Since it comprises the largest individual portion of a newspaper printer's expenses, newsprint needs to be managed well with the goal of reducing waste. A new tool in this effort is the use of radio tags in newspaper rolls.

The radio tags are encoded at the paper mill with a unique identifier, which is read when probed by the correct radio frequency. Newspaper printers have used these to identify newly shipped inventory as the delivery truck drives past the radio antenna. The paper mill provides a database containing an accurate measurement of the amount of paper on each roll. Each roll of newsprint can be tracked within the printing
plant, documenting how much was used and/or wasted on particular jobs. Adjustments can be made to reduce waste on subsequent print runs.

Author: Peter Milton
Source: Newspapers and Technology, March, 1999, p. 15.