New investment enables FineLine to provide RFID-integrated carton packaging solutions for a wide assortment of consumer packaged goods, including folding cartons and blister cards
VAN BUREN, AR – January 27, 2025 — FineLine Technologies has reinforced its position as the leading RFID and barcode service bureau in the U.S. with another major investment, this time at its Van Buren, Arkansas production facility. This cutting-edge advancement allows FineLine to deliver carton packaging with the most advanced printing, RFID encoding, and variable data technologies available in the industry. FineLine now offers RFID carton packaging, enabling brands to be compliant with retailers’ RFID programs without negatively impacting the visual design, look and feel of consumer product packaging. By integrating RFID and variable data printing into the design and construction of retail packaging, brands and retailers do not need to compromise packaging look and feel with costly-to-apply add-on compliance RFID labels. FineLine’s new equipment and processes ensure RFID compliance and data accuracy while eliminating the challenges of RFID stickering.
According to Fineline Chairman & CEO George Hoffman, the investment supports the increasing demand for retail packaging to comply with recent RFID mandates from leading retailers. As retailers expand RFID tagging requirements into non-apparel items such as home goods, electronics, sporting goods, toys, office supplies and other categories, the need for specialized RFID carton packaging expands.
“Major retailers have adopted RFID for apparel items to enhance inventory accuracy and boost on-shelf availability,” Hoffman says. “Having seen a significant return on investment from item-level tagging on apparel, these retailers are now expanding RFID tagging to non-apparel items. This shift has driven an increase in demand for diverse packaging solutions, including RFID-integrated folding cartons, blister cards, prime labels, and more.”
FineLine responded by delivering customized RFID-integrated packaging solutions to help vendors meet new retail RFID requirements more efficiently. Hoffman notes that, as part of the compliance process, it is essential for vendors to partner with a reliable RFID packaging supplier who can tailor products to each brand’s unique needs, understand retailer’s specifications, and automate the processes. Hoffman says, “With the addition of this new specialized equipment, we can assist customers in creating high-quality customized variable data packaging that maximizes design space and seamlessly integrates into their current operations.”
The new equipment installed at Fineline’s Van Burean, AR, plant includes high-capacity RFID label inserters, RFID printer/encoders, LED UV offset presses, RFID verification equipment, and high speed cartoners.
Capabilities include:
- High-speed digital and offset printing presses with up to six-color printing
- RFID inlay integration of dry inlays, for customized packaging designs
- High-speed RFID encoding and verification
- Folding carton packaging, multi-layered label constructions
This new RFID-integrated packaging equipment is Fineline’s latest capital investment, further solidifying the company’s position as the largest RFID and barcode service bureau in the U.S. The new equipment enables FineLine to offer a range of smart packaging products that integrate RFID technology and variable data printing, guaranteeing data accuracy, streamlining packaging processes, and preserving the look and feel of consumer packaging. These products support the use of variable data for inventory management and point-of-sale applications, while also enhancing consumer experience and maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the packaging. FineLine offers a range of smart packaging solutions, including:
- Backer Card
- Header Cards
- C-Cards
- Belly Bands
- Cartons
- Inserts
- Bottle Neck Tags
- Blister Cards
- Prime Labels
In addition to FineLine’s advanced product capabilities, FineLine provides customers with a broad selection of RFID inlays, adhesive formulations, high-quality color printing, and quality control tools. FineLine possesses industry expertise in data encoding standards, retail compliance requirements, and the Auburn University ALEC Program qualification process to ensure customers’ RFID carton packaging meets the evolving compliance standards.
About FineLine
FineLine Technologies provides barcode and RFID-integrated labels, tags, packaging, and secure credentials to enhance supply chains, omnichannel fulfillment, POS, access control, and consumer engagement. FineLine produces and delivers billions of tickets and labels annually through its network of global print hubs to companies in industries around the world in less than five days on average.
With a network of more than 80,000 registered suppliers, customers benefit from fast and easy online order placement, immediate tracking, and valuable analytics for even the most complex business logistics. Learn more at finelinetech.com.
Contact:
Marketing Communications
marketing@finelinetech.com
+1 800 500 8687