SATO International (SI) Appoints New Vice President, Business Development

Appointment set to drive SATO’s global RFID solutions programme forward

SINGAPORE – June 08, 2004 – SATO International Pte Ltd. (SI), a holding company for SATO Corporation’s overseas sales offices, today announced the appointment of Victor S.Barczyk as Vice President of Business Development, based in Singapore. Mr.Barczyk’s responsibilities include developing SATO’s RFID global strategy, creating RFID business units throughout SATO’s subsidiaries, developing global partnerships and alliances, and directing the development of state-of-the-art RFID solutions. Mr Barczyk has been with SI since 2002, most recently as Director for Sales.
“As a market leader in the industry, it is central to SATO’s role to provide real-world technical solutions, and vision for the industry,” says Mr. Barczyk. “As an international company, SATO is always thinking globally when developing new products. SATO has been actively participating in RFID shows throughout the world and used that customer experience to develop a flexible solution to support global requirements. When European-based retailers Metro and Tesco recently announced their RFID requirements, SATO was ready and was the first to market a solution for Europe.”

“In Asia, SATO has also been selling RFID solutions systems in Singapore and Japan and is working with various agencies to develop RFID regulations. Additionally, we are currently pilot testing solutions with numerous US and European consumer goods and logistics companies, and the US Department of Defense contractors which shows that RFID solutions are being sought beyond the retail industry environment,” he said.

The automatic identification and data capture market promises to offer increasing value across the supply chain in the coming years as RFID technologies are developed to complement established barcode systems.

SATO, a leader in barcode printing since introducing the first thermal transfer barcode printer in 1981, has been supplying high frequency (HF) RFID solutions for some years. SATO fully supports the Uniform Code Council’s (UCC) Electronic Product Code (EPC) initiatives and the recent Wal-Mart and Metro mandates, requiring their Top 100 suppliers to embed RFID tags at the case and pallet level by 2005. Many of Wal-Mart’s and Metro’s Top 100 suppliers are longstanding SATO customers who look to SATO to help satisfy their RFID requirements.

In order to meet these US and Europe mandates, SATO has introduced the industry's first, complete multi-protocol EPC-compliant RFID solutions service offerings for customer pilots and beta tests. The SATO EPC Class 1-compliant RFID printing solution is now running in the Wal-Mart RFID testing and development lab located in Bentonville, Arkansas.

“SATO R&D resources are focusing on various RFID solutions. While today, it is the retail industry that is primarily driving the demand for RFID solutions, we are seeing requests outside of retail, for instance from couriers and transportation services, tire companies, breweries, and the government sector,” said Mr. Barczyk.

Prior to joining SI, Mr.Barczyk served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing and Acting General Manager for Cognitive Solutions, Inc. located in Golden, Colorado. Cognitive develops desktop and mobile barcode printers and media (labels) for the retail, healthcare and manufacturing markets. Mr. Barczyk was responsible for all worldwide sales, marketing and product management activities, as well as all financial, operational and engineering functions.

Mr. Barczyk’s vast experience in the AIDC industry includes holding various senior management positions at Zebra Technologies Corporation, Eltron International Inc. and RJS International Inc.

According to Mr.Waki, Managing Director, SATO International, “All SATO subsidiaries, its valued resellers and most importantly, its global customers have been well served by Mr. Barczyk’s leadership as Director for Sales at BSI. We are confident that Mr. Barczyk, who has nearly 20 years of diverse management experience, will continue to boost SATO’s efforts particularly in the RFID solutions arena and build on our reputation as the market leader in the industry. Most importantly, to SATO and our clients, he has a strong understanding of the needs and requirements of the marketplace. His wealth of experience and skills, we have no doubt, will greatly assist and drive forward SATO’s global growth plans.”

Mr. Barczyk attended the University of Northern Illinois in Dekalb and was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science in 1974. He can be reached at (65) 6271 2122 or vic.barczyk@sato-int.com

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About SATO International (SI)

SATO International (SI), the global sales headquarters of SATO Corporation, is a world leader of automatic identification products including barcode printers. SI was incorporated in 2001 to oversee and support sales, marketing and customer service activities at all group member companies. As part of its expansion plans, SI is rapidly strengthening its own team, as well as that of its overseas, group member companies. Also, SI will initiate new product launches, in addition to identifying and securing new strategic partnerships to expand its comprehensive AIDC business outside of Japan. SI is the driving force behind SATO Corporation’s global branding strategy and expansion into new markets and territories. More details at www.satoworldwide.com