The Lexmark T654 RFID UHF Option was awarded a BLI Fall 2009 “Pick” special achievement award for Outstanding Achievement In Custom Print Solutions after undergoing a thorough lab-based evaluation. This unique solution lets companies create labels and documents embedded with passive RFID (radio frequency identification) chips and circuitry on Lexmark’s legal-capable T654 monochrome laser printer. Unlike dedicated thermal-based RFID printing devices, the T654 RFID UHF Option enables companies to have a cost-effective multi-purpose device, since the T654 laser printer can be equipped with additional paper drawers for printing non-RFID media, such as everyday business documents. In a shipping department, for example, this enables a single device to create both the RFID-equipped shipping label and the accompanying plain-paper packing list, bill of lading, or manifest.

“Previous to Lexmark’s laser-based offerings, companies had to rely on a single-purpose thermal-based printer with limited media-handling abilities. The Lexmark solution enables a single device to create both RFID-equipped output as well as plain-paper documents—and does so more cost effectively than a dedicated RFID thermal printer,” said BLI Associate Editor Jamie Bsales. “The T654 RFID UHF Option opens up RFID use to a much wider potential audience, since businesses that rely on static barcodes but that might be better served by the more advanced RFID technology now have the option of creating tagged documents in-house for as little as 25 cents per document.”

 Used in conjunction with RFID-equipped media available from system integrators and other third-parties, the solution programs and verifies the media’s RFID tag and then passes the media along to the print engine for creation of the document. Thanks to the flexible media-handling abilities of the T654 monochrome laser printer, the T654 RFID UHF Option allows businesses to create a wider range of RFID-equipped documents than does a dedicated thermal printing solution.

“Lexmark is recognized as an industry leader in delivering unique and innovative solutions that accelerate our customer's productivity by managing and sharing information more efficiently,” said Marty Canning, Lexmark vice president and president of its Printing Solutions and Services Division. “Our unique RFID laser printing solution gives businesses an affordable alternative to thermal printing while enabling them to track items, such as documents and inventory, with greater efficiency and ultimately optimize their workflow. Earning BLI’s ‘Outstanding Achievement Award In Custom Print Solutions’ validates the innovation and value Lexmark has brought to the market with RFID technology.”

BLI technicians found the option very easy to set up and use, as the module simply attaches beneath the T654 printer in place of the first optional paper drawer. Drawers for RFID-equipped media and general-purpose media can then be added to make the T654 useful for mixed RFID and non-RFID output. In BLI’s tests, the T654 RFID UHF Option performed flawlessly, creating scores of RFID-equipped labels that were properly encoded without a single misfeed. For general-purpose use with plain paper, the T654 printer delivered excellent reliability in BLI’s tests, completing a 137,500-impression durability test without any misfeeds or service calls. The T654 printer is recommended for large workgroups with monthly volumes ranging from 5,000 to 35,000 impressions, according to Lexmark.

Twice a year with its “Pick” awards, BLI gives special recognition to the hardware and software products that provided the most outstanding performances in BLI’s exhaustive lab tests. For MFPs, printers, scanners, wide-format devices and digital duplicators, BLI’s awards stand alone in that they are based on a rigorous battery of lab tests that includes an extensive durability test, which uniquely qualifies BLI to assess reliability, which is a critical factor for buyers and IT directors.

Software solutions undergo an in-depth hands-on review that focuses on key attributes for a solution’s target market and compares how well the product stacks up against leading competitors. Pick winners rise above the competition in key areas such as value, feature set, ease of use, ease of administration, hardware compatibility, software integration, security and support.

Software solutions earn an overall rating based on a Five-Star scale, and “Pick” contenders are culled from those that earn the highest ratings. Consequently, a BLI “Pick” is a hard-earned award that buyers and IT directors can trust to better guide them in their acquisition decisions.