SATO rolls out its Series printers, now XML-enabled and certified for integration with SAP® Auto-ID Infrastructure

Equipped with “SATO XML-enabled 3.0”, the e Series will offer end users direct connectivity across technology platforms and applications. In addition, end users can now choose between two printing solutions to suit their needs: the direct print or middleware solution.

Singapore, November 22, 2005 — SATO, a pioneer in Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC), today announced that its e Series printers now come with “SATO XML-enabled 3.0” printing capability. With it, the e Series offers a simple and easy-to-manage interface to print RFID & barcode labels from the SAP® Auto-ID Infrastructure component of
the SAP NetWeaver® platform. Results of intensive testing have confirmed that the interface software for SATO XML-enabled 3.0 is certified for integration with SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure 2.1 via the SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure-Device Controller Interface (AII-DC-RFID) 1.0 integration scenario. The XML-based interface will enable direct printing of RFID smart label from non-SAP back-end system applications that transmit their print jobs natively in an XML data stream. The ability of the e Series printers to simultaneously encode this data in an RFID tag and print the barcode label without the need of middleware will amount to significant savings in time and savings for the end user.

The purpose of SATO bringing to market an Extensible Markup Language (XML)-enabled Series of printers is designed to answer the requirements of end users using warehouse management, supply chain/logistics and merchandise inventory applications provided by companies such as SAP.

“With a simplified enterprise system architecture and less printing support requirements, the direct print solution will result in cost and efficiency gains to many users,” said Mr Vic Barczyk, SATO’s VP of RFID Business Development. “ And SATO will continue to work with its end users to offer solutions that fit their user environments and needs.”

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About SATO

SATO is a pioneer in the 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 United States, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 , it reported revenues of US$575 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