RFID alternative offers attractive possibilities

'Soft magnetics' technology has enabled the development of coded magnetic devices that can be read and written to. Such devices have the potential to be embedded within food products or packaging and the information read without the need for line-of-sight scanning.

Rob Dickinson and Dave Arnold, the founders of Link-Sure which developed the technology, believe it could serve a similar role to that of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. However, they claim it is more robust and cheaper.

For example, the magnetic devices are not affected by liquids and will also work at higher and lower temperatures than RFID tags. They also have the advantage of being suitable for use with material or packaging that is to be gamma sterilised. "Gamma sterilisation could knock out an RFID tag," says Arnold.

Other applications are also being explored. One US company is testing the technology for use in fluid connectors for the medical sector. It could also be used by food manufacturers to ensure the correct ingredients are added to a process or the right products are added to a filling system.

For example, a yoghurt producer could have connectors that are written to with a magnetic code for each different flavour. Should the wrong flavour be attached the coupling, which carries the reader, could either trigger an alarm or prevent any flow till the right connector is connected. "Such a device could offer both safety and audit benefits," says Arnold. He says similar applications could exist in the drinks vending sector.

"This is robust technology that could be put into production quickly and cheaply," he claims. "We are already working with a company in the US but are also looking for development partners in the food sector."

Link-Sure has already won a Smart award and a new business start-up award from the Surrey Enterprise Hub. The latter provides Link-Sure accommodation in the Leatherhead Enterprise Centre and a business support package including access to resources from Leatherhead Food International, as well as business and PR support.

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