Ove Canemyr has a view of RFID from his position as leader of RFID Nordic in Sweden.
Please tell us in brief what RFID Nordic is.
RFID Nordic is an idealistic association for all manufacturers, retailers, consultants as well as consumers and end-users interested in RFID solutions. Since its inception in 2004, founded by me and Björn Söderberg, the membership has increased steadily. Today we have more than 60 members and a global network for the reciprocal exchange of information.
RFID Nordic has two main purposes. One is to create a cluster of competence around the RFID applications and services in Northern Europe. The other is to provide the media, high schools, politicians and administrators with impartial information about RFID, while at the same time creating a collaborative forum for the exchange of information and expansion.
Do you see many RFID implementations happening locally?
Some big companies have ordered RFID solutions for their different needs. For example LKAB wanted to collect information to give to machine operators in the mine tunnels to use as background material for when the loading of ore should be halted. So that loads of iron ore from every detonation can be optimized from the ore lode.
The consultant, SoftCenter, used RFID decoders that can locate a loading machine’s logistical position at high speed. The loading machine’s computer, via a local network in the machine, can communicate with a RFID reader via TCP/IP. The computer also has a radio network (802.11) so that they can communicate via TCP/IP with the follow-up system. The Scoop roller is hooked up to loader’s computer via an RS-232 boundary beacon.
Another example is NP Collection that uses RFID tags sewn into the collection to locate bolts of cloth/garments in real time through the complete production chain from the textile manufacturer right through to the retailer.
You also can see RFID solutions for entrance tickets for subways and different events.
Do you have a relative sense of the RFID market in Scandinavia versus how you see the market anywhere else?
My opinion is that we now are a little step ahead of other parts in Europe and even elsewhere in the world, where all focus has been on Retail. While we have developed all three marketing fields: Industrial - Trade and Services at the same time, without dropping focus on where the growth is.
Tell us about the conferences you are involved in.
Next week we are running, together with Mentor Online, the RFID I Norden, a seminar for everyone interested in RFID. An afternoon together with very competent speakers from all over Europe and in the evening we have the gala dinner with the handing over of The Golden Tag Award for the third time. The Golden Tag Award goes to the ordering company, and The Mini Tag to the consultant.
In October we are cooperating with the big exhibition marketplace in Stockholm Stockholmsmässan on the Technical Fair, where we will have the RFID EXPO running for four days, 21st to the 24th of October. That will be the biggest meeting place for RFID in northern Europe. Exhibitors and visitors will come from Scandinavia, of course, but also from The Baltics, Russia, Germany and GB.
This meeting place will be the first of its kind in northern Europe and we are hoping to attract al lot of visitors and that a lot of business networking will take place.
What type of visitors attend the show?
This year we are targeting the Swedish private equity and venture capital association and of course the universities. We have also started the price for RFID Nordic Scholarship 2008, about 2,000 Euros for the best RFID student work, up to doctors degree. This is in order to attract young people to the RFID market.
What are The Golden Tag Awards?
We have eleven nominees for The Golden Tag Award this year. The Award is a yearly prize to the company that has ordered the largest RFID assignment. The Main Tag goes to the consultant or producer. There is a lot of media around this event so the status is big for the winner. And, of course, for the consultant as well.
How are the winners determined?
Companies working within the RFID area are sending in their works to me before the 24th of December every year. Then the Board of RFID Nordic functions as the jury. Of course no one is allowed to vote on their own solutions. Everyone rates one, two, three. And the winner gets 3 points; the second one 2 points; and the third 1 point. All scores are counted and on 7 February we will know who won this year.
For more information regarding RFID Nordic's Scandinavian RFID Expo & Conference please click here.
