News | August 5, 2008

The RFID Experts Group (REG) Completes Work On Verification Procedures For RFID Chips And Transponders For Tires

Source: AIM Global

AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, recently announced the public availability of AIM Global RFID Guideline REG 396: RFID chips and transponders — Verification and qualification of design and manufacture — Part I: Tires.

"This RFID guideline is an important step in developing a comprehensive look at RFID tag quality," states Dan Mullen, president, AIM Global. "The REG members involved in this work are to be commended for developing guidelines and test procedures that can be used industry wide."

According to Dr. Patrick King, group project leader for the REG (RFID Experts Group) that developed the document, "Tag quality is important for all industries and applications. The use of RFID with tires presents extreme challenges for both design and manufacturing quality. Including RFID into tire manufacturing requires surviving conditions of high heat and pressure. In everyday use, tires flex constantly and are subjected to extremes of heat and cold. What's more, tires contain carbon which can affect RF signals significantly."

This guideline targets item level tagging where the RFID tag may be present in various formats, including a label, incorporated into a patch which then becomes permanently affixed to the inner or outer surface of a tire, or incorporated during manufacture into the structure of the tire as an integral part of the tire. The guideline is intended to be used as an aid to the manufacturer, the consumer, and the general public.

Dr. King, who is Global Electronics Strategist for Michelin added, "These guidelines will help the tire industry evaluate or develop RFID tags -- particularly those operating in the UHF range -- that can perform reliably under a wide range of conditions." Dr. King concluded, "The use of RFID for tires will help address the increasing demand to be able to identify and track tires for various applications even for the life of the tire. Additionally, the ability to identify individual tires on large commercial vehicles helps operators maintain these tires and provides additional safety for equipment operators and the general public."

Mr. Mullen added that the document has been offered to ISO/IEC JTC-1 as a component of a new Draft Technical Report on RFID Quality.

AIM documents are available for purchase from the AIM Global online store at https://www.aimglobal.org/estore/. The tire guidelines document can be accessed directly through the store.

Work items of the REG are supported by AIM Global member companies. Key members involved in the development of RFID Guideline 396 include: Patrick F. King, Michelin; Craig Harmon, QED Systems; Bert Moore, AIM Global; Randy Stigall, UPM Raflatac; and Steve Lederer, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

About AIM Global
For 35 years, AIM Global has served as the association and worldwide authority on automatic identification, data collection and networking in a mobile environment. AIM members are providers and users of technologies, systems, and services that capture, manage, and integrate accurate data into larger information systems. Serving members in 43 countries, AIM is dedicated to accelerating the growth and use of Automatic Identification and Mobility technologies and services around the world.

AIM Global also has an active educational focus, providing accurate and unbiased information on AIDC technology, standards, and applications. For more information on AIM programs, please visit www.aimglobal.org/calendar.

As part of its educational outreach, AIM Global publishes "RFID Connections," the industry's oldest and most respected e-newsletter on RFID. For a free subscription, please visit http://subscriptions.aimglobal.org/.

For more information on AIM Global, its technologies and its members, please visit www.aimglobal.org or www.rfid.org.

SOURCE: AIM Global