RR Donnelley and Smartrac Market RFID-Based Smart Packaging, Labeling Solutions

CHICAGO and AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands — May 4, 2016 — R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., a  provider of communication services and innovator in printed electronics, and RFID pacesetter, Smartrac, have agreed to jointly market an innovative process for RAIN RFID implementation that will enable growth in the number of products connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) through smart packaging and related solutions.

Both companies will bring specific strengths to the collaboration. RR Donnelley will leverage its unique printed electronics capabilities including customized antenna design and printing, and its leadership in labels and packaging markets. Smartrac will contribute its extensive chip attach capacity, plus the data collection and processing capabilities of Smart Cosmos, the company's IoT services and solutions platform.

By leveraging each other's fields of expertise, the companies have developed a unique method for manufacturing RAIN inlays using two distinct components that do not need to be adhered together. This method expands upon current use cases and creates new opportunities for value-added products and services. For example, it provides brand owners a means to simplify their RFID compliance needs by making all product tags, labels and packaging RFID-ready and then enabling them on an as-needed basis. Additional use cases include inventory management, asset tracking, authentication, retail theft prevention, consumer engagement and others.

Dan Knotts, COO for RR Donnelley remarks, "We are excited to enter into this agreement with Smartrac, one of the world's leading RFID providers. This agreement leverages the scale and expertise that our respective companies possess, allowing us to bring innovative RFID solutions to customers across many market segments, in whatever form they require. Our joint developments with Smartrac will also enable a wider variety of RFID-based value-added services, helping to broaden adoption of RAIN UHF RFID technology."

Christian Uhl, CEO and chairman of the management board, Smartrac Technology Group, comments, "We are very proud and delighted to enter into a ‘collaboration of equals' with a Fortune 500 company like RR Donnelley. This collaboration will not only strengthen and broaden our product portfolio but also boost our company's development abilities and support our transition into a provider of solutions that are based on RFID and IoT technology. In particular, we will take advantage of our joint strengths to drive IoT innovations in smart labeling and packaging."

Both companies will be demonstrating use cases enabled by this collaboration at the RFID Journal Live! show to be held in the Orange Country Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., May 3 - 5, 2016. Visit RR Donnelley at Booth 1005 and Smartrac at Booth 312.

About RR Donnelley
RR Donnelley (Nasdaq:RRD) helps organizations communicate more effectively by working to create, manage, produce, distribute and process content on behalf of our customers. The company assists customers in developing and executing multi-channel communication strategies that engage audiences, reduce costs, drive revenues and increase compliance. RR Donnelley's innovative technologies enhance digital and print communications to deliver integrated messages across multiple media to highly targeted audiences at optimal times for clients in virtually every private and public sector. Strategically located operations provide local service and responsiveness while leveraging the economic, geographic and technological advantages of a global organization.

About Smartrac
Smartrac is the world's leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of RFID products and services, providing both ready-made and customized products and services suitable for a large number of applications. Smartrac makes products smart, and enables businesses to identify, authenticate, track and complement product offerings. The company's portfolio is used in a wide array of applications: access control, animal identification, automated fare collection, automotive, border control, contactless payment, electronic product identification, industry, libraries and media management, laundry, logistics, retail, public transport, and many more. Leveraging its global R&D, production and sales network, Smartrac combines physical products with its Internet of Things platform Smart Cosmos, empowering the ecosystem of connected things. Smartrac has its registered headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Source: RR Donnelley.