Supply chain

RFID has a “rosy future” with massive spending on high-tech packaging and labels not from suppliers but large industries like healthcare and the military, say experts.

The RFID Smart Labels Europe Conference heard how technology was turning radio-frequency ID into a high-volume mass market.

“RFID tech has been going on to packaging by slow processes like sheetfed or rotary screen printing,” said Dr Peter Harrop, chairman of the consultancy IDTechEx. “But we are moving into a new phase and people are now working up to it on gravure for high speed and high volumes.”

The London event attracted more than 350 delegates from 30 countries and included representatives from TagSense, Procter and Gamble and Marks & Spencer.