers and solutions that provide maximum versatility and flexibility for all your RFID applications.

RFID Incorporated : RFID, inc. is a privately held C Corporation incorporated in the State of Nevada doing business as RFID America in Denver Colorado. Although its products have been in existence since 1984, RFID inc. was incorporated in 1997 by 2 employees, who had been in their employ for 8 years each, and a former product distributor of The Telsor Corporation. RFID, inc. was formed for the sole purpose of purchasing from The Telsor Corporation their Industrial Identification Products Division. Those products have been renamed R cubed and 3 new product lines have been developed since the purchase. With a one year licensing right to the name Telsor, the company operated as TelsorRFID, inc. for that year before making the planned transition to simply RFID, inc.

RFID Journal : provides timely, accurate, unbiased news about radio frequency identification, as well as in-depth features, case studies and special reports that help business people understand the technology's capabilities and limits.

Texas Instruments : Texas Instruments established TIRIS (Texas Instruments Registration and Identification System) as a worldwide business in 1991, becoming the first multinational semiconductor company to develop and market RFID systems. The name officially changed to TI-RFid™ in January, 2001 to better align with the corporate brand. Today, TI-RFid (Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification Systems) provide the vital link between people, advanced information systems and creative business solutions in thousands of applications worldwide.

UPM Rafsec : UPM Rafsec specializes in the production and development of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags used for contactless smart cards and labels. UPM Rafsec was founded in 1997, and after two years of product development the company began the production of RFID tags in Jyväskylä, Finland. UPM Rafsec’s headquarters and Product Development are located in Tampere, Finland, and the company also has sales offices in the USA, Netherlands, France and Singapore. Backed by the strength of its parent, the UPM-Kymmene Corporation, UPM Rafsec has the most comprehensive capabilities in the industry for the development and production of high quality RFID tags, suited for numerous end-use applications. UPM Rafsec’s flexible production enables product customization and fast deliveries in different formats. UPM Rafsec supports all major technology platforms.

RFID Equipment & Supplies

Labels - Radio Frequency Identification

Label Machinery - Radio Frequency Identification

Label Readers - Radio Frequency Identification
Handheld / Portable Reader
Stationary Reader

Fashion Technology Articles

RFID Jobs

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Involves a chip with an antenna that when activated by a reader, can send or receive information. It has several advantages over bar codes, foremost that it can be read with out a line of sight to an item, making it much easier to get automated reads and to do so in large quantities instead of one by one. Placing a reader at the entrance to a distribution center, a stockroom, or even a trash compactor will make tracking goods easier and more automated.

RFID Resources

RFID is an important element in the fashion and textile industry. Companies can track product from fiber to final consumer. Clothing and fashion accessory companies, must learn more about RFID to stay competitive in the international world of fashion. If you are not currently using RFID on pallets, you really should start your planning. Eventually, you may be required to put RFID tags directly on clothes.

The following info. from EPC Global

What is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)?

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. It is a technology that has existed for decades. At a simple level, it is a technology that involves tags that emit radio signals and devices called readers that pick up the signal. RFID technology is a fundamental element of the EPCglobal Network.

What is the Electronic Product Code (EPC)?

The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a unique number that identifies a specific item in the supply chain. The EPC is stored on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, which combines a silicon chip and an antenna. Once the EPC is retrieved from the tag, it can be associated with dynamic data such as from where an item originated or the date of its production. Much like a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the EPC is the key that unlocks the power of the information systems that are part of the EPCglobal Network.

What is the EPCglobal Network?

The EPCglobal Network is a set of technologies that enable immediate, automatic identification and sharing of information on items in the supply chain. In that way, the EPCglobal Network will make organisations more effective by enabling true visibility of information about items in the supply chain.

How does the EPCglobal Network function?

The EPCglobal Network uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to enable true visibility of information about items in the supply chain. The network is comprised of five fundamental elements:

Electronic Product Code (EPC),
ID System (EPC Tags and Readers)
Object Name Service (ONS),
Physical Markup Language (PML)
Savant

Essentially, the EPC is a number designed to uniquely identify a specific item in the supply chain. The EPC number sits on a tag comprised of a silicon chip and an antenna, which is attached to an item. Using radio identification technology (RFID), a tag “communicates” its number to a reader.

The reader then passes the number to a computer or local application system, known as the Object Name Service (ONS). ONS tells the computer systems where to locate information on the network about the object carrying an EPC, such as when the item was produced.

Physical Markup Language (PML) is used as a common language in the EPCglobal Network to define data on physical objects.

Savant is a software technology that acts as the central nervous system of the EPCglobal Network. Savant manages and moves information in a way that does not overload existing corporate and public networks.

RFID Definitions

Learn about RFID for Fashion from Philips.

Learn more about EPC Global

Zebra : Zebra delivers innovative and reliable bar code and specialty label printing solutions to businesses and governments in 90 countries around the world. With over 30 years of experience and nearly three million printers in use, Zebra is the trusted brand for more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies.