Beontag | 75Beontag becomes a global RFID player Thanks to rapid growth and multiple acquisitions, Beontag has become the world’s second-largest RFID tag manufacturer. James Quirk reportsapid growth and a spate of recent acquisitions have propelled Beontag to the position of second largest RFID tag Rmanufacturer in the world – despite only moving into the sector in 2013 and beginning exports in 2018.Beontag began its days as CCRR, a merger between Brazilian labelstock manufacturer Colacril and Brazilian converter RR Etiquetas, but rebranded last year as part of its drive for international expansion. It started manufacturing RFID tags in 2013 and now claims a 90 percent share of the Brazilian market. In the last year, its international growth has been exponential, with six acquisitions in Europe so far – completed within 12 months – and plans are in place for additional deals.“Everything has been done in a thoughtful fashion. We have been watching the market and Beontag CEO Ricardo Lobopreparing for many years”In April 2021, Beontag acquired France-based Digital Tags. Six months later, it tied up deals for Italian company LabID and the RFID arm of Finland-based Stora Enso. In January this year, Beontag acquired the Scandstick Group, a manufacturer of self-adhesive materials with factories in Sweden, Belgium, Slovenia and Poland. This was swiftly followed by the purchase of Temera, an Italian company known for its Internet of Things software and technology for RFID and BlockChain. In April, Beontag fnalized a deal with Confdex, a provider of RFID, NFC and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) products for mobility, logistics and industrial clients, with operations in Finland, China, France, Netherlands and the United States. These acquisitions are expected to multiply Beontag’s revenue by two and a half times this year.Beontag’s facility in Campo Mourão, BrazilThe company has set up a new head offce in Milan, Italy. Senior executives – including CEO Ricardo Lobo – have relocated there and elsewhere in Europe. Now present in 14 countries Unique technology for sustainable inlays and exporting worldwide, Beontag’s next target is the United States, with an acquisition in advanced stages and expected to be Beontag’s acquisition last year of Stora Enso’s RFID business announced soon. Its sights are set on Asia for the next stage of its brought with it the Finland-based company’s development of global expansion.sustainable RFID inlays made with a paper antenna. The ECO RFID Tag emits less than half the CO2 compared to Rapid expansion a PET tag and is fully recyclable and compostable since it has The seeds for this rapid expansion were sown around a decade ago fewer layers than a standard tag. when CCRR received private equity backing from BTG Pactual, the The product range includes a paper tag for microwave use. It largest investment bank in Latin America. This prompted the move is designed for item-level tagging and tracking of ready-meals. into RFID production. Later, the frst phase of acquisitions focused The tag does not need to be removed from the food package on the Brazilian market, including synthetic paper distributor before microwave heating and can be recycled. Syntpaper and the offce label converter Pimaco, formerly owned ‘Sustainable products are the main pillar of our ESG strategy, by BIC.and that is why we have been investing in new technologies Beontag, which is 40 years old, has 35 percent of the coating that can unleash our clients’ goals in sustainability. No one has market in Brazil and operates slitting centers locally as well an RFID tag that is as eco-friendly as ours,’ says Beontag CEO as in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. The company is in the Ricardo Lobo. process of installing a new state-of-the-art coater which should Jul - Sep 2022