There is growing interest in RFID among consumer product goods (CPG) brands, who see the advantages that RFID offers for its brands, retailers and consumers. For these brands, having a printer who can guide them through the intricacies of RFID and produce labels and packaging for the shelves, is a huge benefit.

Meyers is a perfect example of a printer whose expertise in RFID is forging new opportunities and partnerships. Headquartered in Brooklyn Park, MN, Meyers is a third-generation family-owned business whose beginnings date back to the late 1940s, when the company starting as a sheet-fed print shop serving local businesses.

Meyers expanded into flexo printing in the 1960s, rapidly growing beyond the Twin Cities area into serving the top brands across the nation and globally. Developing technology solutions, such as creating and printing authentication codes, print on demand solutions, and web-to-print solutions, soon followed in the 1990s; Meyers began creating functional components for Medtronic’s pacemakers in 2005, as well as RFID labels and cards. By 2010, Meyers begins creating functional components for 3M Life Sciences. The company is now branching out further, launching its Function47 division this year.

“Today, we focus on packaging and labels, including sustainable packaging,” said Meyers CEO Christopher Dillon. “We also have a division focused on printed electronics and highly technical printing, called Function47. Across the company, we count several Fortune 500 companies among the list of clients who continue to work with us after well over a decade of partnership.”

Among Meyers’ more recent accomplishments is creating functional components with silver (Ag 47) conductive inks, testing printed electronic components with a leading aerospace company, and testing functional components with copper and carbon.

Dillon noted that Meyers’ largest focus is on CPG brands, with a specific focus on the food and beverage industry, as well as the health, beauty, and cosmetics sectors.

“This is where much of our sustainable packaging and label work happens,” he added. “Meyers also focuses on other industries through our printed electronics and advanced converting offerings. Those key markets are automotive, life sciences, consumer electronics, aerospace, and home goods.”

RFID Expertise

As a result of insights Meyers gained through partnerships with both retailers and CPG brands, the company entered the RFID segment in 2005.

“Our deep understanding of those two groups, particularly in the context of labels and converting, led to the realization of strong synergies created by RFID technology,” said Dillon. “Recognizing the potential impact of RFID across various aspects of logistics and the supply chain, we saw the opportunity to leverage our existing expertise and core competencies to offer RFID solutions. This strategic move allowed Meyers to expand its capabilities and provide valuable RFID-related services to our clients, tapping into a growing market and addressing the evolving needs of our customer base.”

Dillon pointed out that Meyers is uniquely capable in three key technical areas for RFID printing – experience printing with strict tolerances and specifications, complex data management and IT solutions, and pressure sensitive primary label manufacturing. He added that beyond those technical aptitudes, Meyers offers three unique values to its clients.

“As a medium-sized family business spanning three generations, Meyers has a caring and personalized approach, combining the capacity to deliver comprehensive solutions at scale with genuine client concern,” Dillon observed. “We like to think of that as being a Goldilocks-sized manufacturer who cares deeply about everyone on our team and every one of our clients. We’re also a leader in sustainability, providing the most eco-friendly options on the market. Finally, Meyers is committed to being the easiest in the industry to work with, giving our clients the gifts of time and peace of mind.”

As a result, Dillon reports that Meyers is seeing a lot of business on the RFID side.

“Meyers’ RFID work already constitutes a substantial customer base and a robust line of business,” Dillon said. “Yet we consider ourselves to be in the early stages of this growth trajectory with significant expansion on the horizon. That’s why Meyers has made significant investments, both financially and in terms of our subject matter expertise, to bolster our RFID offerings.”

One critical component of Meyers’ recent expansion is an advanced RFID label press that embeds a tiny computer chip and small antenna within existing primary pressure sensitive labels. These RFID labels can transmit data wirelessly and be updated in real-time. This allows Meyers to integrate RFID directly into the label, rather than having the brands buy a separate RFID label.

“We often hear from the market that brands are faced with a choice between easy and cheap RFID labels that pollutes their branding or the challenge of finding a reliable vendor for expensive custom solutions,” said Dillon. “Our new offering creates a cost-effective solution, seamlessly embedding RFID labels into existing prime labels, giving our customers the best of both worlds. We’ve very proud that we’re making things easy for CPG brands through these solutions and capabilities – it underscores our commitment to being the best supplier in our industry to work with.”

“Throughout my time at Meyers, we’ve acquired numerous specialty presses,” said Dave McConnon, COO at Meyers, in announcing the new press. “However, this one stands out in the industry because the technology is custom fitted to what we want to do for CPG brands as they integrate RFID into their prime labels and other types of packaging. It will allow our team to forge new pathways to achieve these goals much more quickly and reliably than before.”

Dillon emphasized that there is a tremendous need for expert guidance when considering RFID implementation into packaging and labels.

“While integrating RFID technology might seem straightforward, the intricacies involved can be deceptively complex,” he noted. “Collaboration with a seasoned printer or converter who has a deep understanding of RFID technology will make this process more seamless.

“To ensure minimal disruption to your brand and operations, we strongly recommend enlisting the expertise of an RFID consultant for any CPG not already working with an experienced RFID label printer,” added Dillon. “When partnered with the right professionals, the process can be efficiently managed with significantly less effort on your part. Selecting the right partners is key to a smooth and successful RFID integration.”

Their expertise and recent advances have put Meyers in an ideal position to grow with the RFID market.

“Our outlook for RFID in the coming years is very positive,” Dillon concluded. “We anticipate a dual-phase growth pattern. First, retailer initiatives will drive RFID implementation for a broader range of consumer-packaged goods brands and markets. This retail-driven momentum will create a subsequent wave of expansion as CPG brands recognize the value of RFID technology for optimizing their own processes. We believe this two-fold growth trajectory promises to establish RFID expertise as an indispensable asset for manufacturers that serve leading CPG brands.”