News | September 20, 2010

Zebra Enterprise Solutions Launches Dart Ultra-Wideband Real-Time Locating System

ZES channel partner, RFID Global Solution, implements Dart UWB pilot program for real-time visibility and precise location accuracy

Zebra Enterprise Solutions (ZES), a division of Zebra Technologies recently announced the launch of Dart Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) in the United States, Canada and the European Union.

The next generation of the Sapphire UWB product line, Dart UWB provides precise location accuracy and real-time visibility of highly mobile, high-value asset movement. Dart UWB is especially effective in industries characteristic with highly-metallic environments, such as IT, aerospace, financial, federal government and aerospace and defense. Dart UWB also includes a full set of location products certified for use in potentially hazardous and explosive environments as defined by the ATEX Directive in Europe. These intrinsically safe location products have been designed for use in extreme, regulated environments such as petrochemical and other process-focused manufacturing industries.

RFID Global Solution (RFIDGS), a long-time ZES partner and an early adopter of the first generation Sapphire solution, provided input to aid in the development of the next generation Dart UWB product. In a pilot implementation of the Dart solution, RFIDGS experienced benefits including: improved ease of system and tag configuration, more ruggedized tags for harsh environments, extended battery life options, increased mobility options and improved integration with RFIDGS' Visi-Trac product line, and global interoperability.

"We are excited to offer the next generation of Dart UWB to our customers because it's an innovative, breakthrough technology that provides the accuracy our clients are looking for," said Diana Hage, CEO of RFID Global Solution, Inc. "UWB appears to be an ideally suited active tag technology for enterprise asset tracking. ZES' proven track record with this technology makes offering the Dart hardware coupled with our Visi-Trac application software an easy choice."

With the first-generation Sapphire product, RFIDGS delivered a comprehensive, industry-leading hardware and software solution that had significant traction with Fortune 50 enterprise class clients. Now, with upgraded technology in Dart UWB such as the new configuration tool, RFIDGS is able to automatically configure a customer's system. This improvement greatly reduces field install times and allows RFIDGS to get customers up and running more quickly. RFIDGS sees an opportunity for Dart UWB, especially in industries like aerospace and defense, for example, where mobile training in urban combat centers calls for real-time movement of personnel in simulators.

Dart UWB offers one common UWB active RFID/RTLS platform that enables fast, accurate location of personnel and equipment. By reading thousands of small, active RFID tags per second, Dart UWB allows for an expanded array of both indoor and outdoor asset management applications in the harshest environments. The next generation UWB product provides the lowest cost-of-ownership in the industry by improving installation ease, scalability, performance and tag management as well as RTLS and inventorying hardware and tags with improved set-up, configuration and software connectivity.

"We're very excited to introduce the next generation Dart product for immediate, tangible, real-time awareness of critical assets" said Bill Walsh, General Manager of ZES. "With long-range, multi-read abilities, the capabilities and benefits of Dart UWB allow us to provide the location accuracy and environmental durability our customers' desire."

For more information, visit www.zebra.com/zes,

About Zebra Enterprise Solutions
Zebra Enterprise Solutions, a division of Zebra Technologies Corporation, extends Zebra's reach beyond passive RFID by employing state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions to locate, track, manage, and optimize high-value assets, equipment and people across the world's largest supply chains. Whether tracking containers through a port, optimizing parts for manufacturing, or managing ground support equipment at an airport, the real-time asset management solutions from the combination of Navis, WhereNet, proveo, and Multispectral Solutions provide improved visibility and velocity to gain measurable business improvements. Utilizing products that are based on ISO/IEC 24730-2, Cisco CCX Wi-Fi, precision GPS, and UWB technologies, Zebra Enterprise Solutions offers a wide range of location solutions that are "application matched," enabling its customers to put the right asset in the right place at the right time. For more information, visit http://www.zebra.com/zes.

About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation provides the broadest range of innovative technology solutions to identify, track, and manage the deployment of critical assets for improved business efficiency. Zebra's core technologies include reliable on-demand printer and state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions. By enabling improvements in sourcing, visibility, security and accuracy, Zebra helps its customers to put the right asset in the right place at the right time. Zebra serves more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.zebra.com.

SOURCE: Zebra Enterprise Solutions