Rfid set to make waves at Futurex 2004

RFID identification - or transponder - technology is set to make waves at Futurex 2004, which takes place from18 to 21 May 2004 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

So says Barry Baetu, managing director at barcode and mobile solutions specialists Harmonic Group who believes 2004 will be the year the promise of RFID becomes reality.

"RFID barcodes, for example, provide a host of features, including a unique radio frequency for each barcode, and the ability to be read from either direct contact or from metres away. They have been available for some time but because of costs, were not widely adopted.

"However, just as the adoption of ordinary barcodes took off only when championed by a major player in the supply chain, so RFID has required a similar boost. This has now happened with Walmart in the United States insisting that all products supplied to the giant retail chain carry RFID identification. The result? RFID identification is likely to become as ubiquitous as the one-dimensional barcode," he says.

Harmonic will showcase its RFID offerings at Futurex, where it will also introduce the Accu-Sort range of unattended barcode scanning and RFID products to the local market. Accu-Sort sales manager, Christoph Palliot will be on hand on the Harmonic stand to demonstrate the Accu-Sort barcode imaging systems.

"Accu-Sort`s unattended barcode scanners allows for a fully automated barcode scanning process. Some 80% of all parcels shipped in the USA are scanned by Accu-Sort, for example," Baetu says.

In addition to RFID and in line with its focus on mobility and intelligent data collection and transmission, Harmonic will also be exhibiting a range of new and revolutionary mobile products at Futurex. This includes GPS (global positioning system) and GIS (global information system) mapping solutions as well as barcode scanners and imaging systems, and label printers.

"Utilisation of mobile and wireless technologies is becoming the norm in many businesses - including the auto-identification market, bar-coding, remote data capture and POS arenas in which Harmonic is already an industry leader," he says.

Harmonic represents some of the world`s leading brands in their highly specialised niche markets, including Datalogic, Gotive, Socket CF, Argox, Orient, Datac and Welch Allen-HHP. Harmonic also develops customised software solutions including its eWarehouse and eAssets products.

"We will be exhibiting our warehouse management software solution, eWarehouse, and asset management software, eAssets. In addition, the Gotive H41 wireless enterprise communicator will be on display, as well as the Argox range of label printers. The HHP and Datalogic range of barcode scanners and the Datalogic portable data terminals will complement this," Baetu concludes.