Hewlett-Packard  is poised to open an RFID testing facility that replicates the real-world conditions of manufacturers using the emerging supply chain technology.
The RFID Noisy Lab, in Omaha, Nebraska, is designed to help HP 's customers and its partners test and evaluate RFID in a simulated "noisy" manufacturing environment and distribution center, while increasing the number of RFID-tagged products headed for retailers from three HP consumer technology products.
Technology Gains Ground
RFID technology is gaining momentum, enabling businesses to track assets and view supply-chain information from data transmitted via radio waves from antennas on chips affixed to pallets and cartons of packaged food, pharmaceuticals or equipment. As tagged goods leaving factories or distribution centers are identified by RFID readers, data is collected wirelessly and shared with computer systems.
Retail giants like Wal-Mart and Target are moving RFID into the supply chain, while other deployments are being conducted by the transportation industry and the Department of Defense for tracking large assets.
Recent mandates from the Department of Defense and the implementation of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act have spurred growth in the adoption of RFID systems outside of the retail industry as well.
Testing, Demonstrations Offered
"The new lab will enable manufacturers and retailers to verify their RFID specifications as well as test equipment, such as tags, readers and storage technology," HP spokesperson Dayna Fried told News Factor.
HP will conduct demonstrations and proof-of-concept projects for companies and will work with vendors that bring their RFID gear to the lab, she said. "And, as new technology emerges, we will have it available at the facility."
To accurately simulate a manufacturing and distribution center, the lab features a "racetrack" conveyor belt capable of reaching speeds up to 600 feet per minute and equipped with cases of consumer products with a maximum weight of 50 pounds and case volume size of two cubic feet.
It also has an RFID printer write station that writes electronically to an RFID tag and prints a readable number on the tag, an RFID write station able to write to the tag after it is applied to the case, and a read station located near a conveyor belt and middleware server that enables a comparison of product features from leading RFID middleware vendors.
RFID Companies Sign On
HP already is shipping some RFID-tagged consumer products, including two HP Photosmart printer models and one HP Scanjet scanner model, to select retailers.
"It's all about creating technology that meets a company's needs, whether that's servers in a data center, pallets of wine on a loading dock, clothing or computers," Fried said.
Among those participating in the project are RFID technology providers Printronix, ADT Sensormatic, Alien Technology, Applied Wireless Identifications (AWID), OATSystems and Shipcom Wireless. The lab is expected to open in late February.
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