Fujitsu Unveils Laundry Tag

Filed in archive Tags and Readers on May 21, 2006

Now here comes an RFID which when put in the washing machine comes out unharmed or what we say transmitting. This tag has been developed by Fujitsu. The tag which is placed in a soft plastic shell can survive harshest of circumstances in laundry. Midori Taniyama from the Fujitsu RFID department says that these tags can survive washing, ironing and pressing at least hundred times.

As a part of the laundry management system the company is demonstrating the sample tags at a company event in Tokyo. There is a scanner through which the incoming items are passed. It takes a few seconds to read the items in the basket and from there the garments progress into the washing system. It would be possible at each stage of the laundering process to place the sensors in order to determine the location of any item. The sensor network can be extended beyond washing to the pick up and delivery system which creates a complete linen or garment management system.

At present trials are being undertaken with a few linen rental companies. The company plans to promote this system to organizations which handle an increasing amount of textile goods such as hotels, hospitals, leisure facilities and commercial laundry services.

As of now the tags is available for $1.82 but the company plans to cut down the costs by half in the next two years.