Paxar Corp.

Paxar Corp., a provider of bar code, RFID and identification technologies for the retail supply chain and the supplier of Monarch products and services, has announced that its complete Gen2 RFID printing/encoding plus tag and label solution is available for immediate shipment. All of Paxar’s RFID solutions, including the Gen2 components, will be demonstrated at the EPCglobal U.S. Conference, starting September 13 in Atlanta.

The Monarch 9855 RFMP multi-protocol printer/encoder has been fully tested and qualified to operate with Monarch Gen2 Smart Labels using the EPC Gen2 inlays from Texas Instruments. "We’ve thoroughly tested the performance of the Monarch printer/encoder and our Gen2 Smart Labels, and received outstanding results," said Rick Bauer, senior director, RFID Technical Research. "Our initial Gen2 inlays are from Texas Instruments and are very reliable. Paxar customers will see the same kind of reliability, with encode and read rates approaching 100%, that we’ve experienced with our very successful Class 1 solutions. We are so confident of it, we’ve extended our Smart Label Performance Guarantee to the new Gen2 product."

The Monarch Smart Label Performance Guarantee, now covering the Gen2 products, offers a full refund, PLUS an additional 10%, for any label returned to Paxar for inspection that could not be programmed by the Monarch printer/encoder, or cannot be read. "Since each Monarch Smart Label used in a Monarch printer/ encoder undergoes three separate rounds of tests, we are so sure that users will achieve 100% read rates, we are able to offer 110% credit for any product that does not perform," added Bauer. Other Gen2 inlays, from a wide variety of manufacturers, will be added to the program by the end of September.

All of the materials needed to produce Gen2 products are in-house. Orders placed will be manufactured and shipped within Paxar’s normal lead times. "That means our customers can be using production Gen2 smart labels in their Wal-Mart, DoD and other compliance initiatives immediately," added Bauer. The Gen2 solution is completely data stream compatible with Paxar’s previous RFID printer/encoders; therefore no data stream changes are required for customers already using other Monarch RFID products.

"Texas Instruments congratulates Paxar on their release of Gen2 solutions based on our inlays and is pleased to be Paxar’s first qualified Gen2 inlay provider," said Julie England, vice president of Texas Instruments and general manager for Texas Instruments RFid Systems.

The Gen2 standard protocol promises global interoperability, faster read rates, more dense reading capabilities, improved anti-collision algorithms, and improved security. Paxar and Texas Instruments are both Rapid Start licensees, as announced by Intermec in early September.