Date: 10/04/2011

ImageFIRST picks Fujitsu RFID tags for garment tracking

Fujitsu Frontech North America Inc. has announced that ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists has selected the Fujitsu WT-A511 Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tags and Positek RFID to provide a comprehensive garment tracking solution at its Clearwater Florida facility. The innovative Fujitsu RFID solutions will be showcased in the company's booth, #735, at the RFID Journal Live! show, taking place April 12-14, 2011 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

"In selecting a new sorting and tracking system for our location, we looked at the significant benefits of RFID technology. We found the increased speed and read range of the Fujitsu UHF tags enables us to quickly and easily 'scan-in' soiled garments into our facility and 'scan-out' clean garments in bulk," said J. C. Ryan, general manager of the ImageFIRST franchise in Clearwater, Fla. "The result is greater visibility of our inventory, reduced labor and merchandise costs, and an overall shorter return on our investment."

In April 2010, Positek partnered with Fujitsu to promote and distribute Fujitsu's WT-A511/A611 RFID tags in North American.

"The UHF RFID-based solution from Positek and Fujitsu empowers our customers to implement a comprehensive sorting and tracking system faster, at lower cost and without modification to existing processes," said Jeff Markman, president of Positek. "The ability for customers, such as ImageFIRST, to track an entire cartload of garments with a single scan enables them to process much more inventory in less time and without compromising accuracy. Other customers in healthcare, hospitality and gaming, as well as industrial laundries, can see the clear benefits of UHF technology and we look forward to new opportunities to demonstrate the power of our joint solution."

The soft and flexible Fujitsu UHF RFID tags are designed to be durable and withstand hundreds of washings, harsh chemicals associated with dry cleaning, temperatures of 250 degrees Fahrenheit for drying and 400 degrees Fahrenheit for ironing, along with the pressure of uniform pressing machines. UHF RFID systems are capable of scanning hundreds of articles simultaneously in seconds with a reading range of up to six feet. The Fujitsu UHF RFID tagsis less than two inches long-about the size of a shirt stay.

"ImageFIRST is a perfect example of how the combination of the Fujitsu UHF RFID tags and Positek's sorting and tracking software can deliver unmatched benefits to customers," said Vic Herring, vice president of sales and business development for the Advanced Technology Group (ATG), Fujitsu Frontech North America Inc. "Together, we are able to provide clear improvements in accuracy, efficiency and cost over existing market offerings and look forward to helping more organizations experience the significant advantages that ImageFIRST is already seeing at its facility."