Medical Device Link.

Originally Published PMPN July 2004

NEWS

Scott Dowdell has heard all the concerns about using RFID for pharmaceuticals. He knows that the technology can be expensive to implement and that chips can be sensitive to certain industrial environments and operations. He also realizes that some products and packaging materials can interfere with tag reading and that cases and pallets need to be packed carefully to avoid shadows, also known as tags that do not register because they cancel each other out.

But as director of product development for Topflight Corp. (York, PA), Dowdell knows that RFID can be used successfully to track and trace pharmaceuticals. The key, he says, is to set up a pilot program to determine packaging line setup and chip placement, among other fundamentals. Topflight has been involved in a few such pilots and is also working closely with a major supplier of RFID tag technology. 

“We can customize label and tag design, even for smaller-footprint labels,” says Dowdell. “In addition to using stock tags from our supplier, we can also print and etch antennas and other components right on custom labels.” One firm is currently working on a 1 ¥ 1-in. footprint for an antenna that operates at 915 MHz. Topflight already has a 12 ¥ 45-mm antenna at 2.45 GHz.

To deal with chip sensitivity, Dowdell says that Topflight has modified existing label-converting equipment to control static, using electrostatic dissipation methods. The firm also ships rolled labels in antistatic bags with cushioning to protect chips and antennas.

But trouble can also occur after RFID-embedded chips are shipped. “Chips can break. Also, sometimes a static discharge results when labels are removed from liners,” he says. To help users recognize potential problems, Dowdell says that his team will often go into user facilities to help them apply labels without damaging RFID components. “We often suggest that users avoid small-diameter rollers and control humidity and temperature in storage. And we instruct our clients to thoroughly train all personnel to follow specific procedures, like wearing protective attire and using grounding strips.”

Dowdell says that “since RFID is a relatively new technology, everyone is facing a learning curve. But we will get to six sigma one day—we are constantly improving to reach zero defects.”

Copyright ©2004 Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News