Printed Electronics is one of the fastest growing technologies in the world. It is of vital interest to industries as diverse as chemicals, consumer goods, healthcare, military, electronics, advertising and publishing. It is allowing electronics to be used in places it has never been before, and offers new exciting form factors. The number of companies involved is doubling every 18 months or so, all reaching for the $300 billion emerging market which is there for the taking.

This event, the World’s largest on the topic and growing rapidly every year, is your information and networking hub on the topic. The international exhibition and trade show covers all the applications, technologies and opportunities.

Printed Electronics USA is co-located with the Photovoltaics IDTechEx event. The collocated conference will be shedding light on the latest trends from major innovators in the solar cell sector. All the latest developments in thin film, organic, printed photovoltaics as well as emerging technologies growing alongside the more established ones, such as luminescent concentrators and infrared harvesting.

Attendees have access to BOTH events and the common tradeshow to maximise value. Click here for further information on Photovoltaics USA

Register by June 24 for 50% Early Bird Discount

Main Conference: Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 September

Impartial insight into the growth sectors – the only RFID event hosted by RFID analysts

Some sectors of RFID have grown despite the recession. Other sectors have followed the classic hype cycle curve, but are now in the path of growth and profitability for the suppliers concerned. For the first time in many years, companies in Europe and the US are adding new manufacture volume. In Asia the huge Government support is driving manufacture and demand. The industry is taking off in many ways and in many forms. For example, Wireless Sensor Networks, a form of Active RFID, are being deployed in public buildings to save energy and monitor infrastructure. In 2011, RFID enabled cellphones are appearing from Nokia, Google and many others and the first printed RFID tags are being shipped.

RFID Europe is Europe’s largest conference on the topic. IDTechEx carefully design the program content to provide you with unrivalled insight into the state of the industry. Those wishing to exploit routes to profitability, find where the true demand is and meet customers and investors – must attend. Backed up by free IDTechEx research the complete event package is your yearly RFID benchmark.

Topics include:

The global picture of the electric vehicle and parts market

The event will include the growth of the markets for all forms of electric vehicles over the next decade. Hear how savvy component supplies are finding high margin niches and even helping to create new forms of hybrid and pure electric vehicles. Hear the opportunities for new materials and smart body work based on printed electronics and electrics and self-powered sensors. Energy harvesting options ranging from solar cells on the whole vehicle to shock absorbers and thermoelectric harvesting from the engine and exhaust in hybrids will be covered. We will assess energy harvesting and management solutions of the future and third generation batteries, super-capacitors and other storage devices.

A global approach: East Asia’s leading role in the industry

India and Korea are moving fast in the EV market. Japan is leader. China has the largest potential market for electric vehicles – it holds 66% of the manufacturers of electric vehicles. Over 90% of the world’s electric vehicles are made in China, mainly for use in China. It mines and controls 95% of the world’s rare earth reserves used in the hybrid car batteries, motors and other key components of today’s electric vehicles. Find out what’s happening in East Asia and hear about who the main players are in the different industry sectors.

Electric vehicles markets and opportunities

Attend presentations from companies that have successfully created new markets. Tap into the massive opportunities and find out more about the commercial and technical barriers and how to overcome them.

Infrastructure

The demand for electric vehicle charging stations will sextuple in the next decade to reach over $4 billion for charging station hardware. Those seeking the largest possible business, supplying charging stations must prioritise installation of residential car charging stations. Those seeking high margin niche applications will find plenty of opportunity elsewhere, notably in industrial, commercial including buses and military and marine applications. However, this market peaks in value in 2017 – find out why at Electric Vehicles Land, Sea & Air.

WSN and RTLS will be used to automatically monitor building occupancy and climate control, oil and gas pumping, industrial manufacture processes, forest fires, traffic, assets in hospitals and other buildings and much more over wide areas over the coming years. The technology is taking off thanks to established protocols and standards, lower power electronics and better energy harvesting and storage technologies. The technologies are creating a multibillion dollar yearly industry.

This event appraises the technologies, markets and opportunities, bringing the community together. The first day of the event is dedicated to end users who will discuss their needs and experiences with the technology, followed by a day covering all the technologies. With a proven track record in organising RFID, Printed Electronics, WSN and Energy Harvesting events, this IDTechEx event will cover the complete value chain for you with assessment of the technology, user needs and the opportunities.

Benefits of attending:

Do business and network with the key players in the locating and sensing industries at the exhibition.
Discover the latest developments and implementations with WSN and RTLS during the two-day conference through case studies presented by end users.
Expert opinions will be given by end users, industry thought-leaders and researchers; giving you a comprehensive view of the industries.
Experience locating and sensing in action during local company tours.
Access the independent view at the Masterclasses led by IDTechEx analysts; leaders in their fields.

The event will cover the following topics:

• Case studies from WSN/RTLS adoptions in industry, healthcare, consumer, military, aerospace and other applications
• Wireless/mesh networks assessed: ZigBee, 6lowPan, Wireless Hart and other protocols
• Real Time Locating Systems assessed: Wi-Fi, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), ultra sound and other protocols
• Energy harvesting powered wireless sensors
• Passive RFID sensors
• Progress with ultra low power electronics
• Networking and system architectures, scaling, implementation challenges

Learn about the diverse range of energy harvesting and storage technologies, their application and opportunities at this international event.

The technology is of vital interest to industries as diverse as consumer goods and electronics, the built environment, process control, vehicles, textiles and healthcare. It is enabling and satisfying the need for microgeneration of energy which will become a necessary part in everyone’s lives over the coming years. This event brings the whole topic together for you.

Register by 6 May to receive a 20% online discount

What to Expect at Energy Harvesting & Storage Europe 2011

• End user perspectives, requirements, case studies
• Many World first announcements from suppliers
• Hands-on demonstrations of some of the latest technologies
• 400 attendees from over 20 countries
• More than 35 exhibitors from more than 12 countries

This event, Europe’s largest on the topic and growing rapidly every year, is your information and networking hub on the topic, with an international trade show. It is the meeting place for users, suppliers, academics and investors.

Topics covered at this comprehensive event include:

• Case Studies: Assessment of paybacks from energy harvesters
• Energy harvesting technologies: electrodynamic, thermovoltaic, photovoltaic, piezoelectric, bio-electric, bio-energy
• Energy storage technologies: batteries and capacitors
• Ultra low power electronics
• Market and technology analysis and forecasts
• Latest technology developments and trends
• Meeting place for users, investors, suppliers, developers, system integrators and government representatives

Be sure to attend U Connect LIVE, being held from May 31 to June 3, 2011 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. U Connect LIVE focuses on how value chain visibility – through GS1 Standards – provides opportunities for your company to reach consumers over new channels, win their confidence and loyalty, and enhance their experience while improving your company’s efficiency and trading partner relationships.

ENTER THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNT CODE FOR 10% OFF: 11UCON10-003-MEDIA

Hear Steve Levitt, the bestselling author of FREAKONOMICS and SUPERFREAKONOMICS, speak on “The Freakonomics of Business” in the June 1 keynote address. Hear Chef Jeff Henderson, chef and author, speak on Thursday, June 2, about his triumphant personal experiences: “From the Streets to the Stove: the Power of Change.”

For over 10 years, the U Connect Conference has been the place to go for those companies who want to be at the forefront of progress in using GS1 Standards to achieve value chain visibility and optimization – from efficiency, to safety, to sustainability. GS1 Standards allow companies to identify, capture, and share information across their value chains, unlocking opportunities and enabling solutions to many of their most pressing challenges.

While it is still true that most of our industry is feverously focused on the enterprise applications of asset tracking within the “4 walls” or, if focusing outside, the primarily focus is on hard assets. However, a unique application focus is now emerging around securing liquid bulk fuels both stationary and in-transit.

Years ago, groups of smart people figured out how to bundle technology to track the location and status of rolling trucks globally. It even quickly took the name we now all recognize as “Fleet Management” systems.

This was a technical marriage of truck cabin based sensors wired into and on-board computing platform including a GPS receiver and either a cellular or Satellite modem. Today, this is a ubiquitous technology in the trucking industry with companies like Qualcomm leading the way and carries value added features like real-time text communications with the driver, real-time monitoring of the cabin’s location, and real-time monitoring of cabin conditions like odometer, speedometer, breaking conditions, and tire pressure.

What RFID can now enable is moving the monitoring paradigm from the cabin of the truck back to the load that the truck is hauling. After all, in today’s fractured fuel transport market, those who care about the truck may be vastly different than those who care about the load.

This may sound like a pie in the sky application but it may surprise you that 10’s of thousands of these tags are in use today globally, attached to fuel tanker truck hatches and valves rolling down the road or at retail location on ground tanks around the world.

By Erik Wood, SB Roving Editor

WATCH FOR PART 2 with more details on business processes next week.

As AT&T and Verizon invested over $20 Billion in the spectrum auction, Google dropped out.

Instead, Google has decided to make an initial modest investment in WiMax with Sprint.

So now we’re all wondering what is the 3 year game plan for all these guys and how it impacts our RFID world.

First let me preface this latest in the series of articles with the following:

“Today, May 2008, we’ve successfully tested and implemented an application that provides real time locating of RFID within 1000 meters at a landscape covering 90% of the US population ‘without’ GPS.”

Yes, without GPS we can pinpoint an RFID device within 1000 meters using the 900 MHz spectrum. We know that with GPS we can pinpoint to 20 meter accuracy, but it’s exclusively for outdoor applications today. The 1000 meter range location with 900MHz spectrum is indoors or outdoors.

So now back to the 700 MHz and WiMax.

When Google realized that $20 Billion is too high a price to enter the telecommunication space, a group was formed to create a consortium to battle Verizon and T-Mobile.

Here is how it plays out. . .

Verizon has become the dominant spectrum holder of 700 MHz which means they have the lead in reducing their wireless infrastructure costs for voice and data, compared to AT&T. If the other players in the Telcom and RBOX environment stay with 900 MHz, Verizon’s costs of operation will be 20-25% of the competitors by 2015. So Sprint and T-Mobile needed to scramble for alternatives.

At the same time, Verizon’s highly promoted fiber optics offering is beginning to hurt the cable industry as Verizon is bundling voice, wireless, data and entertainment to the home with superior HD delivery.
This is hurting Comcast, Time Warner and CableVision.

Now come Google. Plenty of cash in the bank and a plan to take on Apple and the iPhone. The $20 Billion entry fee in 700 MHz was too high so Google went to the next choice. WiMax. Google is no stranger to WiMax. Google has been bidding on community WiMax RFP’s for over 3 years. If it’s too expensive to play in the 700 MHz field, why not WiMax?

Wait a minute. How does Google, iPhone and WiMax blend? Well, as long as you have a license in all 50 states for a digital network, there is no reason why you can’t offer VOIP over WiMax just like Vonage. In fact, one of the dirty little secrets of wireless voice and data is that the wireless companies basically only offer the first and last mile of transmission, the rest is over the cell phone communication is VOIP.

So, if Google goes with WiMax and offers a digital VOIP wireless phone, it’s basically Vonage handheld phone over WiMax.

But let’s get real. Google is not a phone company or a VOIP company. They are the best at delivering content and their revenue comes from ads. How are they going to pull this off?

Let’s go to Intel. Remember little Intel. They produce all those millions of WiFi enabled laptop chips. Well, if Motorola or Qualcomm provide the infrastructure for 700 MHz voice and data, what’s going to
happen to the Intel WiFi market?

To protect the Intel franchise, Google is partnering with Intel to produce devices that can connect with a national WiMax network. Whether it’s a phone or a laptop, Google and Intel will be competing with Verizon.

But neither Intel or Google know how to operate and promote voice and data. What to do? Enter Sprint. With $3 Billion, Sprint joins forces with Clearwire Corp to create the largest WiMax spectrum offering in the USA. So now we have Sprint with a significant, yet shrinking, sales and marketing channel in combination with Clearwire that is an expert in operating a WiMax architecture.

Funding from Google with more cash than the US Federal Reserve and Intel with an R&D and product development infrastructure that is second to none.

Last, there is a sprinkle of fairy dust from Comcast to help deliver content, and to some of us who are Comcast customers we envision that Comcast will contribute nothing of substance.

So now that I’ve exhausted a good part of your productive day with an description of the landscape, what does this mean?

How does the clash of the titans sound?

Verizon ‘vs’ Sprint, Google and Intel.
700 MHz ‘vs’ WiMax.

For RFID it means accelerated spectrum space in which to bring forth new products and new applications.

For RFID readers, it means that RFID readers can be connected directly to the backbone. We’re already doing it. In my shop I have a barcode reader that is connected to my wireless router and is in constant communication with my server 5,000 miles away.

For non-passive RFID devices the ability to remove readers from the formula is much closer now than ever before.

In other words, within the next 3 years we will no longer need readers/interrogators for non-passive RFID devices. Our non-passive RFID devices will communicate with the host directly, in real time, over
700MHz or WiMax.

Based on a cost of almst $5 a gallon for diesel, my estimates for 2008 have increased to over $8 Billion of the $100+ Billion fuel spending for 2008.

It isn’t that the price of diesel is twice as high as 2005, it’s that the attraction to steal at $5 a gallon is considerably more attractive.

RFID is one of the compelling technologies that can reduce this economic cost considerably.

Comment on this story and we’ll provide you direction to reduce the costs associated with abuse of fuel dispensing.

RFID protector
Jan 1, 2006

Fuel prices rising by as much as 20% a year have spurred an increase in fuel theft, and waste, from commercial vehicles. This employee-related crime is now costing the United States trucking industry $2.1 billion a year, according to Jeff Schaengold of RF Commerce LLC.

The rate of fuel theft is accelerating as climbing fuel prices tempt more employees to steal fuel. Fuel waste also is a pronounced concern as transportation companies struggle to find a cost-effective answer to curb what is threatening their bottom line.

Latest figures from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) indicate that the US trucking industry will face a $72 billion fuel cost for 2005 — a $20 billion increase over 2004. In the past few months, fleets have reported these rising gas prices are crimping quarterly profits. “It’s no wonder that coupled with rising cases of employee fuel theft because of overall rises in petroleum, the public sector is suffering as well,” said Schaengold.

Taxpayers foot the bill when public funds are used to compensate for misuse of state-purchased fuel — a double blow for the economy. But both government authorities and private firms are taking simple, affordable steps to stop the waste and theft of trucking fuel with cutting-edge RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to combat this problem.

When using RFID to monitor rolling assets such as trucks and company vehicles, fuel theft dramatically decreases. This saves the company, the taxpayer, and the US economy billions of dollars of resources and revenue.

“The greater the consumption of all grades of fuel in the United States, the higher the fuel pump price to consumer, the higher home heating oil will be this winter, and the rate of inflation in 2006,” said Schaengold.

Because RFID tracking is geared to monitor and communicate activities of trucks and operators, trucking companies can tailor each RFID product to suit their needs, without unnecessarily going over their current budgets.

Recent industry reports have shown an increased use of RFID in monitoring truck activity in construction and mining operations to ensure that loads are accounted accurately. This is occurring on refrigerated containers and trailers to monitor temperature and humidity, and RFID is also used in yard management systems to locate assets.

“The same sensor-based technology used in refineries and chemical facilities to measure and monitor flow of liquids is applied to monitoring truck fuel consumption,” said Schaengold. “RFID coupled with GPS provides real-time tracking of the truck movements as well as idle time when the engine consumes fuel instead of shutting down.”

RFID allows a fuel tank cap to be matched with an authorized fuel pump. If the operator opens the fuel cap and he is not within the proximity of an authorized fuel pump, the RFID transponder unit logs the event. The trucking company, through reporting and messaging, receives a record of the event and can challenge the operator’s activity.

RFID-associated fuel pumps match drivers and trucks through closed-circuit TV images with the truck RFID transponder. Much like EZ-Pass, if the truck doesn’t match the transponder, the trucking company is alerted.

Traffic jams waste fuel at high rates with no mobility value. RFID can route drivers away from congestion, saving both time and fuel costs. According to Schaengold, “RFID presents practical, manageable, and affordable solutions for the trucking industry because it works, and for a new technology, it’s refreshingly based on solid, defined methods of tracking principles.”

Without RFID, fuel usage waste and theft is hard to manage and hard to prove. Not only does RFID offer a precise and trackable method, but it also offers a strong deterrent for fuel theft and unnecessary waste, while savings far outweigh the costs.

Management of truck operators requires quantification and real-time visibility. Managers need to know they can locate their drivers at any time, and find out what they are doing, precisely and efficiently. RFID does that, in a cost-effective and non-obstructive method that doesn’t drain valuable company resources.

RFID enables tracking and monitoring of all types of trucking. It is more efficient than bar-code tracking, since RFID requires no manual scanning and no line of sight.

Because RFID works seamlessly within the trucking industry, and creates a mutually beneficial working environment, the savings and enhanced efficiency more than cover the cost of acquisition. With such a costly activity as fuel waste and theft reduced, RFID’s cost-saving results will give companies the edge over trucking competitors and competing transportation modes.

The higher the price of fuel, the more value technology to reduce fuel consumption gains in importance. Again, the cost of fuel falls not only on private companies and the public sector, but also the consumers. Fuel is heading towards $3 a gallon, so trucking fuel costs — aside from those incurred through theft — are rising at double digits. Yet “RFID makes the task of fuel, operator, and rolling stock monitoring entirely manageable, without the need for companies to hire extra staff,” said Schaengold.

US trucking companies are using RFID with considerable results. RFID-enabled smart cards at the fuel pump are making fuel dispensing easier and quicker. It is estimated that by year 2007, companies not using RFID will lose up to $4 billion due to fuel waste and theft, if the adoption of RFID is not accelerated in 2005 and 2006.

For almost a dozen years we’ve advocated that serializing food on an item level will save food processors Billions of dollars in recall expenses.

The cost of serializing on the item level with barcode and possibly RFID on the carton level will help food processors target recalls to specific units of measure rather across the board.

Basically, tracking your production on the item level serialization provides companies the ability to target specific lots and pull them off the shelf.

Also, in cooperation with the major retailers, adding the facility to read a serial number barcode at the POS, will keep consumers from purchasing a recalled product.

How does it work ?

Simple. Once a recall is announced the retailer flags the UPC at the retail POS to have the serial number barcode scanned. When the serial number barcode is scanned, the retailer POS validates whether the item is at risk or it’s acceptable to purchase.

Wal-Mart is already doing it with electronics, prompting the POS clerk to scan the serial number barcode.

We met with Dole twice in 2006 to propose serializing their bagged lettuce production.

Needless to say if you go to the grocery store, the Dole bagged lettuce is not serialized April 2008. But look at how much the industry lost in bagged lettuce and spinach sales as a result of recalls. Hundreds of millions of dollars.

Recent cantaloupe recalls will cost retailers and Honduras and El Salvador 10′s of millions of dollars.

Hallmark Beef is basically out of business. Yes, they will operate again under a different name. Yes, they will probably have another CEO that basically never leaves his office. But will they begin by serializing their beef production?

I would like to challenge the USDA. . . Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer – Require suppliers of food to school programs to serialize their deliveries to the school programs!

If the Secretary of Defense can do it, why not the USDA ?