FRONTLINE: RFID Printing on Conventional Presses

Kovio, Sunnyvale, CA, announced a system for printing electronic circuits on the cheap using conventional presses, silicone ink and stainless foil—opening the door to the magic number of 5¢ a tag that would let the chips be used for retail inventory tracking. The initial target application includes RFID tags for labeling single items.

To accelerate commercialization, Kovio signed two separate joint development and supply agreements with Japan's Toppan Forms Co., which does printable electronics and digital information technologies, and Cubic Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of Cubic Corp. The firm's technology could lead to fare cards read by wireless readers, rather than swiped through mass-transit turnstyles.

Cubic developed the Oyster smart card transport ticketing system for London (shown) and won a RFID Breakthrough Award for its efforts. kovio.com, cubic.com, toppan-f.co.jp