UPM Rafsec to provide RFID labels to a pharmaceutical company in South Korea

UPM Rafsec will supply RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) label transponders to the South Korean pharmaceutical company, Unimed Pharm Co., Ltd, for the tagging of individual packages of over-the-counter drugs. The agreement consists of the delivery of 100,000 RFID labels during 2004.

Unimed Pharm will use the RFID labels in an effort to identify original drugs among counterfeit drugs. The tags are round coils, 24 mm in diameter, and they are attached to the inside of the cap of the container with a permanent adhesive. Once in place, the system will allow consumers to verify the authenticity of drugs they purchase at the pharmacy. The system will increasingly make it difficult for counterfeit drugs to enter into the supply chain and into the hands of the consumer, thus improving the quality of drug supplies.

In addition, with the real-time data on supply chain operations that the system will generate by tracking UPM Rafsec’s RFID labels, Unimed Pharm will be able to monitor its distribution channels from production, through distributors and wholesalers to the retailers, in order to control grey market activity, cut down on shrinkage and control retail prices more effectively. These product management and tracking applications will be made possible by connecting the RFID system to the company’s existing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.

UPM Rafsec specialises in the production and development of card, ticket and label transponders based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Founded in 1997, UPM Rafsec is the leading company in its field. The company headquarters and R&D are located in Tampere, Finland, and the production plant in Jyväskylä. In addition, UPM Rafsec has sales offices in USA, Netherlands, France, Japan and Singapore.
For more information: www.rafsec.com

For more information, please contact:
Timo Lindström, President, UPM Rafsec,
tel. +358 204 16 8133

UPM Rafsec
Communications
April 21, 2004