European EPC Lab Network
Nine European EPC Labs agreed to work closely together and formed the European EPC Lab Network supporting the adoption of RFID technology and EPC technology in Europe. The EPC or Electronic Product Code is a technology based upon GS1/EPCglobal standards enabling the identification of objects, data capture and sharing of information among trading partners throughout the supply chain.
The European EPC Lab Network consists of:
• RFID/EPCglobal Test CENTER in Austria
• Laboratoire RFID EPCglobal in France
• European EPC Competence Center (EECC) in Germany
• EPC lab of Indicod-ECR in Italy
• National EPC/RFID Laboratory in Poland
• EPC Competence Centre in Spain
• GS1 UK RFID Test Centre
• GS1 – EPC/RFID Innovation Centre in Norway
• RFID/EPCglobal Test and Knowledge Centre at the Danish Technological Institute
In addition of exchanging information, software and test tools, the European EPC Labs will closely collaborate on the development of common educational training programs, showcases as well as new services specifically adapted for the European market. The idea behind this initiative is to combine the local strength of those labs in their respective countries with their complementary industry and process knowledge. Pan-European companies are especially interested in the European EPC Lab Network as it supports them in the adoption of the RFID technology and EPC technology with their trading partners.
It is planned to develop and launch a service targeting retailers intending to include trading partners from different European countries in their RFID initiatives. If a retailer wants to include suppliers from several countries in Europe such as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain or Poland into their RFID roll-outs, the European EPC Lab Network would be able to support those activities with a complete portfolio of services including educational training and compliance approvals among others. The suppliers would be able to contact the EPC lab in their country while testing and approving their products according to the retailer’s specifications and requirements. This service within the framework of the European EPC Lab Network will support every retailer in Europe to realise faster and more efficiently their pan-European EPC and RFID activities.
RFID/EPCglobal Test CENTER in Austria
The RFID/EPCglobal Test CENTER offers customer specific and hardware independent tests following the rules of EPCglobal. Evaluation of hardware and frequency is one of its uses but it is also a place for training courses as well as a showroom to get a general idea of many of the different uses RFID has to offer.
The team of the Test CENTER give their knowledge and their support to customers who want for example want to improve the reading performance of their tags or to find the right position where on the product the tag should be put. The experts of the RFID/EPCglobal Test CENTER offer, apart from general guidance and service, also additional training if wanted. This can be done at the Test CENTER or at the customer’s location.
If preferred, tests can also be held at the customer’s company location. In that way the documentation becomes even clearer as transparent as possible. In the realisation process of first pilot installations the Test CENTER offers its support to customers in these first stages of a project.
Contact: Alexander Peterlik
Phone: +43 1 5058601/42
Email: a.peterlik@gs1austria.at
 
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Laboratoire RFID EPCglobal in France
GS1 France has been developing its RFID test activities since 2004 and has already produced two reports on the performances of RFID technology for logistics applications. In 2007, GS1 France has set up its own Lab, fully independent to any system integrators. Its mission aims to accelerate the maturity of the French market in providing services to its members. The “on-site RFID experiences” are proposed to assist the potential users of the EPCglobal standards to acquire some practical knowledge. The performances of RFID hardware are indeed strongly conditioned by the constitution of the tagged objects, by the application in which they are implementing and by the direct environment in which they are deployed. The potentials users have often problems to conceive a use of RFID which is adapted and relevant for them, as long as they don’t know how the technology behaves in their business context. The difference between RFID applications which seems technically operational and those which seems immature is a crucial stage in the acceptance by the companies of the technology, its stakes, and its standards. In order to accelerate the upgrading of the companies in France, GS1 France proposes the “on-site RFID experience” that wants to be accessible, neutral and quality.
The implementation of this service allows:
- To evaluate the potential uses of the RFID within its logistic or point of sale places
- To draw up an assessment of the performances of RFID according to the constraints and operational requirements of the company
- To give the opportunity to the board members of the company to attend some demonstrations of RFID applications
The intervention of the laboratory takes place during three days. It includes: the installation of the hardware and the tagging of the products, the implementation of the tests and a presentation of the results. A GS1 France team, composed by telecommunication and electronics engineers ensures the intervention during the three days.
Contact: Stephane Cren
Phone: +33 1 40 95 54 73
Email: stephane.cren@gs1fr.org
 
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European EPC Competence Center (EECC) in Germany
In order to foster the spread of the EPC standard and the RFID technology in Europe, GS1 Germany – the German representative of EPCglobal – has teamed up with Deutsche Post World Net, Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH and METRO Group to launch the European EPC Competence Center (EECC) in Neuss, Germany.
EECC supports companies planning or actively undertaking a rollout of RFID and EPC. The Center offers reliable testing services in state-of-the-art facilities for all branches of trade and a multi-faceted training program. In September 2005, EECC was accredited by EPCglobal as the latter’s first “Performance Test Center” in Europe.
Contact: Myriam Hoffmann
Phone: +49 221 94714 -245
Email: hoffmann@gs1-germany.de
web: www.eecc.info
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EPC lab of Indicod-ECR in Italy
The EPC Lab is the EPC/RFID technology testing laboratory created by Indicod-Ecr (GS1 Italy) and the School of Management, Polytechnic of Milan, in cooperation with Hewlett-Packard Italy and Telecom Italy, with the aim to make feasibility studies and to test the implementation of EPC technology within the operative processes of the supply chain.
EPC Lab’s testing activities enable EPC users to:
- verify the performances of the technological equipment;
- evaluate the real potential of EPC application;
- better design their application and management;
- identify and develop a specific knowledge.
The final goal is to build up relevant business cases with the shared interest of GS1 Italy’s main companies (retailers and manufacturers) in order to create a market for EPC in Italy.
Contact: Massimo Bolchini
Phone: +39 02 777 212 340
Email: massimo.bolchini@indicod-ecr.it
web: www.indicod-ecr.it
 
  
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National EPC/RFID Laboratory in Poland
Following the great interest of the international community, with regard to EPC/RFID emerging technology, in the beginning of the year 2006, GS1 Poland opened the first EPC/RFID Laboratory in this part of Europe. National EPC/RFID Laboratory is capable of providing Polish and international companies with many different services related to EPC/RFID technology. Till the end of this year Polish laboratory will run a real time live demonstration of EPCglobal network. The system will have RFID readers (interrogators) that generate data and events (the movement of goods using conveyor) and transmit those events to interested supply chain parties. Presented supply chain will be limited to 3 trading partners (manufacturer, distribution center, retail store). Each facility will have a simulated EPC Information Service (EPCIS) and all data exchange between partners will be performed using simulated ONS server.
The National EPC/RFID Laboratory in Poland can also provide quality and performance tests of RFID transponders and readers using GTEM cell (Gigahertz Transverse Electromagnetic). GTEM chamber allows performing precise measurement of the efficiency and range of RFID transponders. Such measurements are free from external interference which could compromise test results, for example: electromagnetic fields from cellular phones.
Additionally EPC Laboratory can perform several static and dynamic tests like: transponder position test, transponder reading range test (also in dependence on antenna pointing direction), etc.
Moreover EPC/RFID laboratory is capable to perform sophisticated EMC related tests and measurements of RFID readers and antennas such as: measurement of electromagnetic disturbances (conducted in frequency range 150 kHz – 30 MHz, radiated in frequency range 30 MHz - 1 GHz, current harmonics, flickers), immunity examination not only for electrostatic discharge, electromagnetic field, electrical fast transient/burst but also magnetic fields, voltage dips, short interruptions and many others.
National EPC/RFID Laboratory is also very active in training and education. Our laboratory is providing training services directed to Polish companies as well as classes for students form one of the local Universities.
Contact: Michal Grabia
Phone: +48 61 850 49 46
Email: michal.grabia@gs1pl.org
 
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EPC Competence Centre in Spain
GS1 Spain inaugurated the “EPC Competence Centre” on September 2005 and these days is the meeting point between offering and demand for RFID/EPC needs in Spain, providing all necessary services to support and help Spanish companies to develop and implement EPC.
The Technology Demonstration area is focused in the supply chain, point-of-sale and home applications. The installation of demonstration kits provides a clear vision to our members of the capability of EPC technology in different environments where supply chain processes are running: factory plants, warehouse, transport & logistics,...
Contact: Sergi Cardona
Phone: +34 93 252 39 00
Email: scardona@gs1es.org
Web: www.epcglobalsp.org
 
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GS1 UK RFID Test Centre
The EPCglobal RFID Test Centre is a vendor-independent demonstration, test and design centre where you can:
• View and interact with the latest RFID developments in a hands-on, real-world industrial environment
• Learn from successful, proven RFID implementations
• Receive impartial advice in a non-sales environment
The Centre will help ensure your RFID pilots and deployments are successful, cost-effective and in compliance with the latest standards and your trading partners’ requirements, utilising best-of-breed technology from a wide range of technology suppliers. You will gain a realistic understanding of what RFID can do today in a production setting, identify its true business value and learn how it can be implemented in your organisation today.
The Centre provides a range of unique services tailored to your specific needs.
• RFID taster sessions: Review real-world business based case studies, not just technology pilots, experience how RFID performs in an operational setting and understand standards and their importance in designing applications
• RFID industry sessions: Industry-specific sessions with practical demonstrations tailored to your needs
• RFID test sessions: Organisation-specific sessions where you can understand how RFID will work in your specific environment and test various configurations to achieve the best fit for your needs
• RFID design sessions: Advanced testing and design facilities to help overcome issues in using RFID in difficult environments
Contact: David Lyon
Phone: 020 7092 3532
Email: david.lyon@gs1uk.org
Web: www.gs1uk.org
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GS1 – EPC/RFID Innovation Centre in Norway
RFID Innovation Centre was established in January 2006. The Centre has since the opening established a large partner network which supports the RFID Innovation centre, and is a GS1 Norway subsidiary.
RFID Innovation Centre offers RFID/EPC consultancy, education and extensive testing of RFID/EPC solutions for different market segment like FMCG – retail industry, oil and offshore and governmental areas. Our consultancy services are vendor neutral and based on experience since 2006 from several RFID/EPC projects.
Our RFIDlab test centre is equipped with RFID readers, RFID concentrators and RFID middleware from several vendors like Intermec, IBM, Microsoft and SAS Institute. We have installed:
• Microsoft Dynamics Ax ERP solution with BizTalk RFID server
• SAP ECC 6.0 connected with Crosstalk RFID Middleware
• SAS Institute Enterprise
• IBM WebSphere
• IBM RFID IC – Information Centre (Nov. 08)
• Fosstrak EPC IS (Nov 08)
• Bridge project Discovery Services (Nov 08)
The vision of RFID Innovation Centrte is to be the preferred Norwegian centre for development and testing of new RFID-solutions, together with a leading RFID-competence centre for different department environments and industries.
RFID Innovation Centre will:
• Help the research and development of the RFID-technology (and other Auto-ID-technologies)r
• Work as an independent test centre
• Offer courses and other training activities in RFID/EPC, in the long run also certification
• Offer services for Norwegian trade and industry companies that will contribute to increasing the effiency and profit realization with the introduction of RFID-technology
• Contribute to creating new co-operation relations and alliances that will make the participants in a supply chain optimise the usage value of the RFID-technology
Contact: Roar Lorvik
Phone: +47 2206 7660
Email: roar@rfidlab.no
Web: www.gs1.no
 
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RFID/EPCglobal Test and Knowledge Centre at the Danish Technological Institute
The DTI’s RFID/EPCglobal Test and Knowledge Centre is a research based international RFID test laboratory which assesses and tests readability of RFID marked pallets on trucks, as well as transport packaging on conveyor belts through accredited test procedures which are calibrated in accordance with EPC Global Inc.’s (and the customers’) specifications. The DTI is an independent, private, not for profit- and government approved technological institute serving a wide number of industries with a focus on retail and whole sale, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, construction and building activities plus transport and logistics.
The Danish RFID test lab, was established in 2005 and works under the auspices of the Packaging and Transport simulation test facility at DTI. This main DTI facility was established more than 40 years ago by the Danish food producers and retailers in order to meet modern supermarket supply chain demand for consumer and transport packaging as well as UN type approval of packaging for hazardous material.
Contact: Morten Pedersen, TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT
Phone: +45 72 20 31 66
Email: morten.pedersen@teknologisk.dk
Web: www.gs1.dk
 
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