Interactive technology

Bria, HP and Eurostampa collaborate on Nutella label design challenge

Selah Zighelboim — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:26:43 +0000

Bria, a visual generative AI platform, and HP, a global digital printing company, collaborated with Eurostampa on their eighth Envelope project.

The Envelope project is an initiative where brands, technology providers and university students collaborate on creative design challenges while experimenting with technologies, materials and printing. The students challenged Bria and HP to reimagine Nutella's label through the lens of different art movements, including Cubism, Impressionism and Pop Art, with the goal of making each jar a unique artistic statement.

Eurostampa, which makes labels for wine, sparkling wine, spirits, chocolate, food and cosmetics packaging, has been collaborating for several years with students from the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, Italy, and the DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning) Program of the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. The eighth iteration of this initiative, Envelope 8, focused on harnessing AI to create Nutella labels.

Bria uses licensed content to train its models, ensuring responsible image generation with proper royalty attribution. Bria's platform creates customized visual content while complying with copyright and privacy regulations.

Integrating Bria’s platform into HP SmartStream Designer's 'HP Spark' technology enabled the creation of 9,000 unique Nutella labels. This demonstrates AI's potential to transform the variable data printing industry. HP SmartStream Designer, a component of the PrintOS Creativity Power Pack, provides capabilities for variable data printing. The software enables designers to create unlimited variations of packaging designs and utilize 'HP Spark' for automated, AI-driven design generation, all while maintaining consistent quality across large-scale personalized printing runs.

The Envelope 8 project showcased these capabilities by combining AI-generated designs with Eurostampa's HP Indigo digital presses.

'This collaboration represents a significant leap forward in the way leading brands can effectively utilize risk-free visual generative AI while simultaneously prioritizing creativity and personalization by ensuring predictability and controllability of the outcome,' said Yair Adato, co-founder and CEO of Bria. 'By successfully merging visual gen AI applications with industrial printing capabilities, the project sets a new standard for both customized product packaging and the commercial use of visual gen AI as a whole.'

'This proof of concept for Nutella exemplifies the transformative potential of combining gen AI, design expertise and digital printing technology,' said Joan Perez-Pericot, vice president and global head of software and solutions at HP Industrial Print. 'The project demonstrates how collaborative innovation can revolutionize personalized packaging, creating unique consumer experiences while maintaining brand consistency.'

'At Eurostampa, we are committed to fostering innovation and creativity through our partnerships. By involving students in real-world projects, we are advancing label design and providing valuable educational opportunities to ensure that our labels meet the expectations of Generation Z consumers,' said Riccardo Sauvaigne, marketing and innovation director at Eurostampa.

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4 days 9 hours ago

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Bria, HP and Eurostampa collaborate on Nutella label design challenge

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The eighth Envelope challenge focused on designing Nutella labels using AI.

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The eighth Envelope challenge focused on designing Nutella labels using AI.

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Re-Gen installs Polytag Plastic Detection Unit

Akanksha Meena — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:40:29 +0000

Polytag has expanded its network to include one of the UK’s largest material recovery facilities (MRFs). The Plastic Detection Unit by Polytag installed at Re-Gen’s MRF in Newry, Northern Ireland, enables accurate tracking of packaging items during recycling.

Re-Gen’s Newry site is the second-largest MRF in the UK, processing 250,000 tons of commingled household waste each year. In addition to handling a quarter (25 percent) of Northern Ireland’s total waste, the facility also processes materials from England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.

The installation at the site forms a crucial part of Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme, which aims to deploy the company’s Plastic Detection Units across 12 MRFs to cover 50 percent of the UK’s household recycling waste stream. Once detection units are installed in MRFs, brands that apply Polytag’s Invisible Watermarks to their packaging will be able to gain access to never-seen-before data about the lifecycle of their products.

Invisible to the human eye and seamlessly blending in with the packaging, the watermarks are easily spotted by Polytag Detection Units using UV lights. Real-time data collected provides actionable packaging lifecycle intelligence enabling businesses to set meaningful internal ESG targets or use them as a benchmark for legislative reporting, such as extended producer responsibility (epr) and digital waste tracking.

Polytag partners with major brands and retailers, including M&S and Ocado Retail, to enable the tracking and tracing of packaging, incentivize plastic recycling, and set and achieve meaningful ESG targets.

Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, said: ‘Our partnership with Re-Gen marks a significant milestone in optimizing recycling processes across the UK, with the Newry facility being a key site in this mission. As the second largest MRF in the UK, processing vast quantities of mixed-stream waste, our technology will allow the site to manage packaging and waste on a truly large scale - a game-changer for improving recycling rates and driving us closer to a circular economy. After all, what can be measured can be managed, and our technology enables precise tracking, tracing, and detection of materials, which is essential for achieving these goals.

‘Through the Polytag Ecotrace Programme, we aim to revolutionize how stakeholders navigate the circular economy and by deploying our technology at this high-capacity site, we are unlocking invaluable insights and driving innovation for the benefit of all. We’re excited to see where this partnership takes us and how, together, we can continue to lead the charge in enhancing the UK's recycling rates and reducing carbon emissions.’

Joseph Doherty, chief executive of Re-Gen commented on the installation: ‘We are proud to partner with Polytag to trial their innovative Plastic Detection Unit at our Newry facility. At Re-Gen, we are constantly investing in advanced technology to improve our processes and remain leaders in the recycling industry. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to adopting cutting-edge solutions that enhance recycling efficiency and provide valuable insights into packaging lifecycles. By embracing innovations like Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme, we’re driving the industry forward and contributing to a more sustainable future for today and generations to come.’

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5 days 13 hours ago

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Re-Gen installs Polytag Plastic Detection Unit

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The unit enables accurate counting of individual packaging items during the recycling process at Re-Gen's Newry site.

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The unit enables accurate counting of individual packaging items during the recycling process at Re-Gen's Newry site, forming a crucial part of Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme.

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Teklynx receives 2024 Top Software & Tech Award

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:11:09 +0000

Teklynx International, a barcode label software provider, was named one of the winners of this year’s Top Software & Tech award by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. This award spotlights new-to-market software and technology designed to provide automation, efficiency and visibility to the supply chain space.

'We are thrilled to be named one of the 2024 Top Software & Tech providers for Sentinel, our label printing automation solution,' said Thierry Mauger, president of Teklynx International. 'In a recent survey we conducted, nearly 50 percent of respondents said automation is what will help their business the most in the next five years. Sentinel does just that for labeling.'

Sentinel decodes any type of data and automatically maps it to text, barcodes or images on a label template. It enables label printing to be initiated out of a business system. This is valuable for manufacturing environments where data from systems like SAP and Oracle needs to be integrated into the labeling process.

The latest version of Sentinel further streamlines operations. It optimizes print speed, so all print jobs initiate rapidly, even upon startup. It emails pick lists or advanced shipping notices simultaneously with label print requests. It also manages printing processes and return files, like label previews or PDFs, via REST API.

'Automation, sustainability, smart technology, supply chain optimization and risk management were the major themes of this year’s new software and technology solutions. These new products and enhancements are upping the ante in modernizing how product moves through the chain, and I appreciate everything this year’s winners do to ensure the safety, security and sustainability of our supply chains,' said Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

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1 week 2 days ago

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Teklynx receives 2024 Top Software & Tech Award

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This award spotlights technology that provides automation, efficiency and visibility to the supply chain.

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This award spotlights technology that provides automation, efficiency and visibility to the supply chain.

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Avery Dennison RFID inlays and tags certified for recyclability

Akanksha Meena — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:56:58 +0000

Avery Dennison has reported that its AD Pure and AD Pure 95 inlays and tags portfolio has been certified by Western Michigan University for RFID paper hang tags.

The third-party testing, conducted by an independent laboratory, recognizes Avery Dennison’s tagging innovations against the voluntary standard for repulpability and recyclability. Successful testing verifies that Avery Dennison’s RFID inlays are not impacting the recyclability of the paper and corrugated fiberboard.

AD Pure inlays and tags are produced with antenna manufacturing technology that advances sustainability. The antenna comprises paper and pure aluminum components, making the product 100 percent plastic-free. The inlays and tags offer substantial carbon footprint savings of 70-90 percent compared to traditional inlay manufacturing processes, as verified by independent Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) studies.

Avery Dennison has also received How2Recycle ‘pre-qualification’, following a detailed review of the RFID construction when applied to a paper hang tag. Testing determined that the tag structure is eligible for widely recyclable labels. How2Recycle is a part of GreenBlue, an independent 501(c)(3) environmental non-profit organization.

Mathieu De Backer, vice president innovation and sustainability, Avery Dennison Smartrac, said: ‘This is great news for our clients, the industry and society. Having undergone rigorous third-party testing, we are proud the innovations assessed have been certified for RFID paper hang tags. We remain fully committed to bringing more sustainable options to market, supporting clients on their recycling as well as carbon and waste reduction journeys.’

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1 week 2 days ago

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Avery Dennison RFID inlays and tags certified for recyclability

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Successful testing verifies that Avery Dennison’s RFID inlays are not impacting the recyclability of the paper and corrugated fiberboard.

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Successful testing verifies that Avery Dennison’s RFID inlays are not impacting the recyclability of the paper and corrugated fiberboard.

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Esko and Bobst collaborate to develop smartGravure

Adyasha Sinha — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:55:09 +0000

Esko and Bobst have partnered to develop smartGravure for the technology's pre-press and in-line color reading elements. The system can more than halve the color matching time, reduce downtime by 70 percent and supercharge efficiency for gravure printers.

The system enables gravure printers to benefit from a fully digitalized workflow, optimally producing enhanced and consistent quality, minimizing substrate and ink waste, and maximizing efficiency across the print process.

Davide Rossello, Bobst competence center manager and R&D process manager, gravure, said that the project began in 2019 when Esko was undertaking exciting work in Extended Color Gamut printing in prepress. 'In Bobst Italy, we always manufacture gravure,' he said. 'Ink control is the final step on this journey – but while this process began in prepress, it has now moved to the end of the printing process.

'We were looking to introduce something new. Gravure is a stable technology with fewer variables compared to others. It is always the reference point when comparing print quality results, and our focus is on improving productivity, management, and efficiency.'

Rossello explained that the fragmentation of orders, with the varying number of jobs and changeovers, meant that gravure printers traditionally faced challenges when changing the cylinder for each color. The color adjustment process required much time to achieve the highest quality.

'As Bobst did not have a color matching tool, it was left in the hands of the customer,' Rossello said. 'We decided to look at the setup time and tried to simplify all our customers’ machines and digitalize the process’. When printing in ECG, we knew we needed the optimal technology to check the print register so as to simplify color adjustment. We needed first-class prepress color software and faced the challenge of combining it in the machine to fix the color properly. This is where Esko enters the game.'

David Naisby, business development director at Esko, explained that the key technology in developing a smart system was its AVT SpectraLab system—the market-leading technology first launched in 2012, of which SpectraLab XF is the third and latest generation.

'This ISO-certified measurement device took many years to refine, and today we are proud to be able to measure both media strip and within the printed image during press start-up and the printing process,' said Naisby. 'This is an enabling technology for any press manufacturer to take advantage of. Bobst understood how they could turn this into an advantage for their customers to improve productivity, reduce environmental impact and ultimately increase profit.'

The team at Bobst evaluated several technologies and determined that Esko had the complete technology to address their technological needs. 'Working together, the two companies’ R&D departments developed software that simplifies the operator interaction with the AVT SpectraLab XF and allows live density and color information to be displayed on the Bobst user interface,' said Naisby. 'Testing during 2022 produced excellent results, and we can now match the readings from the press to the X-Rite eXact Spectrophotometer to be within one Delta E, the industry-accepted tolerances.

'With the trend for shorter run lengths, color matching and the associated waste and time creates a major bottleneck which leads to unacceptable costs for the converter,' he said. 'With smartGravure, we have taken a major step forward with this technology.'

Bobst’s Rossello added: 'Essentially, Esko gave us the recipe for how to fix the color in the machine digitally. As a result, we now have 100 percent control over what is happening in the press with smartGravure. With this new tool, users can address any misregistration, tone value increase (TVI) differences and color control, all in-line. Delta E tolerances are guaranteed, and it also enables the adjustment of process colors, which we can measure in case of any deviation, effectively closing the loop on color matching in the press itself.

'In controlling production, repeatability can be assured as everything is digitalized. The machine is now adjusting to bring everything in-line with the benchmark,' he said. 'This is a new technology that can be implemented in a gravure press to give output for a customer that is fully controlled from the first to the last.'

With around 50 percent of time spent on setup and 50 percent on production, the development experts at Esko and Bobst analyzed the data. They determined the bottlenecks in the gravure print process.

'We recognized that the customer was spending anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours color matching,' added Rossello. 'Obviously, that’s a significant amount of time to lose. Because we are machine manufacturers, we never looked at the chemical composition of the inks used in spot colors. We have an excellent relationship with Esko, and as we needed a partner from the prepress world, an expert in software, and preferably a technology that integrated with the Esko Automation Engine workflow technology to read composition and color, it made perfect sense to work together.'

Esko was a key part of the project from day one. The first fingerprint was printed with an Esko logo. Naisby explained, 'The dream of all converters is to run a press automatically without having to adjust color. With this partnership, we are proud to empower operators to achieve their goals.

'The fundamental part of this process is the accurate measurement of color, as everything in the workflow depends upon this,' he said. 'Secondly, the color data workflow has to be simplified. Press operators cannot enter complex target density and color values press-side. The SpectraLab XF is connected to the X-Rite ColorCert product in the Esko S2 cloud technology to achieve this. Specific job color target information is sent to the press, automatically setting up the SpectraLab XF with the correct values for each printing unit.

Measuring at high frequency during high production speeds, Esko’s AVT SpectraLab XF ensures perfect color matching and consistency to a brand’s specifications. It also helps reduce waste by alerting operators for color density deviations and assisting them in getting back to needed color tolerances. With Bobst's new color control abilities, this ability is translated into an automated closed-loop color technology.

'Our first test was in 2019, and now we have it finally set up on a machine in our competence center,' added Rossello. 'In terms of the difference smartGravure makes, it is simply better. It automatically adjusts the base and color extenders to bring the color to the target density.

'In tests, 94.6 percent of the extended color gamut has been achieved using smartGravure, with the lowest still an impressive 89 percent. A range of 89-95 percent is surprisingly high, with only some very specialist colors missing.'

'What has taken hours until today can now be significantly reduced to under 20 minutes, depending on the job and colors involved,' said Rossello. 'To replace the cylinder, from the moment the machine stops, it is now just a few mechanical changes, and we don’t have to wash anything. Color adjustment should not be needed for a new job, so we can change the cylinder much faster and be back up and running on the new job in less than 20 minutes.'

Naisby said that in terms of actual savings and benefits, the numbers are as impressive as they are staggering. 'The increased efficiency means that idle time is reduced by as much as 70 percent, with what used to take 90 minutes or so reduced to less than half an hour. This creates additional advantages regarding the availability of presses and an overall improved productivity.'

To measure color, gravure operators need to print a test run – which involves starting and stopping several times as they achieve color-matching speed, printing around 300-350 meters each time before testing and repeating until the color is perfect. 'That’s a lot of printed material wasted, both in terms of substrate and ink, as well as energy and time used,' said Naisby. 'With smartGravure, this can be achieved with one single stop and start, meaning as much as a 60 percent reduction in materials saved at the changeover.

'Not only does this deliver big benefits in terms of material gains, but it also further prevents wastage by enabling print customers to recognize a problem early in the run rather than when the whole reel is complete.'

Regarding color quality, Rossello explained that a Pantone validation test returned the first ‘Print totality of colors’ rating ever to be attained by a gravure printer. 'This was in one run, on the RS 6003 press in our competence center, with 2,369 colors, where we achieved a 92.1 percent rating,' he said.

'With this new tool developed by Bobst and Esko, gravure printers can enjoy an end-to-end digitalized process – enabling them to meet and exceed the highest industry standards with ease,' concluded Rossello.

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1 week 2 days ago

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Esko and Bobst collaborate to develop smartGravure

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The new system ensures color quality, saves time and reduces waste.

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The new system ensures color quality, saves time and reduces waste.

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Rosas Maschinenbau showcases digital printing and RFID expertise at Labelexpo Americas

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:40:22 +0000

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ABI Research names Avery Dennison leader in DPP vendors

Akanksha Meena — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:02:26 +0000

Avery Dennison has been named the overall market leader in ABI Research’s first-ever Digital Product Passport (DPP) vendor competitive ranking report.

The competitive assessment by the global technology intelligence firm provides an in-depth examination of the leading DPP software providers and their solution capabilities, ahead of the legal implementation mandates. DPP aims to improve traceability and transparency along a product's entire value chain while driving the management and sharing of product-related data, helping to ensure sustainable use, prolonged life, and circularity. DPPs will be legally required in the EU for several product categories as part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), with the rollout of DPPs for textiles expected no later than 2030.

‘The analysis focused on twelve criteria segmented across innovation and implementation,’ explained Rithika Thomas, sustainable technologies senior analyst at ABI Research. ‘The innovation criteria included software platform use and navigation, data management, data governance, interoperability, and innovative platform features. The implementation criteria included commercial success and market share, geographical coverage, supply chain mapping, ecosystem partners and case studies, solution adaptability, deployment support, and time to value.’

The ABI Research assessment notes that Avery Dennison has benefited from a first-mover advantage following the launch of its Digital Product Passport as a Service in October 2023. It also references the company’s expertise and long-standing experience in supply chain transparency tools, open modular architecture, established ecosystem partnerships, ERP integrations, and downstream circularity partners.

‘Avery Dennison leads in the implementation category due to its global presence, depth in supply chain mapping, and ability to cater to multiple product groups ahead of the mandatory regulation,’ added Thomas.

In addition to being declared the overall leader, Avery Dennison was also recognized as an innovation leader by ABI Research, with its atma.io connected product cloud platform viewed as ‘exceeding market requirements and pushing the boundaries of DPP's potential in a competitive marketplace’. The assessment also commends Avery Dennison’s scaled deployments, vertical adaptability, and commercialized solutions available in the market today.

‘Securing the top spot in the DPP vendor competitive ranking is both an honor and testament to our commitment to advancing sustainability, circularity and transparency,’ commented Max Winograd, vice president of digital and hardware innovation, solutions group at Avery Dennison. ‘This accomplishment further fuels our work in paving the way for large-scale adoption of DPPs and enabling global businesses to prepare for the upcoming regulation.’

Along with being the market leader as a DPP software provider, Avery Dennison is also part of the CIRPASS-2 consortium, the EU-funded partnership that aims to prepare the ground for the gradual piloting and deployment of DPPs. Within CIRPASS-2, the Textile Loop pilot, led by Avery Dennison’s atma.io, aims to create a holistic circular textile system powered by DPP data and services.

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1 week 3 days ago

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ABI Research names Avery Dennison leader in DPP vendors

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ABI's assessment analyzes top Digital Product Passport software providers and their technology ahead of legal mandates.

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ABI's assessment analyzes top Digital Product Passport software providers and their technology ahead of legal mandates.

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Tageos receives new certifications for EOS-241 M830 inlay

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 01:33:57 +0000

Tageos, a specialist in high-performance RFID inlays and tags, has received new ARC certifications for its EOS-241 M830 inlay. The company said it is the first 42 x 16mm product on the market to receive performance certifications for the important R and Y2 specs from the Auburn University RFID Lab.

Benefiting from EOS-241 M830’s new ARC certifications, retail suppliers, service bureaus and converters can now streamline tag management and manufacturing for large RFID deployments across retail apparel and general merchandise categories with a single ultra-compact, high-performance RAIN RFID inlay.

As RFID technology has evolved and requirements have changed, some ARC specifications have been retired and replaced recently.

Under the newer ARC specs R and Y2, the 42 x 16mm inlay option was no longer available. Without Tageos’ EOS-241 M830, suppliers would have to switch to larger RAIN RFID inlays to comply with RFID mandates and retailer programs, making it much more difficult to manage and apply labels to different categories of goods.

With the newly certified inlay, this form factor can now be used on all items under ARC specifications F, O, Q, R, W5, W6 and Y2, making it much easier to comply with large-scale RFID programs.

The EOS-241 M830 delivers high-performance readability on a wide selection of different types of apparel and general merchandise. This also includes items that have been historically challenging to tag with a small antenna design, including sporting goods, art supplies and stationery.

The inlay features the Impinj M830 chip, with improved read sensitivity (-1.5 dB better than the previous generation IC), AutoTune performance and better backscatter efficiency.

Tageos has significantly expanded its primary range of retail inlays in the last two years while reducing the inlay antenna area by more than 55 percent. Additionally, the Impinj M830 chip is smaller than its predecessor. Combining a smaller IC and improved inlay size in less than half the area reduces the amount of raw materials needed, thereby reducing the total carbon footprint and increasing sustainability.

‘The EOS-241 M830 represents a significant achievement in meeting technologically demanding performance specifications in an ultra-compact 42 x 16mm form factor,’ said Chris Reese, chief technology officer at Tageos. ‘Tageos' expertise and commitment to RFID innovation, sustainability and performance have enabled us to meet the needs of the ever-evolving retail market. We're excited to help simplify retail compliance for our customers and retail suppliers with this trailblazing RAIN RFID inlay.’

‘Impinj is proud to be the IC supplier for Tageos’ innovative new inlay,’ said Gahan Richardson, executive vice president at Impinj. ‘We are dedicated to driving RAIN innovation and delivering the market’s highest-performance ICs, which make the most performant inlay designs possible. The EOS-241 M830 is a great example of how the industry continues to serve the needs of enterprises around the globe, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with Tageos as we pursue our mission to connect everything.’

The EOS-241 M830 is available in dry, wet and paper-face formats.

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1 week 5 days ago

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Tageos receives new certifications for EOS-241 M830 inlay

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Ultra compact and versatile RFID inlay awarded ARC certification for Specs R and Y2.

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Ultra compact and versatile RFID inlay awarded ARC certification for Specs R and Y2.

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Beontag teams up with Michelin to develop smart tires

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:43:35 +0000

Beontag, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of self-adhesives and smart tags such as RFID and NFC, has launched a new partnership with tire manufacturer Michelin that will see Beontag’s technology incorporated into millions of new commercial and passenger tires over the next two years and beyond.

The UHF embedded tag, which consists of a jointly designed pod and antenna using state-of-the-art chips and materials, will enable complete traceability of all new tires, including manufacture date and storage location, distribution, installation and replacement, refurbishment and more, for the entire life cycle of the tire.

The partnership between Beontag and Michelin was first established in 2019 when the two companies began collaborating on the brand-new HF RFID embedded tag from scratch. After years of R&D development and months of reliability tests to reach the desired level of quality, the result is an exceptionally durable and reliable connected tire, capable of functioning for up to one million driven kilometers, including through the retreading process common for truck tires.

Beontag’s RFID-enabled tires provide the ability to trace the entire life cycle of a tire, from its origin in one of Michelin’s manufacturing facilities worldwide all the way through to disposal and recycling. Importantly, in the context of tires set to be sold in the European market, this traceability technology from Beontag also ensures that all new tires will comply with upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulations (ESPR), which mandates the need for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and will come into effect for tires from 2028-2030.

Speaking about the partnership with Michelin, Beontag Global VP of Digital Transformation Suchi Srinivasan said: 'We are enormously proud to share what we have achieved so early in our partnership with Michelin. As an innovation-led, problem-solving partner for our customers, we have worked hard to develop the necessary technology and durability capabilities in these RFID-enabled tires, making sure they are suited to the needs of modern vehicles and their drivers. I look forward to continuing this journey with Michelin to drive business and promote sustainability.'

Speaking about the new tire technology, Laurent Couturier, RFID system designer at Michelin said: 'RFID technology in tires plays a pivotal role in optimizing operations and enhancing efficiency. This system enables precise, automated tracking of each tire from production to retreading or recycling. The RFID tire-tag improves industrial performance while addressing today’s ecological imperatives.

In collaboration with Beontag, we have developed an RFID tag that meets both the economic and environmental challenges of the future, paving the way for new mobility solutions.'

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2 weeks 3 days ago

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Beontag teams up with Michelin to develop smart tires

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Embedded technology will enable manufacturers, distributors, fleet managers and consumers to track the life cycle of a tire, promoting long-term durability, efficiency and sustainability

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Embedded RFID technology enables manufacturers, distributors, fleets and consumers to track the life cycle of Michelin tires.

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GS1 UK and GS1 US partner with io.tt

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 22:55:23 +0000

GS1 UK and GS1 US have named io.tt, an enterprise connected products platform, as their official partner to scale the wider benefits of QR codes for brands in support of the global transition from linear barcodes to 2D QR codes.

The collaboration will see GS1 UK, GS1 US and io.tt working together with brand owners, retailers and the wider supply chain to make the transition to accepting QR codes powered by GS1 at the point-of-sale (POS) - referred to as Sunrise 2027. (Read more in the latest issue of L&L magazine).

io.tt believes that by working in partnership with GS1 UK and GS1 US, brands can use the switch to tell dynamic brand stories and open a new media channel that they own themselves - one that can engage consumers with unique experiences, collect first-party data through consumer interaction, and ensure regulatory compliance across a brand owner’s portfolio. To ensure this future reality for its clients, io.tt has also verified its capabilities as a GS1 UK and GS1 US-compliant platform.

Globally, GS1 aims to ensure a comprehensive rollout by 2027. To prepare, retailers need to ensure their POS systems are equipped with scanners capable of reading both traditional barcodes and QR codes powered by GS1. The shift has already begun, with the new technology being tested in 48 countries across the world, representing 88 percent of the world’s GDP. The changes mean, in practice, that a QR barcode can convey information to the retailer and the consumer.

Brand owners and retailers, including Barilla, L’Oreal, Nestle, P&G, Yili, Alibaba and Lidl, signed up to support the switch earlier this year, recognizing the multiple benefits for both supply chain and consumers that can be achieved through the switch.

The transition promises to aid regulatory compliance, transparency and sustainability, as well as enhance consumer engagement and deliver wider business solutions through connected experiences.

Applications can cover many areas, helping solve business challenges such as increasing loyalty and engagement, reducing consumer first-party data collection costs and ensuring compliance across portfolios with regulations such as the EU’s ESPR.

io.tt already works with brands including Walgreens Boots Alliance, Estée Lauder Companies and PepsiCo supporting connected experiences such as driving Digital Product Passport (DPP) compliance, using NFC tags to authenticate products, and creating product support experiences to drive usage.

‘We’ve intentionally been a little late to the party, observing very closely from the sidelines while we got our clients (some of the world’s biggest brand owners) actually ready to scale across their businesses to meaningfully embrace these exciting new changes to the mighty QR Code,’ said Cameron Worth, CEO and founder of io.tt. ‘Our io.tt platform generates billions of QR Codes for brand packaging annually, and we expect to reach 1 trillion IDs under management in 2025. This means we take this partnership very seriously as we believe wholeheartedly in the potential opportunities QR codes powered by GS1 will drive going forward.’

Anne Godfrey, CEO of GS1 UK, said: "The global transition to 2D QR codes powered by GS1 represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionize how businesses operate, connect with consumers, and meet the constantly evolving demands of a digital-first world.

‘This partnership with io.tt is a significant step forward in helping brands leverage the power of GS1 standards to deliver richer product information, ensure compliance, and create more meaningful consumer experiences. At GS1 UK, we are committed to supporting businesses in preparing for this transformation, ensuring they not only meet the challenges of today but thrive in a more transparent, sustainable, and connected future.’

Posted date

2 weeks 4 days ago

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GS1 UK and GS1 US partner with io.tt

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Partnership to help scale QR codes across the world’s biggest brand owners and help transition from linear barcodes.

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Partnership to help scale QR codes across the world’s biggest brand owners and help transition from linear barcodes.

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