Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Merrimack College Receives Infusion of RFID Equipment for New Lab

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 10/08/08
Merrimack College has received a donation of $60,000 in radio frequency ID equipment from Tagsys to establish an RFID and automatic identification technology laboratory as part of its Mendel Center for Science, Engineering, and Technology. The college includes coursework on RFID as a core requirement for its electrical engineering undergraduate degree.

"Merrimack anticipates continued widespread adoption of RFID in item-level tracking, and we are extremely grateful to Tagsys for their generous donation," said Ronald Champagne, president of the college. "Merrimack students now have the opportunity to learn actively on the latest RFID technology that will provide them with superior hands-on experience and unmatched preparation for their professional lives. This in turn will allow us to deliver highly-qualified RFID candidates to the field."

The vendor donated a combination of high frequency and ultra high frequency tags, readers, antennas, and application stations to Merrimack's RFID/Auto ID lab. Tagsys also donated RFID "demonstration stations" to help students learn how RFID is used to track items in manufacturing and supply chain applications in industries such as: libraries, textile services, apparel retail, luxury goods, and pharmaceutical/healthcare.

"As we anticipate increased demand for RFID technology in all industries, it's imperative that we have qualified RFID professionals to support this growth," said Bill Stuek, Tagsys CEO. "This is a mutually beneficial opportunity for both Tagsys and Merrimack by helping prepare the next generation of future RFID professionals."

Merrimack College, located in North Andover, MA, has 2,000 students. Later in October, the college will host a day-long symposium on RFID from technology, higher education, and business perspectives.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • circuit patterns

    Anthropic Launches Lower-Cost Claude Sonnet 5

    Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 5, positioning the model as its most autonomous mid-tier offering to date and a lower-cost alternative to its flagship Opus 4.8 system. The company said the model can plan multi-step tasks, operate tools such as browsers and terminals, and complete agentic work at a level that previously required larger and more expensive models.

  • illustration of people collaborating around large interlocking gears and data charts

    Why ERP and AI Initiatives Stall at the Execution Layer: A CIO Perspective

    Higher education institutions are investing heavily in ERP modernization, analytics, and AI-driven capabilities. Yet even with these investments, many are running into the same issue: turning insight into coordinated, timely action.

  • holographic interface of a file manager, folder structure with documents and data

    Why Universities Need to Align Data Storage with Data Value

    Institutions need to move away from a reactive habit of expanding storage and towards a more deliberate data management model based on understanding and control.

  • woman

    AI Giants Back Nonprofit Focused on Workforce Transition

    The AI industry's biggest names are investing in more than just models and infrastructure — they're focusing on workforce readiness. OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft and Amazon are backing Raise US, a new nonprofit that aims to raise $1 billion to help American workers prepare for an AI-driven economy.