Flyable RFID Tag Pioneer MAINtag Expands Range To Meet Aerospace Market Demand

MAINtag Range expansion precedes announcement by Airbus to extend RFID parts-marking across seats and life vests in new aircraft

MAINtag, the leading provider of RFID solutions for aerospace including flyable tags, readers, software and services, has announced the expansion of its FLYtag range to incorporate both a high temperature and fibre solution.

The launch of FLYtag HT and FLYtag fiber comes shortly after the Airbus announcement about its extension of RFID parts-marking, starting in 2013 - which will involve the tagging of 160,000 elements on seats and life vests in new aircraft. MAINtag was founded in 2004 and is renowned for its extensive research and development to stay one step ahead in product development for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry. FLYtag HT has been designed and developed by MAINtag and offers an ultra-light tag - being twice as light and compact as other flyable tags and perfect for use on seats. It can also provide optimum performance in high temperatures; operational temperatures which peak at 250°c and as low as -40°c. FLYtag HT can be used on metal and is for both pressurised and non-pressurised environment. It is available in dual-record format (2Kbits) and multi-record (8Kbytes). The FLYtag fiber, designed by MAINtag for the life vest market, is made from a lightweight, printable polymer and is completely flexible in that it can be sewn or stuck on and also offers dual record function (2kb). Another advantage of this product is the price point; available at $1 a piece. Both FLYtag fiber and FLYtag HT offer a high level of compliance, being ATA SPEC 2000 version 4 compliant. MAINtag is one of just a handful of companies providing these types of solutions under quality certification, as required by aviation stakeholders.

Christophe Dissaux, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at MAINtag explains:

"The announcement by Airbus to extend the RFID parts-marking is indicative of the increasing requirement for flyable tags for the MRO industry. Using our extensive knowledge and significant investment into R&D, we have been able to develop high performing RFID tags in response to clear market demand."

MAINtag's FLYtag solution was selected by Airbus in 2010 and is supported and deployed for providers of the A350 XWB in Europe and in North and South America.

In addition, more than 50 OEM suppliers rely on MAINtag solutions. Already an emerging leader in RFID tags, readers, software and services for the aerospace market, MAINtag is going from strength to strength having secured an investment in 2012 of 3.6m Euros from Idinvest Partners and Entrepreneur Venture, to help the company continue its strong growth plans. Christophe concluded: "Our growth plans for 2013 are supported by a range of products that meet the needs of our customers, first and foremost, and facilitate strong growth for the company."