Pliant and PowerID Create Tamper-Proofing Solution for High-Value Pallets

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. and PETAH TIKVA, Israel—Pliant Corporation, a producer of value-added film and flexible packaging products for personal care, medical, food, industrial, and agricultural markets, and PowerID Ltd., a supplier of battery-assisted, passive (BAP) RFID technology, announced that they have successfully demonstrated a solution for tamper-proofing pallets with RFID-enabled stretch film (also known as shrink wrap).

Pliant’s electrically conductive stretch film combined with PowerID’s specially designed PowerG labels for tracking freight and high-value pallets, provides a viable solution by overcoming the distinct limitations of barcode technologies, the limited performance of standard passive RFID, and the high cost of active RFID, according to the two companies. Electrically connected to the stretch film wrapped around a pallet, the PowerG label is readable by RFID readers when the stretch film is intact and the electrical circuit is closed. However, when the stretch film is tampered with, the circuit is broken, rendering the label unreadable and thereby alerting a supply chain manager to possible tampering.

“We are excited about partnering with PowerID,” said Randy Scott, vice president of global marketing at Pliant Corporation. “After being introduced to PowerID, we quickly realized that its BAP RFID technology was the logical choice for us, since passive RFID cannot provide the electrical needs of this solution and active RFID is too expensive. By utilizing PowerID’s specially designed labels and leveraging our knowledge and expertise in tamper-proofing, particularly for defense logistics, we can now offer a viable solution to organizations that need to ensure reliable and secure delivery of goods.”

After successfully demonstrating the tamper-proof solution to government agencies, the companies are targeting co-development and marketing opportunities in the defense, government, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and high-end retail industries. PowerG labels, with the battery embedded in the label, act as the power source for the electrical circuit in the stretch film, providing superior RFID performance for RF-challenged pallets with items containing metals and liquids.

“By partnering with Pliant to co-develop and market this tamper-proof solution, we can now collectively provide companies and organizations with a viable and cost-effective solution that enables the secure transport of pallets that to date, have been RFID-challenged by cartons containing metals and liquids,” said Erez Kahani, CEO of PowerID.