Polymer technology opens up new fields of application for RFID in logistics

The project "Printed smart RFID labels" (PRISMA), which is handled by the project executing organization VDI/ VDE Teltow, opens up new applications in logistics for printed low-cost electronics based on the polymer electronics technology. New solutions in logistics will be possible with the Radio frequency Identification (RFID) tags and readers that will be developed. For the term of three years, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) provides funds for this project. The project belongs to the Microsystems Technology framework programme and is being coordinated by the PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG. Further partners in the project are Lufthansa Systems, Bartsch GmbH, Bundesdruckerei GmbH, LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG, Siemens AG - Automation & Drives as well as the Technical University in Munich with the chair of information systems. The areas of activity of the partners in the project represent the complete value chain. The technological infrastructure will be build up at the beginning of the project. PolyIC develops printed tags in close cooperation with Kurz. Parallel, Siemens will provide the infrastructure of RFID system components. The goal of the project is to try out the system under realistic conditions, which will be adapted to the respective requirements. The complete system consists of RFID tags and RFID system components. This complete system will be tried out in three field test scenarios, which will use the internationally accepted frequency of 13.56 MHz (so called High Frequency). One of the scenarios is aviation baggage logistics which will be implemented by Lufthansa Systems. Another scenario is event ticketing. This scenario will be implemented with Bartsch. Bundesdruckerei will push the adoption of polymer tags in security documents and security applications. The field tests will be accompanied by the Technical University in Munich with a formative evaluation. This evaluation will make it possible to compare the existing silicon RFID technique with the new polymer RFID technique and to determine the economic efficiency. The project PRISMA, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research for a term of three years was launched on September 1st, 2005. The consortium manager of the project is PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG; PolyIC was founded in November 2003 as a joint venture between LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG and Siemens AG to develop and produce printed polymer electronics technology. LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG as a hot stamping and coating specialist runs nine production sites in Europe, the USA and in the Pacific region. Kurz is a worldwide supplier and leading in hot stamping and coating. Siemens Automation & Drives (A&D) is leading worldwide in the field of automation and drive systems and components. For more than 20 years, A&D provides RFID systems with a comprehensive portfolio for production, logistics and distribution and is European market leader for industrial identification systems. Lufthansa Systems is one of the leading IT service providers worldwide for the airline and aviation industry. In their business unit Passenger Airline Solutions Lufthansa Systems offers IT solutions to support and optimize all passenger sales and check in processes. As preferred partner of the IATA initiative "Simplifying the Business" Lufthansa works on RFID tags in aviation baggage and paperless cargo management. Bartsch GmbH is a proficient specialist supplier of air traffic documents for more than 160 airlines as well as for railroad and public transport services. Bartsch is already working with RFID solutions, not only regarding paper media but they also integrate readers and proper software interfaces. Bundesdruckerei GmbH ranks among the leading suppliers worldwide for secure system solutions and services for identification and entry control. Bundesdruckerei, which was privatized in November 2000, also supplies identification documents, high security cards, banknotes, postal and revenue stamps as well as electronic publications for national and international use. The chair of information systems (Prof. Dr. H. Krcmar) of the Technical University in Munich focuses on structuring and evaluating innovations for use. Especially in the field of ubiquitous computing/ RFID and with evaluating immense projects, the chair has extensive experience.

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