PARTNER NEWS: STMicroelectronics and Feig Electronic have introduced a new bulk personalisation system that makes it possible for manufacturers to quickly and easily personalise large volumes of products equipped with dynamic NFC tags at a distance of up to one metre.
The production-ready contactless system allows users to program whole pallets of products equipped with Type 5 NFC tags without needing to remove them from either the pallet or their packaging.
“Historically a laborious and time-consuming process that requires connecting each unit to a programmer, basic setting up can now take place at any one convenient point in the supply chain using this new contactless solution,” ST says.
A short video produced by ST and Feig shows how the solution works:
Full details are in the press release below:
STMicroelectronics and Feig Electronic collaborate on contactless product personalisation for fast, flexible, cost-efficient logistics
- Convenient NFC-based solution extends readable area to 1m x 1m x 1m for fast personalisation of palletised items
- Leveraging ST25DV dynamic tags, eliminates powering-up or removing items from palettes or boxes
Geneva, Switzerland, and Weilburg, Germany – STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and Feig Electronic, a leading RFID-reader and antenna specialist, have combined their RFID know-how in a time-saving logistics solution that can help cut numerous costs and enhance flexibility for vendors of high-tech products such as smart industrial, consumer and medical devices.
Together, the companies have created a production-ready contactless system capable of personalising palletised items containing ST’s ST25DV NFC dynamic tags in just a few seconds, eliminating the need to power-up or even remove the products from their packaging. With this system, end users can eliminate the costs associated with inline programming and leverage contactless NFC technology to enjoy efficient, economical and flexible stock-management and logistics.
A typical application configures setup parameters such as manufacturer ID, serial number and default language in new products before they are shipped. Historically a laborious and time-consuming process that requires connecting each unit to a programmer, basic setting up can now take place at any convenient point in the supply chain using this new contactless solution.
The innovative solution extends the readable range for contactless NFC interactions beyond the typical distance of only a few centimetres to create a 1m x 1m x 1m readable space. By connecting the Feig ID LR2500 long-range reader/writer to two pairs of long-range antennas positioned on either side of the reading area, the Feig system can simultaneously program batches of products containing the ST25DV dynamic NFC tags placed in the reading area.
“Our ST25DV dynamic NFC tag is a catalyst for creative contactless applications that enhance numerous activities, including smart manufacturing, asset tracking and brand protection,” said Sylvain Fidelis, ST25 marketing and applications manager, STMicroelectronics.
“In this case, the tag’s dual RF and host interfaces and large built-in non-volatile memory let Feig’s powerful long-range system update the personalisation settings of already packaged products quickly and efficiently.”
“Working with ST, we have produced a game-changing innovation that enables product manufacturers to boost productivity, save factory space, and benefit from extra flexibility to organise product personalisation and shipping,” said Wolfgang Meissner, senior product manager at Feig Electronic GmbH.
“Leveraging features of the ST25DV, the use case we have demonstrated can be extended to activities such as updating existing inventory with latest firmware before dispatch.”