From radio frequency identification (RFID) training to artificial intelligence (AI) resources and 3D-printed machine parts, this week’s On the Line covers a lot of ground.
We look at how Xemelgo is turning RFID education into an interactive warehouse video game. Arrowfly is building a new AI resource for engineers, while packaging OEMs are finding new ways to use additive manufacturing for machine tooling and custom components.
Want access to our curated email newsletter? Subscribers receive it every Tuesday. Click here to sign up.
Subscribe to the Packaging OEM newsletter
Get the latest news, trends, and technology updates delivered straight to your inbox and make smarter packaging decisions.
RFID gets interactive with a supply chain video game
Xemelgo recently rolled out its Experience Center, a browser-based game that lets users compare barcode scanning with RFID technology. The idea came from Michelle Arjona-Reyes, a University of Washington student who built the game during her summer internship with Xemelgo.
In the game, users enter a virtual warehouse and complete timed cycle counts using both technologies. Players can choose warehouses with 100, 500, or 1,000 inventory items before comparing accuracy, estimated labor time, and the time required to complete a full inventory count.
We spoke with Arjona-Reyes, who believes the interactive format can make RFID easier to understand, particularly for students and others who may not be familiar with the technology.
“When we’re consuming media or content, we want it to be quick or engaging. Videos are great, reading is great, but I think having a game is just a whole different perspective,” she said. “It’s a different way to learn about it.”
→ Read more
Arrowfly launches AI for Engineers
Arrowfly launched AI for Engineers, a year-round resource for engineers and technical leaders applying artificial intelligence in their work.
The platform brings together a dedicated News Desk, original research, an advisory board, and the AI for Engineers conference planned for September 2027.
The initiative focuses on how AI is being applied across engineering disciplines, including design and automation, robotics, industrial operations and smart manufacturing, medical devices and medtech, and energy and electronics.
“AI is no longer a future-state consideration for engineers. It is a present-tense operational reality across product design, manufacturing, robotics, medtech, and energy,” said Amanda Buehner, senior vice president, sales and strategy, engineering, Arrowfly. “What we’re hearing from engineering leaders is that the challenge isn’t whether to adopt AI. It’s how to move from experimentation to practical, repeatable applications that deliver results. AI for Engineers is built around that need, bringing the industry together around trusted information, real-world implementation, and direct exchange between practitioners.”
→ Learn more
Protecting uptime with 3D printing
Delkor Systems, an OEM specializing in secondary packaging, is using additive manufacturing for machine tooling and custom components, including adapters, sensor mounts, and parts designed for specific customer applications.
The technology is also helping the OEM reduce lead times for specialized components. Delkor said some parts can be produced the same day instead of waiting weeks for traditionally manufactured replacements.
We spoke with Alex Haidle, a mechanical engineer at Delkor Systems, for our special report, 3D Printing in Packaging: Rethinking Engineering, Tooling, and Production. He shared how the OEM is using 3D printing to rethink how certain machine components are designed to fail.
“One of the best places to use 3D printing is for an engineered break point,” said Haidle. “If a machine crashes, the 3D-printed part will be the first part to break and is the one that is very easily replaced. This protects our gantries and robots from severe crashes, which take far longer to repair.”
The approach can help protect higher-value equipment while giving customers a faster path back to production.
→ Download the report
Final takeaway
This week’s stories show three different ways technology is becoming easier to understand and use.
Xemelgo is making RFID more approachable through an interactive game. Arrowfly is building a resource around practical AI applications for engineers, while Delkor is using 3D printing to solve real machine-building and uptime challenges.
