Printronix Releases Smart Label Developer's Kit, Forms Alliances With Alien
Technology Corp. and Manhattan Associates
CHICAGO, Frontline's International Supply Chain Week, Booth 1211, Sept. 16
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Printronix Inc. (Nasdaq: PTNX), the leading
manufacturer of integrated enterprise printing solutions for the supply chain,
today defined its broad-reaching strategy for enabling customers to meet
retail shipping and labeling requirements through the use of radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology. The strategy creates a complete development
environment for the printing and encoding of smart labels in pilot programs at
key suppliers to the top players in the retail supply chain.
"Printronix is known for turning printers into business solutions, and
RFID is expected to soon become a requirement for doing business," explained
Andy Chapman, chief technology officer and senior vice president of
engineering and product marketing, Printronix. "We have selected a deliberate
strategy that allows Printronix to be at the forefront of emerging industry
standards and permits our users to streamline the integration of RFID
technology into their supply chains."
RFID technology employs radio waves to identify individual items
automatically and is expected to explode within the retail market. With this
technology, an individual product is identified by an electronic product code
(EPC) stored on a microchip, which is attached to an antenna, called an RFID
tag. This RFID tag is embedded into a smart label, which can be affixed to a
pallet, case or product. The smart label enables the chip to transmit the
identification information to a reader. The reader converts the radio waves
returned from the RFID label into a form that can be passed on to computers
and peripherals.
As one of the first steps in its strategy, Printronix launched today a
smart label developer's kit to help users create landmark applications of RFID
technology within their own environments. Printronix chose to introduce the
developer's kit because the nascent RFID industry still is defining itself and
pressing to establish standards. By employing Printronix's developer's kit,
which provides significantly more flexibility than a fixed system, users can
tailor how RFID fits within their own business objectives and interpret how
RFID relates to their existing warehouse management software. (See the press
release, "Printronix Introduces EPC-Compliant Smart Label Developer's Kit for
RFID Pilots.")
"Retailers and suppliers know they need to implement RFID technology but
are unsure how and when," Chapman said. "The market needs more than simply an
off-the-shelf printer. What customers need now is a technology partner like
Printronix that will help them define their RFID strategy and realize a
quicker return on their investments."
Printronix is in a position to help define the RFID industry and has
aligned with other key players setting RFID standards and preparing users for
early adoption. Printronix is working actively with Alien Technology Corp.
and Manhattan Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), to deliver RFID solutions to the
marketplace. As an example, Printronix's smart label solutions have been
added to Manhattan Associates' "RFID in a Box" solution, which contains a
bundled package of RFID technologies, supply chain execution applications and
professional services. (See the press releases, "Printronix Joins Manhattan
Associates Team on 'RFID in a Box' Solution" and "Printronix and Alien
Technology Announce RFID Development Solutions.")
About Printronix Inc.
Printronix is a global leader in printing technologies for the industrial
marketplace and distribution supply chain. Its integrated network solutions
improve the printing of bar codes, labels and forms, verify accuracy and offer
unequaled diagnostic technology. Printronix's advanced solutions work with its
industry-recognized line matrix, thermal and laser printers to deliver the
most reliable printing available for enterprise networks. The company is
based in Irvine, Calif., and its common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the
symbol PTNX.
For additional information, visit http://www.printronix.com .
SOURCE Printronix Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.printronix.com
CONTACT:
media, Cara Good of WunderMarx Inc.,
+1-949-860-2434, ext. 312, cgood@wundermarx.com, for Printronix
Inc.
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