innovate arkansas

Checkpoint Systems Inc. of Thorofare, N.J., a retail security technology supply firm, on Wednesday announced it has become a strategic partner in the RFID Research Center at the University of Arkansas.

The RFID Research Center is part of the Information Technology Research Institute in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the UA. The center, which opened in 2005, is a third-party testing and research facility focused on the use of RFID and other wireless and sensor technologies in the supply chain.

Checkpoint has supplied RFID, electronic article surveillance and source-tagging technology and services to some of the world's largest retailers, and will be able to leverage that experience to share its insight and expertise in the area.

"Checkpoint Systems will be an excellent addition to the RFID Research Center," said Bill Hardgrave, director of the RFID Research Center. "Checkpoint's knowledge and experience in the use of RFID in the retail environment will significantly benefit our research efforts."

As a sponsor of the RFID Research Center's laboratory, Checkpoint will provide financial support and equipment that can be used in the center's research and use case validation projects. The center has more than 45 sponsors, including companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., FedEx Freight, Microsoft Corp., and Tyson Foods Inc.