Expert-led Masterclasses

Get the answers to your questions in our interactive optional masterclasses. The four expert-led masterclasses are intended for audience participation and discussion. They are effectively interactive consultancy sessions, delivered by IDTechEx, providing impartial analysis and comment. At each masterclass you will have the chance to handle many samples, become part of the masterclass by asking your questions and take away printed copies of presentations. The masterclasses will ensure you get the most from the conference by bringing you up to date with the latest issues and market developments. Experts will be on hand to privately discuss your questions.

Previous masterclass delegates have reported:

"It's great to actually get real information on where RFID is going INDEPENDENTLY without someone trying to sell their particular product" Jim Chatz, Labelmakers Australia

"Excellent" James Zhang, GE Global Research Center

Masterclass 1: RFID Technologies, Markets, Players & Forecasts

Tuesday February 20: 08:30-12:30

Presented by Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman, IDTechEx

Download Masterclass 1 presentation

This masterclass provides a complete introduction and update to RFID systems, markets and trends – everything from printed RFID to Active RFID technologies; how many tags Wal-Mart are using and ROI for their suppliers; hot niche profitable RFID sectors; the biggest RFID orders and vital ten year market, territorial and technology forecasts. The session covers:

• An introduction to RFID systems and hardware choices
• Chip and chipless tag technology evaluations and their applications
• Active RFID, Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and RFID combined with Wifi, Bluetooth, DSRC, UWB, etc
• Examples of RFID being used, how many tags or systems have been sold and into which markets
• Markets driving volume use of RFID to 2016
• New applications and advice on entry to market
• Comparison of RFID frequencies
• The RFID value chain, major players and opportunities
• Failures and successes
• RFID standards, impediments and actual progress by vertical market
• RFID forecasts and trends 2006-2016

Attend this masterclass to learn the latest trends and progress on the industry; introduce you to the world of RFID; learn lessons from others and to understand the big picture.

Lunch for Masterclass delegates 12:30-13:30

Masterclass 2: How to Manufacture RFID: From Design and Materials to Finished Products s

Tuesday February 20: 13:30-17:30

Presented by IDTechEx, Parelec, NXP Semiconductors, Bielomatik, RSI-ID Technologies, SI-CAL, Coveme, Topflight Corporation, PPG Indsutries, Delo, Hana Microelectronics

Download Masterclass 2 presentations subject to speakers' permission

Aimed at converters, packagers, labelers, printers, label suppliers, specifiers, buyers and brand owners, this masterclass will explain the full value chain of manufacturing RFID smart labels from design to finished product. Topics include evaluation of manufacturing methods, chip attachment processes, antenna technologies, overprinting and insertion, specifying RFID labels, managing data and best practice. Delegates will be able to handle many different samples. The session covers:

• Understanding the tag production value chain and entry points
• Evaluation of the choices for manufacturing complete RFID labels, tickets and cards
• How things are made and what they cost
• Manufacturing RFID tag antennas: technologies, performance and cost
• Substrates, inks and adhesives: suppliers, costs and performance
• Chip attach options
• Analysis of routes to high volume manufacture
• Oversupply and undersupply
• Applying RFID to products: required throughput, testing and finish
• Major players, emerging players and unsatisfied needs i.e. opportunities
• Current industry manufacturing capacity and future needs

Sponsored by

Lunch for Masterclass delegates 12:30-13:30

RFID Investment Summit: February 20, runs parallel to Masterclasses 1&2

Conference Day 1 and Exhibition: Wednesday February 21

Conference Day 2 and Exhibition: Thursday February 22

Masterclass 3: Implementing RFID

Friday February 23: 08:15-12:30

Including a tour to Tagsys!

Presented by ODIN Technologies; IBM; Shipcom Wireless, MIT Auto ID-Labs, Tagsys

Download Masterclass 3 presentations

This masterclass is aimed at those wishing to implement or extend an RFID system. Led by leading system integrators, it includes planning your RFID project, avoiding common pitfalls, determining ROI, standards and system performance, configuring your RFID system and step-by-step lessons from case studies. In particular, we cover:

• Determining the paybacks of RFID and how to begin your project
• Evaluating systems and the Return On Investment (ROI): RFID ROI evaluated by vertical market
• How to configure an RFID system for your needs: antenna arrangement, knowing where to place tags
• RFID system performance and radio regulations
• Step-by-step walk through of actual implementations
• Learn lessons from experts to save time and money

Lunch for Masterclass delegates 12:30-13:30

Sponsored by

Masterclass 4: Printed RFID and Printed Electronicss

Friday February 23: 13:30-17:30

Presented by Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx and Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman, IDTechEx; Graphic Solutions International; Inksure

Download Masterclass 4 presentations

RFID is rapidly taking off for a wide range of applications, with 1.3 billion tags being shipped in 2006 rising to over 500 billion tags in 2016. The endgame is the item level tagging of all items but this calls for an ultra low cost tag, costing little more than a barcode does today. Printed RFID is one of the most promising technologies to achieve this. Today, we already have fully printed sub one cent RFID tags, some meeting EPC data specifications. These do not use thin film transistor circuits though and have various performance compromises. Additionally, over 50 companies are developing printed thin film transistor circuits which can mimic the silicon chip and be used as a printed RFID tag. But how do these compete with the lowering cost of silicon chips? Is more value and functionality required? What are the enabling technologies, progress of the leaders and timelines? Which are the most suitable applications for printed RFID initially? This masterclass answers these questions; assesses the technologies, how they work and latest progress.

Aimed at those who are new to the topic or who need to understand the big picture to assess the challenges and opportunities, this masterclass will arm you with the latest knowledge of the applications and technology developments involving printed electronics – from printed RFID tags to printed displays. Printed electronics enables you to replace components such as silicon chips, conventional displays, interconnects, batteries and much more with electronic and electrical devices that can be printed. Not all is printed today – we cover those too – but printing is seen as the end game to enable low cost dispersed manufacturing. Learn of the toolkit of technologies that are available and emerging at this masterclass.

The session will cover:

• Applications of printed electronics: now and near future
• Lessons to be learnt from early successes and failures
• The value chain
• Market forecasts
• The need for printed electronics
• Key markets that need printed electronics: reasons why and their technology requirements
• Creating new markets versus competing with conventional electronics in existing ones
• Assessment of technologies, companies, strategies and progress so far, including
• Thin film transistor circuits (organic, inorganic semiconductors, thin film silicon)
• Displays (OLEDs, electrophoretic, electroluminescent, electrochromic and others)
• Sensors, batteries, actuators and conductive inks
• A discussion of printing techniques, their relevancy and challenges
• Challenges and the roadmap to the full printed electronics toolkit

Lunch for Masterclass delegates 12:00-13:00