Smartrac, 4E Antenna Enter Technology Partnership

Smartrac Technology Group and 4E Antenna AB, a Walki Group associated company and a leading producer of paper-based antennas and circuits, announced their technology partnership to further strengthen sustainability in RFID products and applications.
 
In compliance with Smartrac’s Green Tag Program, both companies will jointly develop RFID inlays and tags which are fully sustainable and environmentally friendly. These new products aim to address businesses that recognize the value and importance of a truly reduced carbon footprint and greatly reduced environmental impact, in a wide number of markets such as smart packaging, supply chain management, retail and more.
 
Smartrac announced its comprehensive Green Tag Program earlier this year, taking on an obligation to manufacture RFID products that verifiably meet strict criteria regarding the use of recyclable substrates, avoidance of heavy metals, and non-use of chemical etching in the production of aluminum antennas.
 
By joining forces with 4E Antenna AB, Smartrac can now produce “Green Tags” in volume, using paper substrates and aluminum antennas which are made without any chemicals being involved, while maintaining the same performance characteristics as standard RFID tags. This results in the complete recycling of aluminum residues, the absence of PET substrate as well as a reduction in adhesive usage, hence a significant carbon footprint reduction.
 
As a first outcome of the partnership and based on 4E Antenna AB’s technology, Smartrac will present one of its first new Green Tags, the new WEB Green inlay, at the RFID Journal Live! 2019 in Phoenix. Smartrac’s WEB Green inlay is essentially compliant with all other comparable, high-quality WEB inlays regarding performance and applications.

These inlays are designed for the unique identification of items such as apparel and electronics and are particularly suitable for item-level retail applications, offering high performance and best-in-class orientation sensitivity. Volume production of the new WEB Green inlay will be available by June 2019
 
“Specifically, the production process for 4E Antenna’s paper-based RFID antennas begins with a special laminate of aluminum and paper substrate. A laser is then used to precision-cut an antenna design from the aluminum layer. By leveraging Smartrac’s proven global expertise in designing and producing premium RFID inlays and tags, the benefits of this innovative manufacturing approach will have a significant positive environmental and economic impact worldwide,” said Lars Granbom, CEO of 4E Antenna AB.
 
“Smartrac’s innovation pipeline of ‘green’ RF design, process engineering and materials science powered by our significant IP portfolio enables us to be on the leading edge of RFID sustainability. We will continue to make every effort to fulfill our promise to protect the environment,” said Dr. Frank Kriebel, senior director R&D at Smartrac.