In October of 2013 Supply Chain Matters introduced our readers to the first signs of advances in item-tracking technology that being a stand-alone sensor in printed electronics. We called attention to 
Norwegian based Thinfilm Electronics ASA which announced that it had successfully demonstrated a fully functional stand-alone, Smart Sensor label built from printed and organic electronics with low power. We further noted that the announcement pointed to the ability to track and monitor temperature and environment for logistical needs in pharmaceutical supply chains as well as the ability of retailers to have insight on both the temperature, shelf-life and food safety of perishable products.
We have now received word of two other strategic partnership announcements involving Thinfilm’ s product development plans. One announcement outlines a partnership with Temptime, a significant provider of cold-chain related, time-temperature indicators to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Currently, Temptime claims to produce the only temperature sensor for item-level vaccine monitoring that is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). According to the announcement, both companies will collaborate to develop indicators featuring electronic technology that will alert people through digital display if medical or pharmaceutical products have been exposed to potentially damaging temperatures. Terms of this deal include a development-related investment from Temptime and commercial pre-orders for samples that can be shared with customers. While the press release notes that the timing is still to be determined, we believe that samples may well be developed in months.
Another announcement calls for a distribution agreement with PakSense, Inc. in the development of intelligent sensing products specifically designed to monitor perishable goods. PakSense currently provides numerous major food retailers and suppliers with solutions to help monitor the condition of perishable goods. Terms of this agreement authorize PakSense to distribute Thinfilm Smart Labels™ to food suppliers and retailers of produce, meat and seafood in North and South America. In addition, PakSense has submitted pre-orders for the labels, which are targeted for delivery to lead customers in early 2015. The Thinfilm printed electronic labels will indicate if certain temperature ranges have been exceeded, allowing added visibility into temperature variations that may exist within a shipment and will complement PakSense time and temperature monitors. Further indicated is that the ultra-low cost associated with the printed electronics process will now make it possible for PakSense customers to use multiple Thinfilm labels in a shipment at the “item” and “pallet” level. In addition to ThinFilm technology, key components of these smart labels will be provided by several other partners including PST and Acreo.
One of our predictions for 2014 was that the “Internet of Things” will accelerate in momentum, particularly in applications related to broader supply chain visibility. Smart, item-level labels that alert to environmental and other real-time conditions certainly falls under this category and the above announcements point to some exciting potentials in the not too distant future.
Bob Ferrari
