Bottles now have embedded RFID.A patented technology fully encapsulates Radio Frequency Identification See RFID. (RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) A data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. The tag, also known as an "electronic label," "transponder" or "code plate," is made up of an RFID chip attached to an antenna. ) components between injection molded discs and then embeds that assembly into an injection-blow molded bottle. It is the first commercial application of a plastic container with embedded Inserted into. See embedded system. RFID, rather than a tag affixed af·fix tr.v. af·fixed, af·fix·ing, af·fix·es 1. To secure to something; attach: affix a label to a package. 2. to the outside of a product. "The first RFID-embedded bottles are being produced here in the U.S. for the prescription pharmaceutical market," says Brian Chisholm, R&D Development Engineer at Rexam Primary Packaging in Perrysburg, Ohio Perrysburg is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States, along the Maumee River. The population was 16,945 at the 2000 census. If combined with the adjacent Perrysburg Township, it would have a total population of 30,558 making it the most populous city in Wood County. . Rexam is producing RFID-embedded pharmaceutical bottles of 40 cc and larger. The new technology brings improved traceability of the container compared with barcoded labels. Development of an RFID solution was done to comply with upcoming regulations from the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. requiring drug distributors to provide full traceability throughout the supply chain, says Chisholm. TWO PROCESSES AVAILABLE Rexam actually has more than one approach to producing the RFID bottles. Rexam and the former consumer packaging company Owen-Illinois Healthcare Packaging Inc. were separately working on embedded RFID bottle concepts several years ago. Rexam teamed up with Traxxec Ltd. of the U.K. on RFID developmental projects, while O-I Healthcare worked on its own. When Rexam acquired O-I Healthcare in 2007 it ended up with two in-house solutions at its disposal to embed the disc with the encapsulated RFID tag An electronic identification device that is made up of a chip and antenna. For reusable applications, it is typically embedded in a plastic housing, and for tracking shipments, it is usually part of a "smart" packaging label. into the base of the container. One method (not currently in use), which Rexam has licensed from Traxxec, uses a post-mold operation to ultrasonically weld the disc into a pocket in the base of the bottle. The other approach (developed by O-I Healthcare) embeds the disc directly into the bottle base during blow molding. This is the approach Rexam is now using. "During the blow stage of the bottle, we include the tag in the blow mold and embed it in the base of the container," says Chisholm. "The approach places the disc at the base of the preform pre·form tr.v. pre·formed, pre·form·ing, pre·forms 1. To shape or form beforehand. 2. To determine the shape or form of beforehand. n. 1. just prior to blowing the bottle," says Chisholm. Rexam developed the industrial machinery to feed, orient, and place the discs into each blow mold. Rexam uses the same material (HDPE HDPE abbr. high-density polyethylene ) for the disc and the bottle. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This approach employs a proprietary low-pressure, low-temperature molding technique to encapsulate en·cap·su·late v. 1. To form a capsule or sheath around. 2. To become encapsulated. en·cap the RFID components (microchip (1) Another term for a microminiaturized integrated circuit (a "chip"). (2) To insert an RFID tag beneath the skin of an animal. It is expected that some day, humans will be microchipped. and antenna) between two previously injection molded discs. This overcomes the key hurdle to implementation of molded-in RFID--protecting the electronic components from the heat and pressure of molding. The technology also overcomes some of the issues presented by external RFID labels on bottles. "It offers less damage to tags since they are protected by the molded disc, resulting in fewer null reads from tag-to-tag contact on conveyor lines," says Chisholm. The position of the tag in the bottom of the bottle avoids the need to orient the bottle when passing an RFID reader A transmitter/receiver that reads the contents of RFID tags in the vicinity. Also called an "RFID interrogator." The maximum distance between the reader's antenna and the tag vary, depending on application. . Additionally, the bottom location enforces a distance between the tags on adjacent bottles, avoiding interference between tags that can lead to "read failure." The low-pressure/low-temperature molding approach could also be used for sensors or security devices, Chisholm notes. Rexam uses the Monza RFID chip and antenna technology developed by Impinj Inc., of Seattle. Rexam assembles the RFID components with the injection molded discs , and encapsulates the assembly. Rexam inspects and validates each assembly before it is fed to the blow molding process. The bottles are blow molded on standard machines from Jomar Corp., Pleasantville, N.J., and Uniloy Milacron, Inc., Tecumseh, Mich. Rexam can mold bottles and test them for leaks and RFID functionality in the production line. The pharmaceutical companies do not have to bother anymore with applying RFID-tag labels and checking them. Rexam does it all, says Chisholm. CONTACT SUPPLIERS For more information about these companies and their products, visit ptonline.com/suppliers lmpinj Inc., Seattle (866) 467-4650 * www.impinj.com Rexam Primary Packaging, Perrysburg, OH (567) 336-8085 * www.rexam.com Traxxec Ltd., Newcastle-Under-Lyme Staffordshire, UK +44 845 396 8168 * www.traxxec.com By Mikell Knights, Senior Editor |
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