RFID tagging system

Accu-Sort Systems, a member of EPCglobal, recently announced the release of its FAST Tag RFID tagging system. Part of Accu-Sort's suite of Flexible Automation Solution Tools, FAST Tag is a turnkey automated solution for placing, tracking and verifying RFID tags on cartons and pallets. FAST Tag also integrates seamlessly into existing material handling and data handling systems, providing a low-risk upgrade path from conventional bar code labelling systems.

According to Tom Ellis, Managing Director of Accu-Sort Australia, customers should examine how RFID tags can be applied effectively and economically in their particular application, "with the hype surrounding RFID it appears all the attention is on the reading of the tags and the impact the additional information will have on an organisation" he said "we're saying the supply chain in general retail should be examining how the tags are going to get onto the product bin the first place".

The FAST Tag system can be tailored to meet specific user needs. The base system includes an inbound bar code scanner, RF tag applicator, tag verifier and outbound box-tag RFID verifier. Also included are controls for infeed, tracking, verify-reject outputs and additional configurable I/O and features. FAST Tag software runs on a PC platform, which can be housed in an industrial enclosure or placed remotely in an office environment. The Windows-based software controls all devices, system I/O, diagnostics, communications and reporting functions through an intuitive user interface.

"In the US, Accu-Sort have had been installing FAST Tag systems with many of the suppliers to the major retailers who have embraced RFID" said Ellis "in partnership with VideoJet, the world leader in product marking, we believe we have the right experience and solution for the Australian market".

Key value-enhancing features of the FAST Tag system include on-the-fly tag validation and invalid tag skipping. These processes read and validate tag data before it gets applied to a carton; invalid tags are wound immediately to the waste reel, ensuring that no bad tags make it into the supply chain. FAST Tag also provides 100% item tracking and tracing, ensuring that the right tag gets on the right box every time.

For more than 35 years, Accu-Sort has been an automatic identification pioneer, with large retailers and manufacturing companies among its core constituencies. "Retailers have used Accu-Sort products and solutions to gain efficiencies in their distribution centres since the 1980's", said Ellis, "Accu-Sort has always been a leading supplier of barcode and labelling systems to leading manufacturers, who also happen to be the companies subject to the RFID labeling mandates. Our experience makes us uniquely qualified to leverage existing systems and provide compliant RFID labeling systems very efficiently."