Interactive technology

Mark Andy and Talkin' Things host RFID workshop

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:28:03 +0000

Mark Andy and Talkin' Things have hosted a Smart Labels RFID Technology Workshop at Mark Andy's European Technology Center in Warsaw, drawing more than 70 participants from Poland, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia.

The event brought together label converters, brand owners, packaging manufacturers and supply chain professionals to explore practical RFID implementation, including a visit to the Talkin' Things tag manufacturing facility and a live demonstration of RFID tag application on a Mark Andy Evolution Series E5 flexo press as part of a single-pass label production workflow.

Lukasz Chruslinski presented key trends shaping the RFID market.

Opening presentations covered key market trends, including product identification, logistics automation and regulatory developments such as the Digital Product Passport initiative. Jacek Terski, sales and business development director at Talkin' Things, outlined the structure and manufacturing of RFID tags and explained how the technology is increasingly integrated directly into product labels to enable contactless data access across supply chains. Founded in 2014, Talkin' Things serves customers in more than 40 countries, produces more than 80 antenna designs and manufactures hundreds of millions of RFID and NFC tags annually.

The press demonstration showed how RFID tags can be applied within a flexographic label production workflow without affecting print efficiency or quality. A Q&A session covered RFID applications across market sectors, future development potential and implementation in retail networks, including Decathlon and Walmart.

Jacek Terski focused on the design and manufacturing of RFID tags.

'One of the key conclusions from the discussions was the growing role of RFID technology as a tool supporting product traceability, process automation and new models of consumer interaction,' said Tom Cavalco, vice president of international sales at Mark Andy. 'Development of smart labeling requires cooperation across the value chain, from RFID tag manufacturers and printing technology providers to companies implementing labels in real business applications.'

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3 days 12 hours ago

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Mark Andy and Talkin' Things host RFID workshop

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More than 70 European industry professionals attend the smart label technology event.

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More than 70 European industry professionals attend the smart label technology event.

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AccuformNMC cuts RFID costs with Graph-Tech system

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:08:54 +0000

AccuformNMC has reduced consumable costs by more than 50 percent and significantly increased UHF RFID label production speeds after installing the Graph-Tech USA RFID-Runner encode-and-print system at its Fort Pierce, Florida facility.

A division of Justrite Safety Group, AccuformNMC produces OEM labels and safety signs and has seen growing demand for RFID labels driven by retailer mandates, including Walmart's RFID requirement for improved inventory tracking. As demand outpaced the company's existing thermal printer capacity, it turned to the RFID-Runner to transform its production economics.

'The RFID-Runner has exceeded our expectations,' said Jaime Guzman, production manager of AccuformNMC. 'Since its installation in late 2025, we are encoding and printing RFID labels with consistent, high-quality text and barcodes at 600 dpi, at speeds up to 20 times faster than thermal printers. On top of that, our consumable costs are less than half, which significantly improves our overall economics.'

The system uses Graph-Tech USA's proprietary eZ-Inkjet print engine, a drop-on-demand platform with native 600 dpi resolution designed for variable data printing on labels, boxes, cards and other substrates. A three-reader Impinj architecture ensures every label is correctly encoded, while an integrated camera verifies barcode readability in real time at full production speed. The system prints from the first to the last label on a roll with zero waste, a capability the company says is unique in the RFID industry.

'AccuformNMC operates at top production speeds, demands exceptional print quality and requires real-time barcode verification, making them a natural fit for our technology,' said Markus Portmann, president of Graph-Tech USA.

Graph-Tech USA will showcase the RFID-Runner and eZ-Inkjet at Loupe Americas 2026 in Chicago, 15-17 September, at Booth 6133.

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4 days 11 hours ago

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AccuformNMC cuts RFID costs with Graph-Tech system

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Florida label converter halves consumable costs with new encode-and-print platform.

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Florida label converter halves consumable costs with new encode-and-print platform.

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Securikett uses partial adhesive as security feature

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:50:58 +0000

Austrian security label specialist Securikett has developed a partial adhesive coating process in which adhesives are applied in customer-specific patterns rather than across the full label surface, creating a manufacturing-based security feature that is difficult to replicate.

The coating patterns are developed exclusively to customer specifications, with adhesives applied in precisely defined configurations unique to each client. The company produces all steps in-house, from base material through silicones to adhesive application.

'Our partial adhesive coating is a technologically sophisticated, hard-to-access manufacturing process,' said Vanessa Mitterer-Kling, head of the research department at Securikett. 'This is far more than an innovative adhesive approach. This highly effective security feature consistently slows down counterfeiting.'

The partial coating can be combined with additional overt or hidden security features such as VOID effects, which produce visible changes upon tampering that cannot be reversed. Mitterer-Kling noted that while conventional label manufacturers print on pre-fabricated self-adhesive laminates, Securikett controls the entire value chain.

The partial adhesive approach also carries material efficiency benefits, reducing overall adhesive usage and improving the recyclability of the finished labels.

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1 week 5 days ago

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Securikett uses partial adhesive as security feature

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Custom coating patterns make security label imitation harder without access to specialist technology.

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Custom coating patterns make security label imitation harder without access to specialist technology.

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Bixolon launches XD5-40II desktop label printer

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:58:20 +0000

Bixolon Europe has launched the XD5-40II series in Europe, a 4-inch desktop label printer available in direct thermal, thermal transfer, RFID and healthcare configurations for manufacturing, retail, logistics and medical applications.

The printer offers print speeds of up to 8 inches per second at 300 DPI resolution, 512 MB SDRAM and 512 MB flash memory. It supports multiple programming languages, including SLCS, BPL-Z, BPL-E and Smart Switch, and is compatible with Bixolon's Label Artist-II design software across desktop, web and mobile platforms. A USB host port enables direct connection of memory sticks, scanners and keyboards, while Twin Function cloning allows rapid duplication of settings across multiple devices.

The XD5-40IItR RFID model adds UHF RFID encoding and printing with anti-collision technology and RFID calibration tools, targeting item-level tagging, inventory management and asset monitoring applications.

The healthcare variants, available in both direct thermal and thermal transfer, feature IEC 60601-1 compliant power supplies, antimicrobial casings and UV-resistant enclosures for use in patient care environments. Intended applications include patient ID wristbands, specimen labeling, pharmacy dispensing and healthcare asset tracking.

'The XD5-40II series represents our commitment to delivering reliable and innovative printing tailored to the evolving needs of European businesses,' said Paul Kim, managing director of Bixolon Europe.

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2 weeks 5 days ago

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Bixolon launches XD5-40II desktop label printer

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The new series adds RFID and healthcare-grade models to Bixolon's desktop label printing range.

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The new series adds RFID and healthcare-grade models to Bixolon's desktop label printing range.

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Connected packaging adoption hits record 81 percent

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:56:59 +0000

Industry confidence in connected packaging has reached a record high of 92.3 percent, up from 88.8 percent in 2025, according to the fifth annual Global Connected Packaging Survey published by Appetite Creative in partnership with Koenig & Bauer.

Adoption has rebounded strongly, with 81.2 percent of companies currently using connected packaging, up from 72.6 percent last year. Respondents cite data collection, regulatory compliance, sustainability, marketing and consumer engagement as the primary drivers. The shift toward multi-technology deployment continues, with QR codes and NFC combined now used by 47.1 percent of adopters, while serialized QR code interest rose 7.1 percentage points to 73.2 percent. Industry skepticism has also dropped, with only 7.7 percent of respondents viewing connected packaging as a passing fad, down from 13.4 percent in 2025.

Campaign budgets are growing, with 15.3 percent of respondents planning to spend between 51,000 USD and 80,000 USD, up from 10 percent in 2025, and 13 percent reporting budgets above 81,000 USD, up from 7.7 percent. The proportion planning to spend less than 15,000 USD fell by 6.4 percentage points to 28.4 percent, indicating a shift from small pilots to larger-scale campaigns. Consumer engagement through gamification has also risen, with 67.7 percent of participants incorporating gaming elements into campaigns, up from 59 percent in 2025.

'Connected packaging has moved decisively from an emerging trend to a boardroom imperative,' said Jenny Stanley, managing director at Appetite Creative. 'It is no longer a marketing tool alone; it is a strategic business platform.'

Sandra Wagner, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Kyana, added that record adoption rates and growing regulatory focus reflect 'an industry that has matured significantly.'

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3 weeks ago

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Connected packaging adoption hits record 81 percent

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A new survey finds industry confidence in connected packaging at an all-time high of 92.3 percent.

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A new survey finds industry confidence in connected packaging at an all-time high of 92.3 percent.

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Esko and Scantrust complete packaging integration

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:48:30 +0000

Esko and Scantrust have completed a software integration connecting Esko's Automation Engine and WebCenter packaging management platform with Scantrust software, streamlining the addition of variable data to packaging artwork for consumer goods companies.

The integration enables automated generation and printing of unique, serialized QR codes directly onto product packaging, with the Esko Automation Engine Variable Data Printing module at its core. Key capabilities include brand protection and anti-counterfeiting through unique digital product identifiers, supply chain traceability from production to end consumer, consumer engagement features linking on-pack codes to loyalty programs and product information, and compliance with GS1 Digital Link standards.

'This has traditionally been a complex task and a barrier to implementation of product features that add value to both brands and consumers,' said Jan De Roeck, marketing director at Esko. 'With the latest system integrations, Esko and Scantrust have continued a tradition of innovation by lowering the barrier to solving packaging design and printing challenges, especially with regard to serialization.'

Nathan Anderson, CEO and founder at Scantrust, added that the integration bridges the gap between physical packaging production and digital data management, describing it as 'the start of a new level of connected packaging.'

The integration also supports an optional connection to the Amazon Transparency anti-counterfeiting system and is designed to scale from small-business volumes to industrial mass production.

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3 weeks ago

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Esko and Scantrust complete packaging integration

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The new integration automates the generation of serialized QR codes directly within packaging artwork workflows.

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The new integration automates the generation of serialized QR codes directly within packaging artwork workflows.

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Smart packaging congress heads to Amsterdam

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:36:59 +0000

The AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging World Congress 2026 will take place on 20-21 May in Amsterdam, bringing together brand owners, technology providers and packaging experts to address the shift from smart packaging pilots to real-world, scalable deployment.

The two-day event will cover the EU Digital Product Passport, GS1 2D Barcode adoption, supply chain traceability, food waste reduction and connected packaging for consumer engagement. Sessions are structured across three tracks: Connected Brands & Consumer Experience, Sustainability & Circular Innovation, and Supply Chain Intelligence & Data Management.

A key feature of the congress is the Brand Challenge 2026, a live on-stage hackathon in which a brand presents a real packaging challenge and technology providers respond in real time. The event is supported by Dracula Technologies, Identiv, Markem-Imaje, ETI Converting and Toppan.

'As regulation, data transparency and sustainability requirements accelerate, the congress is designed as a working event for brand owners and their suppliers,' the organizers noted, adding that the 2026 edition aims to deliver practical direction at a critical moment for the packaging industry.

Further information is available online.

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3 weeks ago

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Smart packaging congress heads to Amsterdam

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The AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging World Congress returns in May, tackling Digital Product Passports and connected packaging at scale.

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The AIPIA & AWA Smart Packaging World Congress returns in May, tackling Digital Product Passports and connected packaging at scale.

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Checkpoint Systems partners with JD Sports on RFID

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:01:33 +0000

Checkpoint Systems, an RFID technology company, has signed a multi‑year global software agreement with JD Sports Fashion to deploy its ItemOptix RFID Inventory Management Software across the retailer’s sports fashion group stores, starting in Europe.

This partnership modernizes inventory management, delivering real-time inventory visibility that enables JD Sports to improve shelf availability and make more accurate, data-driven inventory-focused decisions across its store network.

This collaboration began with a pilot in the second half of 2024 in the UK, France and Spain across five stores and has rapidly scaled into a full SaaS rollout. The initial phase will see more than 400 stores go live by the end of the year in the UK and Ireland, with the deployment expanding across Europe to reach nearly 1,000 stores by the end of 2026. In parallel, Checkpoint’s DC tunnel technologies are already operational in JD Sports’ UK Distribution Center, with installation at the Netherlands distribution center scheduled imminently.

JD Sports selected Checkpoint after an evaluation process, choosing ItemOptix for its ability to deliver clear inventory visibility, great accuracy in stock counts and replenishment, and improved shelf availability that reduces out-of-stocks and enhances the customer experience. During the pilot phase, JD Sports reported a 12 percent increase in on-shelf availability and a 20 percent improvement in restocking speed with a 95 percent increase in items found, driven by the real-time insights and operational agility provided by the platform. The ItemOptix SDK (Software Deployment Kit) allowed the team to integrate RFID processes directly into the existing operational store app.

Daniel McGrath, JD group head of customer operations, said: 'We are very excited to take our partnership with Checkpoint to the next level over the coming months and years ahead, and we thank Checkpoint for their support and for everyone’s efforts to date as we start our RFID Journey.'

The JD Sports team praised the collaborative culture that developed during the project. 'We are forming a partnership to span many years, and that needs to start on the right footing, and I firmly believe we have created that between us. Both sides have worked tirelessly and in very short timelines to get us to where we are today,” McGrath said.

Sarabjeet Chhatwal, Checkpoint’s vice president global software, said, 'Working with the JD Sports team has been a great experience, and one our team looks forward to continuing in the years to come. JD choosing our ItemOptix Software Platform to be their software of choice for their RFID journey is yet another great endorsement from a retailer that our solution is what the market is looking for; a solution which is easy to use, easy to deploy and easy to adapt.'

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3 weeks 3 days ago

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Checkpoint Systems partners with JD Sports on RFID

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Checkpoint Systems has signed an agreement with JD Sports Fashion to deploy its RFID software across the retailer’s stores.

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Checkpoint Systems has signed an agreement with JD Sports Fashion to deploy its RFID software across the retailer’s stores.

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Avery Dennison launches IdentiFresh RFID

Will Drysdale — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:11:26 +0000

Avery Dennison has launched its AD IdentiFresh inlay series, a proprietary set of RFID inlays designed to improve inventory visibility, freshness management and waste reduction in food retail environments.

Part of Avery Dennison's Optica Food Solutions platform, the AD IdentiFresh series leverages Impinj's M800 series endpoint integrated circuits and Gen2X enhancement to improve readability and speed. The inlays are engineered to overcome read performance challenges on densely stacked items in high-moisture cold environments such as meat cases.

The compact form factor is designed to fit within existing label formats, enabling integration with current workflows and labeling equipment. The series supports both in-store and supplier tagging of fresh food items, offering high-volume scalability.

The launch follows Avery Dennison's previously announced collaborations with Walmart and Kroger in the fresh food sector.

Research commissioned by Avery Dennison, drawing on responses from 3,500 global food retailers and supply chain leaders, found that 50 percent identified meat, 45 percent produce and 28 percent baked goods as the most difficult categories for waste management. Over half said inventory management and overstocking contribute significantly to food waste in their operations. Independent modeling included in the company's Making the Invisible Visible report forecasts the economic cost of food waste across the global supply chain will reach 540 billion USD by 2026.

'This breakthrough innovation combines deep material science expertise with optimized RF inlay design to unlock significant value within the food retail industry,' said Mathieu De Backer, VP of intelligent labels innovation at Avery Dennison. 'Through continued collaboration with partners like Impinj, we're bringing leading-edge technology that empowers clients operating within a challenging food retail environment.'

George Dyche, VP of endpoint IC product at Impinj, noted that Impinj remains committed to improving RFID performance and is proud that Avery Dennison selected M800 series ICs for the launch, adding that the Gen2X enhancement will offer further improvements in read performance to help retailers manage inventory with greater accuracy and speed.

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3 weeks 4 days ago

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Avery Dennison launches IdentiFresh RFID

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The new inlay series targets fresh food categories, including bakery, meat, deli and produce.

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The new inlay series targets fresh food categories, including bakery, meat, deli and produce.

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CCL Label launches cask traceability platform

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:25:31 +0000

CCL Label has announced SmartCask (by Checkpoint), a digital identification and data platform designed to bring long-term traceability and verified ownership records to Scotch whisky cask management, as fraud concerns escalate across the sector.

The launch follows a BBC Disclosure investigation that exposed widespread fraud in whisky cask investment schemes, including false ownership claims and fictitious casks. SmartCask integrates long-life data chips directly onto individual casks, creating a unique digital identity engineered to last up to 30 years under standard storage conditions, and up to 50 years when stored between -20°C and +40°C.

Each chip acts as a permanent digital passport, recording cask origin and filling details, liquid contents, ownership records and movement history across warehouses and supply chain partners. The platform targets an industry where more than 22 million casks are currently held in storage across Scotland, many still relying on manual records or fragmented digital systems.

'Recent revelations from BBC's Disclosure: Hunting the Whisky Bandits have sent shockwaves through the spirits industry,' said Alex Mulvenny, managing director Wines and Spirits Europe at CCL Label. 'As the world's largest label company and a trusted partner to premium drinks brands worldwide, CCL Label is committed to advancing technologies that protect product integrity and provenance.'

CCL Label says it will engage with the Scotch Whisky Association alongside leading distillers and warehouse operators to explore how SmartCask can help establish stronger standards for transparency and security across the category.

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1 month ago

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CCL Label launches cask traceability platform

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SmartCask targets fraud and ownership gaps across Scotland's 22 million stored casks.

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SmartCask targets fraud and ownership gaps across Scotland's 22 million stored casks.

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