Murata and Beta LAYOUT announced a joint venture to launch an RFID starter kit aimed at printed circuit board (PCB) engineers and developers aspiring to incorporate RFID into their electronics design.

Based on Murata MAGICSTRAP ultra-high frequency passive RFID technology, the starter kit comprises a reader/writer board, communication software, two reader antennas and four distinguishable MAGICSTRAP RFID tag modules. 

HID Global announced an expanded portfolio of RFID asset tracking solutions designed to meet the demands of industries including logistics, automation and manufacturing, medical and health care, returnable transport items and waste management.

These latest additions to the company’s RFID portfolio deliver enhanced performance with smaller form factors, expanded memory storage, extended read ranges and optimized resistance to harsh conditions. 

A research team at the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at North Dakota State University (NDSU) has developed an antennaless RFID tag designed to offer enhanced tracking of metal and liquids.

The patent-pending technology aims to alleviate traditional problems associated with tracking metal objects or containers filled with liquid. The antennaless tags could help companies track products as varied as barrels of oil to metal cargo containers. 

VeriTeQ announced its plans to offer the FDA-cleared VeriChip microchip, a rice grain-sized passive RFID microchip, for the identification of breast implants and other medical devices.

The company is already working to identify medical devices, such as vascular ports, for the proper identification of the port and medication dosing requirements through an existing contract with a medical device manufacturer. 

Easylube has introduced an automated electromechanical gearset using integrated RFID technology to track and manage lube points throughout a plant.

Each lubricator also features a bi-color LED warning light, replaceable grease cup, RFID tag and reader to enable real-time tracking of bearings. The RFID reader serves as a wireless data collector, reading Easylube RFID tags that are placed on each lubrication point and transmitting the lubrication status to a handheld PDA. Exact regreasing volumes and intervals are calculated using minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) formulation. 

Texas Instruments (TI) introduced a pair of encapsulated RFID mini-transponders designed for applications in animal tagging and asset tracking.

The 12mm TRPGR30TGC and TRPGP40TGC mini-transponders were developed to enable users a battery-free solution for embedding RFID tags into smaller objects across a broader range of applications. These transponders come ready-to-use and are 100 percent backwards compatible with all of TI’s RFID software and readers including power modules, control modules and micro readers. 

HID Global unveiled the latest addition to its portfolio of RFID tags, with the announcement of the IronTag 176 ultra-high frequency (UHF) transponder.

This durable tag is suited for tracking a variety of metal parts and equipment. Originally designed for tracking aircraft parts during assembly and maintenance, the IronTag endures the harsh conditions of manufacturing and processing as well as vehicle and equipment operation.