SATO launches Label&Track™ - a cost-effective product traceability solution

Singapore, December 04, 2007 - SATO, a pioneer in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry and a leader in barcode printing, labelling, and EPC/RFID solutions announces the release of Label&Track™, its traceability solution.

Label&Track™ integrates with ERP or financial systems to provide organisations with an instant and comprehensive traceability trail. It can be driven through the scanning of barcodes or through the use of RFID technology.

The resulting product is surprising in its simplicity and its effective use of data, integrating company processes and providing tools otherwise only available in massive systems, which have been previously out of reach for medium sized enterprises.

SATO New Zealand’s Managing Director, Paul Ryan, describes the product as a breakthrough. “The concept can be best explained through the life cycle of a can of beans. Label&Track™ is a solution that enables you to know everything about that can; from its ingredients, to when, where and what time it was made, which production line it came off and what box it went into,” he says. “It also tells you what pallet that box went into, when the pallet was dispatched, what train it went on, when it arrived, how long it sat in the warehouse and every detail about the life of the product until it reaches the customer.”

Globally the demand for companies to provide product traceability, particularly for food, is growing enormously; fed by consumer concerns about food safety and ethicality. Such is the concern around these issues, that a number of countries already demand traceability as an entry requirement – a factor that has, up until now, limited many organisations with regard to the export of their product.

“Global corporations have traceability solutions that are custom built for them at an enormous cost,” says Ryan. “Label&Track™ shrink-wraps those large solutions into an effective package with only 20% customization required.”

“Label&Track™ is the answer for medium sized enterprises currently constrained by market entry barriers in terms of traceability requirements. Label&Track™ provides all the important tools for these businesses to compete internationally. For companies struggling to balance the demands from supply chain partners for more efficient logistics and on the other hand traceability compliance, they can rely on SATO’s proven experience,” says Kaz Matsuyama, Managing Director of SATO International.

Pricing & Availability
Label&Track™ will be available initially in New Zealand and Australia and later rolled out through our network of sales offices and partners worldwide. For more detailed information on features, business benefits and returns, please contact your local representative at: http://www.satoworldwide.com/contactlist.html

 Label&Track™ product information online: http://www.satoworldwide.com/l&t.html

*Conversion is based on an average exchange rate of 1US Dollar =116.97 Japanese Yen

About SATO
SATO is a pioneer in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry and the inventor of the world’s first electronic thermal transfer barcode printer. It revolutionised the barcoding industry by introducing the Data Collection System (DCS) & Labelling concept – a total barcode and labelling solution providing high quality barcode printers, scanners/hand-held terminals, label design software and consumables. SATO is one of the first in the industry to introduce a complete, multi-protocol EPC-compliant, UHF RFID solution.

SATO is publicly listed on the first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan. It has worldwide offices in the United States, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Poland, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and China. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, it reported revenues of US$705 million. More information about SATO Corporation can be found at www.sato.co.jp/english

About SATO International
SATO’s international global headquarters, SATO International Pte. Ltd is located in Singapore. Previously an international division, it was incorporated as a holding company in Singapore in 2001 to oversee the sales, marketing and customer services activities of all its Group Member Companies. More information about SATO International can be found at www.satoworldwide.com

Contact:
Yuji Shimizu
Manager,
Corporate Planning
SATO International PTE. LTD.
438A, Alexandra Road #05-01/04
Alexandra Technopark
Singapore 119967
Tel: (65) 6271-2122
Fax: (65) 6271-2151
Email: communications@sato-int.com