Sun brings RFID to Scotland

Sun Microsystems is opening a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) test centre in Scotland.

The lab, similar to one the company already has in Texas, is designed to allow Europe-based companies to test their RFID systems and to help ensure compliance with regulatory and privacy standards.

The test centre will give suppliers a simulation of RFID running on Sun systems in customer manufacturing, warehouse and distribution environments.

It will also demonstrate a full-scale product tagging plan. The tagging and analysis of customers' products will be performed on conveyor stations, dock door stations and warehouse fork-lift centres.

Julie Sarbacker, director of Sun's Auto-ID business unit, said in a statement: "Sun has been involved with RFID since the beginning, and we are the first company to provide Wal-Mart suppliers with a facility and the technical know-how and expertise to get their RFID implementations done right the first time."

She said Sun's offering, built with the Sun Java Enterprise System and its RFID infrastructure software for Electronic Product Code, is open and standards-based.

"We welcome any of Wal-Mart's suppliers to contact us and get started today," she added.