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What is RFID Technology?
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, a technology with its roots in World War II. Today, Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID is emerging as a premier technology for automating the identification and tracking of merchandise and collecting valuable information on their whereabouts, contents, physical state and more. Organizations in Retail, Defense, Transportation, Healthcare and other industries are increasingly employing RFID technology to bring new efficiencies to supply chains, track assets, ensure product quality and consumer safety, protect the integrity of their brands, promote security and more.
What are the Benefits of RFID?
Companies can benefit from RFID technology in several ways. For one, the technology allows for increased supply chain visibility at all stages of the process. This increased visibility can lead to greater speed and efficiency in transporting products as well as reducing loss that leads to unnecessary costly expenditures and waste. RFID technology provides a more precise assessment of the amount of product actually electronically inventoried, as opposed to the actual number of units in-store or onsite. The more accurately you can model your supply chain process, the more accurately you can respond with solutions that maximize your profits and your customer experience.
How RFID Works?
A RFID system has several components including chips, tags, readers and antennas. In its simplest form, a small silicon chip is attached to a small flexible antenna to create a tag. The chip is used to record and store information. When a tag is to be read, the reader (which also uses an antenna) sends it a radio signal. The tag absorbs some of the RF energy from the reader signal and reflects it back as a return signal delivering information from the tag's memory.
The Kennedy Group
The Kennedy Group’s RFID Solutions (Radio Frequency Identification) Division is a full service provider of application integration solutions to improve supply chain performance and meet strict Electronic Product Code (EPC) mandates. More so than just supplying the products you need, we make sure you have a resource no matter what stage of operation you are in. At Kennedy Group we are equipped to develop and integrate a customized RFID solution for any business model.
Testing:
Our RFID Customer Solution Center provides you with an automated environment specifically designed to test smart labels and cards so businesses can learn more about the technology and how it will improve their inventory control and customer service.
- Product evaluation for optimal tag design for each SKU
- Environmental analysis is conducted to determine optimal tag placement
- Automatic applicator can be demonstrated on a featured high-speed conveyor
- RFID systems are tested in real-world applications and dock door simulations
RFID Tag Solutions:
Leading provider and a high-volume a high-volume producer of Smart Therm® tags (expendable solutions), Smart Placards®, Smart Nameplates® and SmartCards™ (multi-trip solutions).
- The largest smart label and card manufacturing capacity in North America.
- Automated in-line verification capability to ensure quality products.
- Insertion and inspection of 100 percent of inlays result in the highest smart product yields in the industry.
Hardware:
As part of our turkey solutions The Kennedy Group provides a complete selection of Printers, Antennas, Readers and high-speed solutions to automatic application of smart labels.
- Patented SmartOne® RFID Applicators with silent tags ejects function that removes a silent smart label before it’s applied.
- Hardware supplied by such manufacturers as Alien, Motorola, Zebra and Printronix.
- Operating at both 900 MHz and 13.56 MHz frequencies.
Professional services and support:
With years of experience in the industry and a team of radio frequency engineers, support technicians and customer service representatives, The Kennedy Group offers much more than basic hardware products and tools. Our professional services include:
- Radio Frequency and Machine Site Evaluation
- Smart Label Development
- Lab Testing and Analysis
- Pilot Project Implementation
- In-Line and Off-Line Encoding
- Custom Smart Label Design and Printing
- RFID Hardware Installation
- Software Integration
- Service Bureau Programs
- Operator Training and Startup Assistance
- On-Site Service and Maintenance
- Technical and Phone Support
Can I test my products to make sure they work with RFID?
The Kennedy Group makes it easy for businesses to learn more about RFID that’s why we have dedicated a 7,000-square-foot Center to help customers verify that a technology will work in their application before deploying it in the real world. This is achieved through a systematic and comprehensive testing process that includes the following:
- Product is evaluated for optimal tag design for each SKU
- Environmental analysis is conducted to determine optimal tag placement
- Automatic applicator can be demonstrated on a featured high-speed conveyor
- RFID systems are tested in real-world applications and dock door simulations
- Third-party verification for those companies needing to meet EPC compliance standard
How many types of RFID are available?
Among RFID devices, there are three types – passive, active and Semi-Active.
A passive RFID device is one that does not use an internal power supply to communicate with the scanning antenna. Instead, during the process of being scanned, the radio waves from the scanning antenna itself provide power and activate the RFID tag so that the information encoded on it can be transmitted.
- Smaller, lighter
- NOT equipped with an internal energy source - draw their power from RF
- Shorter range (<3m)
- Lower cost
An active RFID device has a power supply of its own. As such, these devices have a greater capacity and range than passive RFID tags. They can transmit their signals over greater distances and in more adverse conditions than passive RFID tags. For example, active RFID devices can transmit signals more easily through water and other liquids, as well as through metal containers.
- Active battery on board
- Larger, heavier
- Longer range (up to 100m)
- Larger data storage
There is also a third type of RFID device known as semi-active, or semi-passive. This type of tag receives power from the scanning antenna when scanned, but also has an internal power supply, like an active RFID tag. This additional on-board power supply grants the semi-passive/semi-active tag a greater scanning range than a normal passive RFID tag.
- Battery on board that “wakes up”
- Smaller form factor than active
- Longer read range than passive – up to 30m
- In the middle on pricing
What Makes Us Different?
- Experienced Software and System Solutions Professionals
- Wireless Application Development
- Data Warehouse Design/Development
- System Integration
- End-to-End Turnkey RFID Providers and innovators
- RF Engineers on Staff
- 7,000 Sq. Ft. Testing Facility
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