general RFID deployment.
To sort all this out, Impinj conducts
in-depth characterization and benchmarking studies on a selection of candidate tag inlays (chosen according to
experience with similar tagging requirements), scientifically evaluating their
suitability for the specific pharma product (in its particular dose form and package type, as well as its placement on the
package) under consideration. Evaluation parameters include the tag’s sensitivity, read and write reliability, ability to
reject interference, orientation dependence, and range limitations, among
other considerations.
Additionally, Impinj’s Innovation Lab
maintains item and case conveyor systems configured to simulate a production environment for a pharmaceutical
packaging line. This setup comprises
Impinj production equipment—
identical to that which is installed in Impinj’s
numerous pharma packaging line
deployments—and is the basis on
which tag qualification testing is conducted. In the end, the best-performing tag wins. A report on the test
results details the RFID test data, and
specific tag and placement recommendations, as well as a risk assessment for
deployment with the tested product.
With this kind of information, your
serialization pilot can proceed with
confidence.
RFID system performance hinges,
in large part, on tag performance.
Tags form the bedrock of any RFID
system deployment: They gate the
physical implementation of the RFID
architecture, bound the system performance, and are fundamental to
overall data accuracy and reliability.
In this light, tag performance is a
major determinant of the total cost of
ownership and the resulting ROI of
any RFID system. Understanding the
effects of the combination of product
variables with tag inlay options and
reader antennas is vital to informing
business decisions with respect to the
deployment of RFID for serialization
on a packaging line.
CASE-PACKED TAG EPCS
Finally, in addition to characterizing
tags for in-line operations, Impinj pre-qualifies tags for use with Impinj’s Commissioning Station. In this scenario, the
Understanding the effects
of the combination of
where the sealed case travels through the
Commissioning Station’s read/encode
zone, and each item in the case is automatically encoded with a unique EPC
serial number. Again, in performing this
evaluation, Impinj uses the same sophisticated diagnostic tools to determine the
best-performing, most-reliable tag inlay
choice for the product as packed in its
specified case configuration.
product variables
with tag inlay options
and reader antennas is
vital to informing
business decisions.
RFID tags can be bulk-encoded in the
case at the end of the packaging line,
SERIALIZATION SEARCHES
The pursuit of best serialization practices begins with comprehending the
particular requirements of your products and your packaging line operations,
as well as the needs of your trading partners. To this end, a holistic perspective
will serve you well. In choosing the right
solution partner—as well as the right
tag—the combination of experience
and rigorous methodologies applied at
the start will ensure that your project
gets off on the right foot. ■
The Button, a small, round inlay form factor, can tag vials and other pharmaceutical items.
