Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products

In the past, general consumers always feel indifferent about RFID system for consumer products because they are not benefited from any of this IT investment on this from the brand owner.

It is because the RFID system that commonly used for logistics and industrial environment are UHF (ultra high frequency, which features a long range and multiple tag reading capability in RFID technologies)  which is also restricted by regional RF-regulation (check here) and highly dependent on infrastructures; it requires a proper industrial reader with a specific program to read.

(Photo shows the RFID price tag which will no longer be useful after leaving the shop)

Besides, there are many systems established for the logistics between suppliers, brand owner, warehouse, 3rfd Party Logistics (3PLs), retail shops. One single system that can connect all these 5 parties can be a solution but it is very expensive and required a lot of support and training.

Above problems can easily be fixed by NFC, which store websites easily accessible with the use of an NFC-enabled android smartphone without any app. Industrial NFC readers are generally much cheaper than UHF counterpart as well.

Now the rise of UHF & NFC hybrid tag opens a whole new opportunity for brand-owner to reconsider how they can connect with suppliers and interact with the general customers, instead of using 2 separate labels, now with the use of ONE single label, the product data is now accessible by consumer and all parties of the supply chain. 

The hybrid label is a standard ISO18000-6C UHF label and it is also a NFC-forum type II tag, which is recognizable by any NFC smartphone.

Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products. It provides more engagement with end-users.

Case A
A luxurious mechanical wristwatch brand can now have a multi-purpose warranty card that
i) readable by NFC smartphone for warranty and product registration; and
ii) readable by retail shop desktop interactive mirror with plays marketing video if the warranty card with 1m reading range to the UHF reader device.

Case B
A famous brand liquor can now have bottle label that using NFC for anti-counterfeit and UHF for production.

Case C
A professional camping tent brand can make use of the NFC to interact with the consumer and instruct the users step by step how to setup and get the tent back to the bag. And the same tag is also being used as product ID which associates with the model number in the manufacturing.

Case D
A luxurious ladies fashions and hang-bags brand can use the hybrid label for its raw materials logistics to control their trademarked leather material stock control. Their international supplier can all use easy-access NFC for data input, whilst the brand owners warehouse can use UHF for bulk scanning for better effectiveness.

Case E
Baggage tag ID can now be detectable in their conveyor belt to x-ray. It is also accessible through NFC smartphone for pictures upload and boarding information updates by the operators.

For more information, please check the ProductoID solution page; Q&A about Dual Frequency label

Hybrid RFID Tag fights Baggage Loss in Cruise-line Business (Business case sharing)

"The cruise ship has set sail, and I still haven't received my luggage." This complaint is the worst nightmare for any cruise ship hotel director. "It may take weeks or more to recover the lost luggage, or never." A hotel director of a luxury megaton cruise ship reported.

To find one lost-baggage may seem challenging enough. However, the embarkation is even more challenging; during each embarkation process, their staff has to load up to 6000 pieces of checked baggage on board and deliver them to the correct rooms within just 2 hours, all taking place behind the sight of the boarding passengers.

How to deliver passenger's the "checked-luggage" into the correct cabin (100% correct with zero lost) during a short-embarkation time? It is a big question which troubles all cruise lines.

A cruise line in Hong Kong has recently made the best uses of NFC and UHF combined card (dual frequency tag), to keep track on all passenger's "checked-luggage" (the baggage to-be-delivered to rooms by porters and cruise staffs).

During the embarkation, all luggage will be attached with a dual-frequency tag on, with a listing of the guest's name and cabin room number using re-writable ink.

Hundreds of UHF RFID readers and thousands of IP cameras has been installed on the ceiling on board to monitor the whole process of baggage delivery starting from port-side check-in, loading on a trolley, boarding by staff, and individual delivery to the cabin, to prevent any loss of baggage.

(Photo shows Luggage pictures are captured by smartphone app and stored in the system.)

Dual-frequency tags provide the best mix of equipment on the ship. Stationary RFID readers use UHF (ultra high frequency) for long range reading, they are strategically positioned inside the cruise ship, such as shell door luggage lobbies, halls, aisles/passageway and lift lobbies; sensitive enough to capture the passage of any tagged luggage.


On the other hand, HF (high frequency, NFC is one of the HF) is used in check-in and staff's delivery confirmation because HF/NFC is a very common feature on staff's handheld terminals. These staff's multi-function handheld terminals are always installed with numerous apps for other business flow such as voice-com, tasks-assignment or reporting, which would be very expensive and bulky to equip UHF features.

All baggage-delivery staff will use HF mobile android handheld for 1-to-1 baggage scanning, and also record the room number after they have delivered them, simply by tapping the handheld on the door tag. The baggage's image is also recorded in the system, just in case.

In case there are lost-baggage reported, this baggage tracking system will tell the baggage location whether it is on the ship or still on the port. It is very common due to the overloaded x-ray machines or detained by security, and the passengers on board weren't notified.

The system owner has soon found this system really does pay off by reduced luggage lost and late departure penalty from the port;  It also rebuilds the confidence of passenger to use checked-luggage service; Faster embarkation does boost the income from other entertainment business on board. And finally, the improved cruise line brand image is also invaluable.

The comprehensive UHF RFID reader system installed on board will further extend their functions to the SCM (supply chain management) in cargo loading, hotel-asset tracking such as uniform or linen tracking (prevent the loss of hotel towels) and personnel location tracking, etc.

For any inquiry, please send email to sales@hk-rfid.com

www.hk-rfid.com

Material testing labs use RFID to trace specimen progress and release certificate (Business Case Sharing)

Hong Kong RFID ltd has installed a RFID-enabled specimen tracking system (RFID-TSDS) for a commercial construction material testing laboratory in Hong Kong. The testing lab wants to improve their professional corporate image and specimen traceability, so they are now using RFID as a tool to trace the process from collection til the printing of reports.

During the on-site sampling, the gathered sample will be given a specimen ID, with the GPS location and staff  ID recorded using a mobile android terminal. The samples will then be shipped to laboratory by a league of vehicles. The ID will be associated with a series of measurement equipment, environmental conditions measurement, and the testing results/photos by automatic data acquisition, with the least human interruption. And finally, the lab manager can review the data and sign the report with their professional judgments or comments.

The installed RFID system supports 2 types specimen; steel rebar, and concrete sample cube. The far-range UHF technology provides continuous ID-reading during sample measurement, even when doing disruptive compression test or elongation test. This system ensures a 100% association of Sample ID with the measurement data and avoids manual tempering the testing results. And of course, the UHF has it's unique innate ID being recorded and memory being well-protected from copying and overwrite.

Equipment that supports RFID. 

• Compression test equipment (INSTRON)
• Bending and elongation test
• Weight measurement
• 3D size measurement

For more information, please direct contact: Sales@hk-rfid.com

LPG Cylinder Management using RFID (Business Case Sharing)

A Hong Kong liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier has recently installed our RFID system to the management of LPG cylinder. We have provided a total RFID solution includes all software and hardware needed.

RFID instead of Barcode
Instead of using barcode as the method to identify and manage LPG cylinder, RFID has been suggested to the clients as its abilities to survive under harsh environment, store larger amount of information and its characteristics of longer lifespan, enhanced reading range and speed.

Besides, using RFID enables the client to have a better and convenient ongoing management and maintenance record. Information and status can easily be updated by tapping the tag with a handheld reader (or android smartphone).

Activity and Maintenance Record can work with CRM
With this RFID-enabled management system, every LPG cylinder will be tagged with a RFID tag as a unique tracking identifier. Within the workflow, every cylinder must be identified each time when they are sent out, consumed and returned. Each LPG cylinder, after returned, will undergo inspection and condition monitoring. These processes will be performed by different parties (the manager, the worker, the driver....) at different locations with RFID readers and those records will be updated to the same web-based platform.

Web-based Management System 
The web-based management system provides a convenient path for different users to access and update the workflow and the history record of each LPG cylinder. Item lists, user lists, history records and etc. are all available to retrieve on web. Besides, the instant location of each cylinder can also be traced by GPS and synchronised through 4G data cellular.



For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com OR visit http://www.hk-rfid.com/asset--management-system

Bakery Shop uses Washable RFID to ensure Uniform Hygiene (Business Case Sharing)

A 50-year-old Japanese bakery (the client) in Hong Kong uses washable RFID tag for uniform tracking. This specialized system will assist the company through the entire life cycle of each individual uniform from purchasing to daily use, cleaning, and disposal.

Hygiene is very important for food industry, from production to retail shop front; The client has newly set up centralized laundry-house, deployed latest system, to manage employee's uniform;

The system works by embedding a UHF tag inside each uniform before distributing to each employee. The UHF tag is specially designed to endure laundry washing cycles. Each UHF tag also carries a unique ID so that the company can sort out different uniforms and know that where the uniform comes from (which shop) and who it belongs to (employee).

Each tag can withstand over 200 cycles of dry-cleans; and more for standard washing.

With this solution, we can see how a centralized uniform laundry can improve their process efficiency by easier sorting using RFID, i.e. fully utilize the wash drum space by mixing different origins of uniforms; and sort the uniform effectively before delivery.

It also helps companies to better control the hygiene and condition of employee's uniform and hence they can present a neater, higher quality and more professional image to customers.

Step 1 Tagging: iron the washable RFID tag, 200C for just 10sec
Step 2 Associate: link the clothes with labor ID or retail shop location
Step 3 Trace: start washing count, and monitor through website

Overall, this customized laundry tag solution can help the company to achieve:
1. Enhanced uniform laundry efficiency and down-costing
2. More accountable and visible distribution network
3. Loss and damage reduction, and most importantly
4. Effectively control uniform hygiene standard and present a better brand image

(photo shows the ironing process to adhere heat sealable RFID tag on uniform)

Keyword: Gym, hotel, linen, hospital, uniform, washable, fabric, RFID

For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com OR visit http://www.hk-rfid.com/asset--management-system

Coffee Machine Rental Business using NFC for CRM (Business Case Sharing)

A catering food provider who also runs a business of Café machine rental has used NFC tag for asset tracking and rental service renewal. 

Faster Rental Renewal
Their clients (catering business owner) can now check the rental service, tapping a Smartphone on the NFC tag on the machine; and reorder coffee beans or ice-cream in the future.

The “total coffee solution” provider provides catering machines which include all sorts of fully/semi-automatic coffee machines; capsule systems; brewer and even ice-cream refrigerators. They also provide coffee-business consultancy, after sales care and maintenance of the machines.

Do Not Use QR-code or Barcode
Professional coffee machines are not cheap to own and to run. The on-going maintenance and managing of such distributed assets always troubled the client. While the barcode is the easiest and cheapest solution, the label is vulnerable in catering environment where is always wet and crowded. While QR-code shares most of the NFC functions but its copiable, good for marketing but it is easy to cheat for any asset tracking or attendance taking. 

Locate the Asset by GPS
By tapping smartphone (with a business App installed) on NFC chip, it can provide an instant linkage between machine ID (on NFC chip) and the GPS location of the smartphone. The machine owner can well-aware of the machine location and the condition as reported by the technicians/users on-site, through a simple web-access.

This GPS information also helps to trace the business location which may be bound by rental contracts. 

The use of NFC on-metal tag becomes easier as the NFC smartphone is so popular and affordable. 

Faster Replenishment

In the future, the café shop owner can also replenish the consumables through the NFC tag to order to run the business; such as coffee capsule, coffee beans, sugars, milk, etc.

Hong Kong RFID has provided the NFC on-metal tag and developed an App for this application. This system also fits for any business which involves frequent machine or equipment ID checking for stock-take or maintenance operations; such as Audio Video equipments, refurbishing service or cleaning services. 

More about RFID-enabled asset management system, LINK.

For details, please contact info@hk-rfid.com

Hong Kong International Building and Hardware Fair

Oct 2015 

The 10th Hong Kong International Building and Hardware Fair has just come to the end gratefully. The exhibition has lasted for four days, from 28/10 – 31/10 and has successfully attracted tremendous amount of construction-related visitors and exhibitors worldwide. All participants have benefited from this opportunity to communicate and shared the latest technology that applicable in construction industry. 

We are pleased to be invited to hold a talk about the latest technological development in building construction industry  

Internet of Things for Building (IoTB) 
Being the major theme of our exhibition this time, IoTB has successfully drawn numerous attentions from the visitors.
IoTB is a well-designed system which supported by both software (online cloud platform, called BCDS) and hardware (RFID tags and readers).
With embedding RFID tags in pre-production stage, IoTB aims to link all building components such as precast concrete walls, floor panels, aluminum window frames etc. to BCDS online cloud platform. In order to enhance accuracy and convenience in construction management, IoTB allows users to record production data, monitoring the progress of the construction and obtaining real-time management information such as cost effective indicators, assembly report, etc.

An online cloud platform for both IoTB and Gearform™

GearForm™ 
GearForm™ is a cloud-based lifting gear record system that attractive to visitors who need to manage a huge number of lifting gears in construction site. This cloud platform which also provides an auto-alert on the expiry date of those safety forms.

Above are some passive RFID tag can be used in both IoTB and GearForm™ system 

Proximity Safety
Worker safety in construction site is another topic that visitors were interested in. Proximity Safety is an RF fencing technology for worker safety which adopt dual-frequency mode with two distinct frequency bands to provide extra safety level. Adopting Proximity Safety in construction site provides a multi-person, 360° all round and an adjustable protective fencing for both worker and machine.

These are the alarm and reader that mount on the vehicle (left) This is the tag that mount on worker’s helmet (right) 

Hong Kong RFID is glad to achieve great success in this exhibition. We are looking forward to participating in future exhibition to promote our RFID products and solutions to the public and facilitate exchange of ideas in the industry.



For details, please contact info@hk-rfid.com

Review on deco fingernail, with LED flashing using NFC

Typical deco nails can no longer satisfy ladies on pursuing beauty on their fingernail. And now even mobile technologies can also play a part in improving the shininess of the deco nails. This is one of the latest applications of NFC technology which can be defined as a perfect combination of beauty and technology.

Today, we are going to share about a latest décor on your fingernails, using NFC to trigger extra-shiny effect. Please study this carefully before you out of words in front of your girlfriend/wife who is showing off her LED blinking fingernail.


This is the little chip that provides flashing LED on deco nail, the deco nail that will light up when your fingers place near NFC working devices (or any 13.56MHz RF field). Basically, it is just a simple tuned antenna coil with a LED.

Size of the chip 

A 0.5mm thick NFC tag embedded, enables your nail flashing when you using your phone, making your payment at POS terminal or entering office/home with your contactless card.

Flashing…Flashing…Flashing…

The LED light can actually keep lighting

up, if other NFC chips that with IC are

near

FAQ

Will it be dangerous to put a NFC & LED chip inside your deco nail?

I can say that it is nearly impossible to trigger any accident as there is no battery inside.

Will the nail be hot if it keeps flashing?

As no energy is required or generated, your nail will keep blinking without emitting any heat.

Will the NFC function drains my phone’s battery?

Switching on the NFC function for a whole day will only cost less than 5% of your phone’s battery.

Will the NFC embedded in the nail affect other devices that using NFC (e.g. octopus, access card, payment card……)?

As the NFC embedded in the deco nail is not complied with IC chip. That’s mean your flashing nail will not affect the function of other NFC devices.

Things you should know

1.         NFC only works when your NFC mobile phone is unlocked.

2.         Passive-type NFC only works on android smartphone, so if you are iPhone (any, include 6/6+) user, you can ignore this by now or you can send your complaint to Apple on why they locked up the NFC.

3.         LED deco nail also works on any proximity card reader that uses 13.56MHz.

4.         If you are using your phone, texting or playing games…. You cannot see your flashing nails since your fingers are the back of the phone.

5.         To get the best and brightest flashes, your fingers should put closely to where the NFC smartphone antenna is located (different from model to model)

6.         The only function of this LED chip is flashing only. No other use (interacting with NFC apps/storing data…..) is available.

Other uses

If you are a non-deco nail user, you can stick this LED chip to anywhere you want (access card, payment card……), it will light up when it is near any NFC reader.

Normally, it can work on Octopus, contact-less access card of your home, office….. I can sure that the LED chip will not affect the function of your card.
In our test, our octopus card can be read by the tablet successfully with the LED light blinking.

BUT sometimes there may be special cases that the chip doesn’t work well. It depends on different versions of octopus card (different versions of octopus have different structure) and different types of reader that your card and LED chip reacted with.

Just like that, it will flash when your Octopus is placed near NFC reader     

If you are interested in NFC or you want to know more about other NFC products, please feel free to visit our webpage: https://www.nfc-shop.net/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Raspberry Pi will change the game in RFID industry [Insight]

Anyone has spent some time on googling "RFID" will soon realise comprehending RFID-product should earn you a doctorate degree. The toughest part is the "RF" in this 4-character word, it involves the selection of right RF reader and tag, system design and installation, not to mention the expensive middle-ware software and application software part. These factors lead to long sales and project cycle, eventually unsuccessful user experience.

HK-RFID has over 10 years of RFID design and deployment experience and we believe Raspberry Pi might be the game changing solution, bringing extra value in the whole RFID value-chain. 

Raspberry Pi is a low-cost mini-computer, with a proper program installed, it will be capable to handle basic RFID reader setting, data processing and provide data output. The user-skills required should be as simple as typical household WiFi router setting. 

We are developing a web-interface on Raspberry Pi (Project code: IMPRESS), so user-friendly that user doesn't require any programming skill or RFID knowledge. One single set of Raspberry Pi and RFID reader would be enough to cope with instant DEMO request, and small-scale business applications such as Attendance, Inventory Listing, Media trigger, etc. All it takes is just mapping IDs to what your names and actions, with a few clicks on a web-interface. 

Automatic data delivery to server by Raspberry Pi, in a customised format, would make system integration so easy that the programmer no need to study the long API document or call any library. They just need to set the network setting and all data will be auto-update into database. 

HK-RFID is capable of integrating Raspberry Pi into any of its RFID reader in their product series, as one single product. However, doing so may add up extra-cost to the product and bringing less value because users have fewer upgrade options. 

Raspberry Pi, as a part of RFID system, will accelerate the wide-use of RFID, including the evolving Bluetooth low energy (or BLE, BT4.0, ibeacon) and near-field-communication (NFC) technologies . The same platform can apply to any BLE dongle to perform more network or database related function. 

We welcome any comment and partnership, or proposal of co-development. Please provide your comment by send to our email: info@hk-rfid.com

Tree are lethal, especially in highly populated cities. That are why we need Tree Tagging!

Whenever there is a strong typhoon or heavy rainstorm, many trees would fall down as a natural process. But in highly populated cities such as Hong Kong, the falling trunks are highly lethal.

The management of trees is a hot topic in Hong Kong; tree experts and inspection teams hit the road and look at the trees by naked eye; general public are encouraged to report the threatening trees. How to keep track on the record of trees? And how to report the location of tree?

Here comes the solution: Tree Tagging by using RFID nail tag.

We recommend using High frequency ISO15693 or so called NFC-V, with a appropriate smartphone APP, it enables us to get the tree information, including its identity, location and type. The firemen can find out the tree and remove it quickly!

For tree expert team, just tap the tag with the RFID reader, they can get the details of health records. The tree tag is a High Frequency RFID tag and can still function when it is wet. It should be noted that the installation of tree tag requires professionals to make sure the tree tagging is safe and sound.

Contact: sales@hk-rfid.com

Brilliant! Tag your rental bikes!

It is the era of paperless operation. Bike rental business should be able to catch up with the trend! And...RFID can help!

With Garrison Responsive Tags, no more hand-written or paper rental records are needed. Empress RFID readers and the smart system will do that for you.

It’s awesome yet simple! What you need is just-

- Garrison Responsive Tags tagged bikes

- Empress Handheld Active Reader

- A smart system

It offers

Unique Bike IDs - each bike is entitled an unique ID with the tag for trace and check

Improved Security - you can track the bike within defined distance

Paperless Record - the system do the e-recording for you

Errors Minimization - clear and systematic records of clients information with bike ID

What are you waiting for? Go get the impressive technology for your rental business today!

[DEMO] Empress (2nd Generation) EM02-ETH active RFID reader

Continue with the previous post and video, today we are showing you a demo clip of how to install both the hardware and software in 5-minute time.

5 minutes! Just the time needed to make yourself a cup of fine coffee! Isn’t it amazing?!

Yes! The installation is as simple as setting up your wii connection at home, just plug into few cables and it’s done! Of course you have to turn the machine on as well.

For the software part, the whole procedure is illustrated clearly in step by step manner. So you will be able to understand how it can be configured and readied for your use.

Watch me replacing the coin battery for Hussar and Garrison Tag.

Many people may not understand how RFID tags work, let alone having an idea of how to change their batteries. Here you will have a deep insight into how easy that can be!

This time our focus is on two tags, Hussar tag (NT02) and Garrison tag (RT02) respectively. The frequency of all our active RFID tags are 2.4Ghz band.  The former one is generally for convenient access tracking with its characteristics of extremely small, slim and light design; the later one is for asset management at industrial level, made of  super hard plastic materials with its characteristics of mount-on-metal, dust-proof and waterproof . Garrison Tag also has bluetooth low energy (BT4.0), which is an open-protocol option.

For these two powerful tags, the process of changing batteries is NOT complicated at all. With its user-friendly design, it only takes you almost 1/6 time of cooking a cup noodle, as easy as changing the battery of your mobile phone!

www.hk-rfid.com  |  www.active-rfid.net
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