ODIN’s Testing shows RFID accuracy at 99.9% vs. less than 90% for Barcode

December 8, 2009, Ashburn, VA, USA – The airline industry now has another well documented use for radio frequency identification (RFID) – baggage tracking. For the first time, several RFID tags designed specifically for airline baggage tracking provided nearly 100% read accuracy across global RFID frequency testing. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) each piece of lost luggage costs between $90 and $100 in direct costs. In an effort to help airlines and airports choose the optimal tags and eliminate this unnecessary expense, ODIN created the first scientific RFID study for airline baggage tracking, the RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark™.

The Benchmark is designed to help airports and airlines understand the key performance characteristics behind successful RFID baggage tagging solutions and how current tag offerings stack up to scientific scrutiny. Designed for end users, the data is presented for scientific RF tag performance as well as high speed conveyor testing. The RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark™ can save Airport authorities and airlines tens of thousands of dollars in testing and narrow in on successful products available today.

“We’ve had airports contact us about using stimulus money to modernize baggage systems in an effort to make their airports more attractive to international carriers and cut costs at the same time. Airlines and airports must replace 35 year-old barcodes, but don’t know what RFID systems are best. ODIN’s RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark provides answers,” commented Patrick J. Sweeney II, ODIN’s founder.

He added, “Already a dozen airports globally have adopted RFID for baggage tracking. We expect half the airports worldwide to be using RFID in the next five years. It is a very fast return on investment, especially since more than 10% of all baggage errors are caused by unreadable barcodes whereas over 98% of all RFID tagged baggage today is read properly the first time. For Class B airports or major carriers, RFID can provide a pay back in less than 12 months. In the past the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made funding for these projects available for Airport authorities because of the faster access to tagged bags and enhanced security. Now that airports have more variety in quality tag choices and solid ROI case studies, there has never been a better time to invest in RFID.”

In the Benchmark ODIN tested 13 tags using first scientific, laboratory based tests, and secondarily on a high speed baggage sortation system. The goal was to primarily test tag sensitivity of converted labels (baggage tags) across the global UHF frequency band (ETSI/Europe, FCC/United States, and TELEC/Japan). Europe and Japan represent the low and high end of the UHF frequency spectrum allocated for use globally and the United States covers a wide spectrum in the middle. Other geographies typically allocate spectrum within these ranges. It is important to test across the UHF spectrum because tag performance often varies in different frequencies.

The test results include:

• Tag Sensitivity Consistency or Manufacturing Consistency
• Power Effectiveness (PE)
• Orientation Sensitivity (OS)
• Distance testing
• High speed baggage conveyor testing

The RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark™ is sponsored by Siemens, a leading supplier of complete solutions for all airport processes between landing and take-off. As one of the major suppliers of RFID systems Siemens is using RFID as one of the key technologies to make airport operations more efficient.

To download the Benchmark, please visit: http://www.odintechnologies.com/odinstore.html

Or if you would like to order an RFID case study specific to your industry please visit http://bit.ly/8KPVkJ

About ODIN
ODIN technologies is the leader in accurate and easy to use RFID solutions for aerospace and defense, government, healthcare, and IT asset tracking. Global corporations on five continents leverage ODIN's expert engineers and patented RFID solutions to achieve accuracy, speed and visibility. In addition to turn-key solutions, implementations and engineering, ODIN publishes the RFID Benchmark Series™ and the RFID Pricing Guide™, the industry's first and most referenced head to head performance and cost analyses of RFID components. ODIN's RFID automation and optimization software EasyRFID™ has been successfully used at dozens of companies across more than 200 sites worldwide to ensure accurate and scalable RFID implementations. ODIN serves clients from offices in Ashburn, Virginia, Dublin, Ireland and Budapest, Hungary. www.ODINtechnologies.com

Contact:
Bret Kinsella
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ODIN technologies, Trusted RFID Experts
703.968.0000

10,000 IT Assets tagged to increase security and reduce costs

14 October 2009, Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of State is tagging 10,000 mission critical IT assets with passive radio frequency identification (RFID) to save money, increase security, and reduce administrative burden.

The State Department chose the leading RFID solutions company ODIN, headquartered in Ashburn, VA to provide a turn-key IT Asset tracking solution. ODIN’s packaged solution is more secure, faster to deploy, and drives a quicker ROI than integrating separate RFID products or using 35 year-old bar code technology.

The State Department’s IT Asset system, based on RFID, is part of a growing trend within the US Federal Government to leverage RFID 2.0™, the latest in transformational technology. RFID 2.0™ is passive RFID technology that is gaining widespread adoption mainly because costs have declined significantly, performance has improved dramatically in the past 12 months, and a global ISO standard has stabilized.

“The State Department is using RFID technology to save taxpayers money by dramatically reducing administrative burden,” commented ODIN’s founder Patrick J. Sweeney II. “The added security of having RFID-tagged assets will keep sensitive information where it belongs. After all, no Federal Agency wants to find itself on the front page of the Washington Post.”

Initially the State Department started with a trial of the technology to ensure that the business process within their agency would benefit from RFID. Once the technology was proven, they decided to start an agency-wide program by tagging 10,000 critical assets with UHF Gen 2.0 passive RFID tags. The tags are based on the same standard in use by the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies.

“There were many choices of RFID components, but only one or two solutions providers with deep expertise and a complete physics-to-software solution. We chose ODIN because they’ve completed hundreds of successful RFID projects and have a heritage in RFID physics going back to MIT,” commented Kirk Ingvoldstad at the US Department of State. “After using barcode and thousands of labor hours to track assets for the past 20 years, it is well past time for a new technology. Passive RFID from ODIN was the right choice for a higher level of security and cost savings.”

About ODIN:
ODIN is the leader in packaged RFID solutions for healthcare, aerospace, financial services, and government agencies. Global corporations on five continents leverage ODIN’s expert engineers and patented RFID software and monitoring tools to achieve accuracy, speed, and visibility for their RFID deployments. In addition to packaged solutions, implementations, and engineering, ODIN publishes the RFID Benchmark Series™, the industry's first and most referenced head-to-head performance analysis of RFID equipment. ODIN’s RFID optimization software EasyRFID™ has been successfully used at dozens of companies across more than 265 sites worldwide to ensure accurate and scalable RFID implementations. ODIN serves clients from offices in Ashburn, Virginia, Dublin, Ireland and Budapest, Hungary. www.ODINtechnologies.com

Contact:
Bret Kinsella
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703.968.0000

This morning I was honored to ride my motorcycle in escort of that fallen soldier: SPC Stephen Mace of the 61st Armored Cavalry. Mace was a man that each and every American owes an eternal debt of gratitude. This man, who was just old enough to have his first legal beer this year, was caught in a vicious firefight in Afghanistan when the Taliban attacked a remote outpost – killing eight US soldiers. What moved me so much during the 15 mile, almost hour-long, motorcade was the outpouring of respect and appreciation that this Northern Virginia community showed.

As the motorcade crawled the along the route the entire fabric of our country was woven on the side of the road. We passed uniformed Korean and Vietnam veterans standing at attention. There were women who didn’t know Mace weeping a mother’s tears alongside stoic looking men staring out at the motorcade; jaws locked in profound gratitude and the fire of anger for an enemy that would slaughter everyone of us just for being American. There was hope in our future – cub scouts were out saluting with a first and second finger raised to their brow, little girls came out from church wondering why there was a parade on a chilly Sunday morning, their parents trying to explain the turn of events that broke the silence of our rural community. I witnessed the quilt of patriotism and love that sets our country apart from our enemy’s.

America is a different place after 9/11. The most patriotic days in our country in a long time were 9/12 and 9/13. In the years since, many of us have let the memory of our enemy’s desperate mission of hatred slip our mind. Fundamental Islamic terrorist won’t rest until they kill as many infidels as possible. No matter what politicians may say in rhetoric the infidels are us. We are the dominating western force built as “One nation under God”. We’re a Christian nation that is grounded in an acute sense of propriety, and they detest that about America. A moment like today hits home that those beasts are still there, still trying their best to spill the blood of every American, just because we are American. Every man woman and child is fair game to these cowards.

There’s nothing anyone can say to that fiancé, to Mace’s mother, to the brothers and friends except Thank you. As Americans with the freedoms to say, do, be whatever we love to do we are eternally in Stephen, and every other soldiers’ debt.

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived”.

– Gen George S. Patton

1. Gartner classifies RFID as “Transformational” meaning it will have a major impact on the way companies do business
2. RFID is emerging out of the trough of disillusionment and Gartner predicts mainstream adoption

As many of you who follow my blog now know more than 60% of the top medical device manufacturers have adopted RFID with a return on investment (ROI) of less than 12 moths thanks to RFID. The healthcare industry has identified several ‘killer apps” that only RFID can execute. This includes everything from real time location systems (RTLS) which find critical assets through out a hospital, to RFID enabled cabinets using ISO-18000-6 UHF which monitor vendor managed inventory (VMI) for everything from heart catheters to sutures.

Aerospace, Governments, heavy manufacturing, postal systems, and IT Asset management systems are all evidence of areas where RFID is leading a transformational change in the way participants conduct business. As with all technologies RFID is only transformation if it changes business processes.

What we have today is large and growing market that is gaining value from RFID. Gartner has traditionally been very bearish on RFID, so this latest report that RFID is on its way up the slope of enlightenment to driving real productivity is great news. All of us who have been working hard to build winning projects for the past decade should be excited the pay-off is just around the corner!

ODIN places in Top 20% of 2009 Inc. 5000

Ashburn, VA – ODIN, the global leader in packaged RFID solutions, was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the country. ODIN was not only the top ranked RFID Company on the prestigious list but also one of the top technology companies. ODIN was ranked 74th in the Washington, DC area, 888 in the USA, out of 5,000 selected. Other notable RFID companies who also made the list include Xterprise, Barcoding Inc, and CSI. ODIN only reported domestic USA financial results and not results from European affiliates.

“One of ODIN’s core ideologies is to create Supremely Satisfied Clients™. This is at the nucleus of everything we do. Because of the focus on the client we have grown faster than any other RFID company,” commented Patrick J. Sweeney II founder of ODIN. He added, “I personally want to thank all of our great clients for helping us expand with such velocity.”

“Savvy trend spotters and those who invest in private companies know that the Inc. 5000 is the best place to find out about young companies that are achieving success through a wide variety of unprecedented business models…” said Inc. 5000 project manager Jim Melloan. “That’s why our list is so eagerly anticipated every year.”

ODIN is headquartered in Ashburn, VA and focuses on the key verticals Government, Healthcare, Aerospace, and the ITAsset tracking. The company has offices in Dublin, Ireland, Budapest, HU and full time employees in Toulouse, France to serve a growing European client base.

The Hottest Regions for Fast-Growing Companies
Once again, California tops the Inc. 5000 with the most companies of any state with 612. The Golden State is followed by Texas (393), New York (316), Florida (263), and Virginia (261). All 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, are represented on this year’s list.

New York boasts 371 Inc. 5000 companies, making it the top metropolitan area, followed by Washington, D.C. (317), Los Angeles (253), Atlanta (209), and Chicago (203).

The Inc. 5000 at a Glance
Bolstered by this year's No. 1 company, Northern Capital Insurance, Insurance emerged as the top industry, with an average growth rate of 667 percent. Other strong performers include Energy (523 percent) and Government Services (491 percent).

In total, the companies on the Inc. 5000 have created more than 1 million jobs. Health is the top employer with 156,223 jobs, followed by Business Products & Services (122,911), IT Services (89,632), Food & Beverage (86,572), and Construction (65,494).

IT Services had the most companies on this year’s list with 658, followed by Business Products & Services (502), Advertising & Marketing (398), Construction (354), and Manufacturing (342).

Topping this year’s list is Northern Capital Insurance, a Miami-based firm that is helping to revolutionize Florida’s ailing insurance industry. The company generated $95 million in revenue in 2008 and an impressive three-year growth rate of 19,812 percent.

The top woman-owned company is P3S (No. 17 overall), a San Antonio–based firm that provides IT network security and physical security services, mostly to the Defense Department. P3S, owned by Mary Ellen Trevino, recorded revenue of $13.5 million in 2008 and a three-year growth rate of 5,898 percent. The top minority-owned company is Harley Stanfield (No. 3 overall), a Washington, D.C.–based real estate investment firm that buys existing properties, makes them energy efficient, and then resells them as investment properties. Harley Stanfield, founded by Cedric Franklin, posted revenue of $38.4 million in 2008 and a three-year growth rate of 13,350 percent.

The Inc. 5000 posted an aggregate revenue of $214 billion in 2008, up nearly 16 percent from the previous year. The top five industries by total revenue include Health ($22.7 billion), Business Products & Services ($19.6 billion), Construction ($18.8 billion), Energy ($14.7 billion), and IT Services ($13.2 billion).

Methodology
The Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2005, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales. Additionally, they have to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent -- not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies -- as of December 31, 2008. Revenue in 2005 must have been at least $200,000, and revenue in 2008 must have been at least $2 million. The top 10 percent of companies on the list comprise the Inc. 500, now in its 28th year.

About ODIN
ODIN technologies is the leader in accurate and easy to use RFID solutions for government, healthcare, aerospace and defense, and IT asset tracking. Global corporations on five continents leverage ODIN's expert engineers and patented RFID solutions to achieve accuracy, speed and visibility. In addition to turn-key solutions, implementations and engineering, ODIN publishes the RFID Benchmark Series™ and the RFID Pricing Guide™, the industry's first and most referenced head to head performance and cost analyses of RFID components. ODIN's RFID automation and optimization software EasyRFID™ has been successfully used at dozens of companies across more than 200 sites worldwide to ensure accurate and scalable RFID implementations. ODIN serves clients from offices in Ashburn Virginia, Dublin, Ireland and Budapest, Hungary. www.ODINtechnologies.com.

Inc. Magazine
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. (www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 712,961, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. Visit us online at Inc.com.

About the Inc. 500|5000 Conference
Each year, Inc. and Inc.com celebrate the remarkable achievements of today’s entrepreneurial superstars—the privately held small businesses that drive our economy. The Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony brings together members of the Inc. 5000 community, both a new class of Inc. 5000 honorees and the list’s alumni, for three days of powerful networking, inspired learning, and momentous celebration. Please join us September 23–25, 2009, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. For more information about the 2009 Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony, and to register, visit www.Inc5000event.com. Stay connected with Inc. Events by following @IncEvents on Twitter.