Metro Group, Mercadona Testing New RFID Technology

The Metro Group, Netherlands-based Royal Philips Electronics, and Intermec Technologies, Everett, Wash., yesterday announced what they called the industry’s first demonstration of an EPC Generation 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at Metro Group’s RFID Innovation Center here. During the demonstration, Intermec Intellitag Gen 2 smart labels containing Philips Generation 2 RFID chips were read by an RFID-enabled Intermec IF5 reader.

Metro plans to test the Generation 2 technology at its Future Store, an Extra supermarket in Rheinberg, Germany. By the end of 2005, more than 100 Metro Group suppliers are expected to migrate to Generation 2 RFID technology for improved asset tracking and inventory control. Separately, Witron, Parkstein, Germany, announced it is implementing RFID technology for the first time at a distribution center operated by Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona. The DC, which will use Witron's Order Picking Machinery (OPM) to pick cases, will incorporate RFID-tagged pallets.

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