UPM Raflatac and Blue Spark Technologies Team Up

TAMPERE, Finland—UPM Raflatac and Blue Spark Technologies have announced a recently formed partnership specifically targeting the development and launch of new and innovative products and applications in the emerging battery-assisted passive (BAP) RFID market.

Both companies bring to the alliance unique product knowledge and engineering expertise applicable to BAP RFID technology. UPM Raflatac is a leading developer and supplier of HF and UHF radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and inlays. Blue Spark is a leading supplier of thin, flexible-printed battery solutions for use in a host of industrial and consumer applications, including RFID and smart cards.

The research and development partnership has been enabled by the launch of a new EPC Gen2 battery-assisted passive RFID chip from Swiss-based EM Microelectronic. EM’s new EM4324 RFID chip is capable of battery-assisted read ranges of up to 40 metres (131 feet) and features a 1024-bit, non-volatile memory. The chip also includes a “low battery” alarm. Radio frequency performance and durability assurance will be provided by UPM Raflatac’s tag and inlay design capabilities, supported by the company’s worldwide production and testing facilities. Power will be supplied by a variety of Blue Spark’s thin, flexible-printed battery solutions, including the ultra-thin Blue Spark UT Series.

“UPM Raflatac is well known for its excellence in passive technology and as a passive inlay market leader. Entry into a new market requires the best possible partners to meet industry requirements and expectations. Battery-assisted RFID inlays excel in applications demanding a longer read range and robust reading,” says Samuli Strömberg, vice president, marketing, UPM Raflatac, RFID.

“Blue Spark is excited to partner with industry leader UPM Raflatac. Together, we can leverage our knowledge and experience to create a virtual ‘idea factory’ that will enable us to develop and test exciting new products built around our respective technologies and bring them to market in a timely way,” says Gary Johnson, president and CEO of Blue Spark Technologies.

Both companies view battery-assisted passive RFID as the next chapter in the evolution of the RFID market. BAP effectively bridges the gap between pure passive RFID technology and high-end active and real-time location systems (RTLS), from both the price and performance standpoints. The companies are focusing their efforts on the development of high-volume BAP RFID-enabled products for consumer, life sciences and industrial markets.