Reporter Clips

Published: June 01, 2001, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor

Narrow Web Converting Industry News

“Smart Bands” Need Smart Label Inlays
SAN FERNANDO, CA, USA—Precision Dynamics Corp., an international manufacturer of ID products, has introduced a line of wristbands designated “Smart Band.” The bands incorporate Tag-it smart label inlays from Texas Instruments' Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems.

Using TI's RFID smart label technology, Smart Band reportedly provides advanced data storage and a more accurate and secure method of identifying and tracking hospital patients, prison inmates, and patrons at entertainment and recreation facilities.

Tag-it label inlays are described as an easy-to-integrate, cost-effective, consumable RFID solution. Consisting of an integrated circuit and an antenna, and requiring no batteries, the inlays are described as paper-thin, flexible, and programmable. The programmable feature of Tag-it allows application-specific information to be written to and retrieved from the tags at any time.

In addition to providing a unique ID number, Smart Band can contain data on the location of hospital patients or prison inmates. They could also hold information on the status on an inmate's commissary account or automatically debit a patron's account each time a purchase is made at a theme park, resort, etc.

Comco Hosts “Total Concept Packaging” Seminar
MILFORD, OH, USA—Comco International, a supplier of in-line flexographic converting presses and equipment, reports another success in its series of “Total Concept Packaging” seminars.

The event was held several months ago at Comco's Milford headquarters, drew more than 350 attendees from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The three-day seminar series focused on principal areas of packaging production, including cartons, flexibles, and “One Stop Shop.” “One Stop Shop,” which highlights the in-line converting abilities of Comco's ProGlide multi-substrate flexo press, includes cut-and-stack labels and tags; self-adhesive labels; carton board; and film substrates.

Comco, cognizant of the challenges printers face with declining run lengths and shrinking margins, invited spokespersons from industry suppliers, the trade press, and the Paperboard Packaging Council to introduce the latest technology in prepress, anilox, inks, and die-cutting. The event included tabletop exhibits as well.

Each day attendees watched as Comco demonstrated packaging jobs on two ProGlide MSPs. In its Advanced Technology and Training Center, Comco ran cut-and-stack labels delivered into a Gannicott stacker on a 16-in., seven-color MSP with UV curing. On the production floor, Comco built a viewing theater next to a 22-in., nine-color MSP fitted with a Martin Automatic butt splicer, Momentum high-speed gas unit, and UV on the last print station for curing laminate adhesives. With this press, trainers demonstrated how flexible packaging items could be delivered to a rewinder, while carton jobs ran into a Gannicott shingling conveyor.

Comco's printing technicians ran a variety of live jobs from pouches to shrink sleeves and cartons at speeds to 600 fpm.

For information on future seminars, contact Comco at ph: 513/248-1600; fax: 513/248-8546; e-mail: wharring@comcoint.com.

Indigo Donates Digital Press to Cal Poly
WOBURN, MA, USA—Indigo N.V. donated one of its most popular high-speed, high quality digital offset presses, the Indigo Turbostream, to California Polytechnic's Graphic Communications Department. Founded in 1946, the department has a long history of partnering with industry leaders to obtain new equipment and further opportunities for education.

Information on the RFID Smart Band can be changed or locked to protect it from being modified.
Supplier Information
Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX; 888/937-6536