PackExpo 2004: Omron focuses on products, progress, partnerships

Chicago, IL — ''We’ve had a great first half and are optimistic about the second,'' Craig Bauer, COO and president of Omron Electronics LLC, told a press gathering recently. Speaking at PackExpo this week, the corporate executive expressed confidence in the future economy and cited the company’s exceptionally strong performance and double-digit growth thus far this year as a reason for enthusiasm and optimism.

By Control Engineering Staff November 11, 2004

Chicago, IL — ”We’ve had a great first half and are optimistic about the second,” Craig Bauer, COO and president of Omron Electronics LLC , told a press gathering recently. Speaking at PackExpo this week, the corporate executive expressed confidence in the future economy and cited the company’s exceptionally strong performance and double-digit growth thus far this year as a reason for enthusiasm and optimism.

Bauer keynoted the press conference, which saw Omron announce two new products and two partnerships. Products include an RFID reader/writer and a vision system. Introducing the products, Bauer cited the importance of the markets they serve and the need for suppliers to provide improved quality of products and address traceability factors and safety and environmental issues. Praising the new vision system as the fastest of its kind on the market today, he also indicated that more safety-related products would be forthcoming from the company.

The V740 RFID system is compatible with both UHF (915 MHz) and HF (13.56 MHz) bands. One model offers 4 UHF ports and 2 HF ports, both multi-frequency and multi-protocol with simultaneous actions. The unit communicates with tags using both EPC (Electronic Product Code) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards. Features let users interact with a wide range of tags, supporting the handling of goods on a global scale.

Using TCP/IP protocol, the device can be added easily to existing networks. It is suited for inventory and material handling applications where RFID codes have begun to enhance bar codes. Some large retailers are now mandating RFID coding on pallets and cases starting early next year. The RFID reader/writer is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2005.

Also unveiled was the F270 vision system , which integrates into a single unit two CPUs with up to four high-speed cameras, two independent triggers, and dual real-time position compensation ASICs to capture images in 8-16 ms in either field or frame mode. Up to 5,000 parts per minute can be inspected. Higher speed enables higher throughput; multiple cameras allow inspection of targets from multiple views or at different stages of processing. Dual CPUs let the system inspect two targets at once with no speed reduction.

System is designed for use on high-speed processing lines such as canning and packaging operations where quality and output rate are equally important. System is currently available from stock. Controller cost is $14,000; Cameras are priced at $1,200.

Omron also announced two new partnerships: strategic alliances with label and label applicator manufacturer Weber Marking Systems Inc . and coding and marking equipment manufacturer Domino Amjet Inc . The alliance with Weber will allow the two companies to provide customers with high-quality EPC-compliant RFID smart labels and UHF agile readers that conform to EPC code standards. The agreement with Domino Amjet is intended to offer enhanced EPC-compliant RFID coding and track and trace capability to companies as they code materials, products, packages, and pallets to ensure quality control, enhanced recall capability, and continuous supply chain management.

Said Paul Witt, Omron’s strategic sales manager, ”Omron’s unique ability to capture, store, and communicate data and Domino’s expertise in delivering high-quality printing, marking, and RFID labeling will enable us together to provide new solutions that will deliver enhanced productivity from start to finish of a process.” Witt emphasized the global nature of all three players in the agreements, citing their 150 collective years of experience in this arena and their ”extraordinary expertise to provide integrated solutions.”

—Control Engineering Daily News DeskJeanine Katzel, senior editor, jkatzel@reedbusiness.com