Datalogic acquires 20% of R4i to develop innovative identification solutions with RFID technology

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Datalogic, the automatic data capture and process automation solutions provider, has acquired a 20% of R4i S.r.l., a company based in Benevento, which develops cutting-edge solutions with RFID technology (Radiofrequency Identification).

R4i, which stands for Research for Innovation, specialises in the development of software algorithms that optimise the performance of systems based on RFID technology, particularly in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which enables one or more objects, whether static or in motion, to be univocally identified, transmitting a univocal identifier to the receiver.

Datalogic claims to be the first company in the global market to have brought automatic data identification to the retail, logistics and industrial spheres and has been a leader in the fields of barcode reading systems, image recognition systems and other advanced technologies that seek to identify objects, including RFID technology, for 45 years. As regards the latter in particular, Datalogic recognises it one of the most dynamic areas of research and innovation in which UHF technology is becoming an integral and fundamental part of IOT, by enabling objects that are not intrinsically related and do not have batteries to be visible and locatable.

Valentina Volta, CEO of the Datalogic Group, commented as follows on the transaction: "By acquiring this stake, Datalogic confirms that innovation is the key to its growth and that it intends to maintain its leadership not only in traditional barcode reading and image recognition technologies, but also in the complementary object identification technologies. Following the agreement with R4i, Datalogic is now able to extend the development of solutions to RFID technology, improving its competitive position and increasing its presence in the 4 major markets.

In retail and manufacturing, through real-time inventory solutions; in healthcare, through medicine anti-counterfeiting solutions and the accurate traceability of tools, equipment, machines and patientsand lastly in the transport & logistics industry - particularly that relating to airports - where RFID tags will be used alongside barcode labels, increasing the overall reading percentage and improving the accuracy and the speed of baggage sorting.

RFID technology will make object identification increasingly automatic, univocal and incremental. It represents great opportunities for the growth of our business.

We are also particularly pleased that it is our country, Italy, that is excelling in an area of technology such as R4i".

Pietro Carolla, CEO of R4i S.r.l. commented: "R4i was established in Benevento in 2008 with the objective of becoming a European benchmark for RFID UHF software solutions. Thanks to the knowhow acquired over the years, in 2016 we managed to attract the investment of Labid s.r.l., a market leader in the production of RFiD tags. Today, with the entrance of Datalogic, a world benchmark in the field of identification, R4i will be able to develop innovative solutions based on the requirements of Datalogic's international customers operating in the retail, manufacturing, transport & logistics and healthcare spheres".

In 2015, Datalogic signed an agreement for the acquisition of 20% of another Italian company operating in the RFID technology sector, CAEN RFID S.r.l. based in Viareggio, with a view to expanding its product range by jointly developing new products.

This further acquisition has enabled Datalogic to complete its product range, by combining the software and hardware parts, guaranteeing its customers a full range of technological cutting-edge solutions, for innovative applications in its 4 major industries, therefore covering new areas of development with high growth rates.