In a global economy, businesses and institutions deal with more inventory, documents and information than ever. One way to keep track of everything is to utilize RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification. The technology involves embedding a microchip, or RFID tag, into a label, and affixing that label onto each item you’re tracking, whether it’s a car, a washing machine, or a customer file. Each tag contains a unique id number for that item, and the microchip sends the information to a special handheld reader, which in turn sends the data to computers for storage and processing. But instead of having to buy a specialized thermal printer to create the label, Lexmark is introducing an RFID device as a $2500 option for its T654 monochrome laser printer.
Keep in mind that RFID is not the same as a barcode. Unlike a barcode, RFID doesn’t require a direct line of sight to read, and can be read from a much greater distance. In addition, reading an RFID tag is faster than reading a barcode. On the other hand, barcodes are cheaper, smaller and lighter. Lexmark says that its RFID printing option is faster and cheaper than available alternatives on the market.
You can learn more about RFID technology at Lexmark.com, or watch the YouTube demo for some instructive visuals. Overall, this new product should be a welcome alternative for bigger businesses and institutions, and it shows the printing industry’s growing commitment to pushing more than just paper.
