New Zebra RFID Printer/Encoder for Advanced Item-Level Tagging

The first high performance RFID printer/encoder from Zebra Technologies is now available. Designed to address the growing RFID market for high-volume item-level tagging, the R110Xi4 streamlines business improvement and supply-chain management applications such as item-level tracking, asset tracking, inventory management and more across retail, manufacturing, healthcare and distribution channels.

“Zebra is responding to an overall RFID market shift from compliance-based tracking to more item-level tracking with the high performance RXi4,” said Carolyn Ricci, product manager, Zebra Technologies. “The RXi4’s new RFID printer/encoder brings innovation, functionality, and cost benefits to an industry that hasn’t seen technology like this rise up to meet the demand head on – making it a smart investment for organizations with high-volume, mission critical or specialty labeling applications.”

According to a recent survey from VDC, average corporate investment in RFID solutions is expected to grow by more than 200 percent over the next year to nearly $7 million in 2011. This increase can be attributed to spillover demand from retail to manufacturing, healthcare and other industries for item-level tracking to better monitor inventory levels and track assets, noted Ricci.

Building on more than 10 years of industry expertise in RFID printing/encoding, Zebra’s RXi4 overcomes one of the largest barriers to RFID adoption – media cost. The RXi4 benefits many organizations by reducing RFID media costs by up to 10 percent. By providing a printer/encoder with Zebra’s exclusive patent-pending Adaptive Encoding technology, the RXi4 can detect the RFID inlay position within the label and automatically configure the printer/encoder without having to manually calibrate for the inlay – ensuring tag accuracy and saving time and money.

Other market differentiating features of the RXi4 include on-pitch encoding, enabling the user to print/encode small tags very close together with a distance as narrow as .6-inch/16 mm. By spacing inlays closer together, label converters use less material which converts to lower cost per label, fewer media roll changes and faster printer/encoder throughput.

The product also features variable inlay placamento whereby the printer automatically senses the RFID inlay position to optimize encoding and enables companies to use media converted for other-brand printer/encoders with minimal printer reconfiguration.

Based on Zebra’s Xi4 printers – introduced earlier this year – the RXi4 incorporates rugged durability, consistent outstanding print quality, fast print speed, long life and unparalleled reliability in demanding applications. The RXi4 complements Zebra’s existing line of products for item-level tagging such as the RZ400 printer/encoder and P4T mobile thermal transfer printer with optional RFID upgradability for inventory management from the store floor.