RFID Lab Finland opens to serve Finnish industry

An application centre specialising in radio frequency identification – RFID Lab Finland – has opened at the Technopolis Helsinki-Vantaa technology centre near to HelsinkiVantaa international airport. A group of leading technology enterprises including Nokia and Hewlett-Packard have begun promoting this project, which is part of the Vantaa HiTech programme. The first stage of the project will be a concrete demonstration venue where the possibilities of RFID may be displayed and developed to suit the needs of Finnish industry.

The aim of RFID Lab Finland is to help potential Finnish users of radio frequency identification technology to appreciate its possibilities and limitations. RFID technology improves the efficiency of logistics, for example by automating transmission and reception functions and enabling precise monitoring of consignments. RFID Lab Finland has eleven member enterprises employing RFID technology in Finland, and this project will promote closer collaboration in the RFID sector.

The clearest visible element of RFID Lab Finland is the RFID demonstration facility at Technopolis Helsinki-Vantaa near the international airport, where future users of this technology may come and examine its capabilities and limitations.

The project is part of the current strategy of the City of Vantaa. "RFID Lab Finland will bring know-how and jobs to Vantaa. The project furthers the city's strategic objective of becoming a logistics centre for Finland with respect to both expertise and transportation," explains city Mayor Juhani Paajanen.

RFID Lab Finland is backed by Finnish organisations working in logistics and RFID technology. The project is part of the Vantaa HiTech programme under the Centre of Expertise for Logistics. It is based on public funding, but the member enterprises also finance the project by providing various RFID hardware items and specialist services. Because of its practical application expertise, the Finnish logistics RFID system integrator Vilant Systems Oy was chosen to co-ordinate RFID Lab Finland in practice.

For further details of the services of RFID Lab Finland visit the project website at http://www.rfidlab.fi/.

Photographs on this subject are available at

http://www.rfidlab.fi/default.asp?t=1&f=2&p=100&subp=100&subp0=&did=92

Contact details, project steering group:
Vesa-Pekka Hämäläinen
M.Sc., RFID Lab Finland Project Manager, Vilant Systems Oy
vesa-pekka.hamalainen@vilant.com, tel. +358 41 538 9293

Mikko Punakivi
D. Tech., Programme Director, Centre of Expertise for Logistics
mikko.punakivi@technopolis.fi, tel. +358 40 568 4808

Antti Virkkunen
M.Sc., Managing Director, Technology Specialist, Vilant Systems Oy
antti.virkkunen@vilant.com, tel. +358 50 529 4574

Appendices:

RFID Lab Finland

The project is taking concrete steps to achieve its assigned objectives. "RFID Lab Finland is providing application demonstrations of a concept that has proved effective abroad, together with information, training and consultancy services. The application centre serves potential users of RFID technology in Finland, for example when designing and commissioning logistics systems," explains RFID Lab Finland Project Manager Vesa-Pekka Hämäläinen.

The Technical Research Centre of Finland – VTT and Helsinki University of Technology are involved in the project as research partners. The Ministry of Transport and Communications EGLO programme and the ELO technology programme of the National Technology Agency of Finland – Tekes are assisting the process by providing financial support for development initiatives arising within the project.

RFID Lab Finland is seeking to establish itself as a meeting point for organisations applying RFID technology. The project will become a natural point of first contact for anyone interested in this technology when embarking on any RFID undertaking. It will provide general conditions for successfully implementing RFID. "Using RFID Lab Finland as a platform for the progressive pilot and development projects of customers and partners will also improve the chances of securing project funding through the EGLO or ELO programmes," explains Programme Director Mikko Punakivi of the Centre of Expertise for Logistics.

The work of RFID Lab Finland is divided into information, training and consultancy services. The project demonstration facility may be used as a springboard in service provision. "Several demonstrations of RFID systems have been constructed in the demonstration facility and the room are also used for other purposes such as measuring and testing customised RFID systems," explains Project Manager Vesa-Pekka Hämäläinen of RFID Lab Finland. "The facility can also be used for training," he continues.

The information services of RFID Lab Finland will make it easier to stay abreast of the rapidly developing technology of RFID. The project website provides introductory details of RFID and a comprehensive review of the RFID systems that have been implemented in Finland, together with experiences of their use. The project will also arrange training services providing a swift and efficient way for organisations interested in RFID to secure the necessary basic understanding of the technology.

RFID Lab Finland provides consultancy services in such areas as system specifications, implementation testing and piloting. "Besides a grasp of the technology, successfully implementing an RFID system requires a reorganisation of business processes and integration of the operational control system," explains Managing Director Antti Virkkunen of Vilant Systems Oy. "The long range UHF-RFID technology that became available for general use in 2004 enables important new applications specifically in the field of logistics."

Financial backers of RFID Lab Finland

Public funding for the project will be provided by:

• The Vantaa HiTech programme (Centre of Expertise for Logistics)
• Uusimaa Regional Council
• Centre of Expertise for Active Materials and Microsystems.

Member enterprises of RFID Lab Finland

Most of the member enterprises in the project are Finnish developers of RFID technology and applications.

• Aldata Solution Oyj
• Buscom Oy
• Logistics Education Centre ECL Oy Ab / Finnish Association of Logistics
• Hewlett-Packard Oy
• Idesco Oy
• Nokia Oyj
• Nordic ID Oy
• Ponsec Finland Oy
• Stockway Oy
• UPM Rafsec Oy
• Vilant Systems Oy

Research partners of RFID Lab Finland

• Antti Permala
  Technical Research Centre of Finland – VTT Building and Transport
• Heikki Seppä
  Technical Research Centre of Finland – VTT Information Technology
• Johan Scholliers
  Technical Research Centre of Finland – VTT Industrial Systems
• Kari Tanskanen
  Technical Research Centre of Finland – VTT Logistics
• Eero Eloranta
  Technical Research Centre of Finland – VTT Industrial Economy

Partners of RFID Lab Finland

• Ismo Mäkinen
  Ministry of Transport and Communications, EGLO programme
• Heikki Kekäläinen
  National Technology Agency of Finland – Tekes, ELO programme

Key terms

RFID
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a remote identification technology in which data are stored and retrieved by radio between readers and identifiers known as tags. RFID technology is widely used in such applications as access and egress control and in alarm systems. The technology currently also offers a wide range of application prospects in logistics and warehouse management. Deregulation of the UHF band for use by RFID has further enlarged the application prospects of this technology. RFID technology is used in logistics for such purposes as process automation, tracking of consignments and collation of logistics data.

Logistical applications of the technology came to public attention when RFID implementations were announced by major international retailers such as Wal-Mart, Tesco and Metro Group. Large pharmaceutical companies, for example, have also announced their intention to invest in global RFID technology.