Metalcraft Promotes Cassidy Albertson to Vice President of Solutions

Metalcraft Promotes Cassidy Albertson to Vice President of Solutions

(MASON CITY, IA, October 1, 2026) — Metalcraft, a leading provider of identification and tracking solutions, is pleased to announce the promotion of Cassidy Albertson to Vice President of Solutions, effective October 1, 2026.


In his new role, Albertson will lead Metalcraft’s solutions strategy, bringing together the company’s identification and RFID expertise with software engineering, system integration and business services. He will focus on expanding Metalcraft’s ability to provide customers with complete solutions that improve visibility, accuracy and productivity.

Albertson has served as General Manager of ARK Business Systems, Metalcraft’s business services division, for nearly two years. During that time, ARK has experienced significant growth while expanding Metalcraft’s capabilities in asset tracking software, system integration, implementation and other services. His leadership of ARK has also provided Albertson with experience bringing together technology and resources across Metalcraft to address customers’ broader operational needs.

“Cassidy has played an important role in expanding what Metalcraft can offer our customers,” said Kyle Bermel, CEO of Metalcraft. “The growth we’ve seen at ARK demonstrates the opportunity we have to combine our identification expertise with software engineering and integration. Cassidy understands how those pieces work together, and in this new role he will help us continue building that solutions capability across the organization.”


Albertson joined Metalcraft in February 2019 as a Senior Software Engineer. During his time with the company, he has taken on increasing leadership responsibilities, including recruiting and leading software engineering interns and helping lead innovation implementation efforts. In June 2024, he was promoted to Software Engineering Manager, with responsibility for the software engineering team, team metrics, budgeting and strategic planning.


As Vice President of Solutions, Albertson will work across Metalcraft and ARK Business Systems to connect the company’s capabilities and resources around customer applications. The new role supports Metalcraft’s continued evolution from primarily providing identification products to designing and delivering complete identification and tracking solutions.


“I’m excited about the opportunity to build on what we’ve accomplished with ARK and bring that solutions-focused approach to more of Metalcraft,” said Albertson. “I’ve been fortunate to work with an incredible ARK team and a software engineering organization that consistently delivers excellence through innovation, collaboration, and customer focus.
Their contributions have shaped much of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m honored to join a leadership team that is energized by the opportunities ahead and committed to driving continued growth, innovation, and long-term success for Metalcraft.”


About Metalcraft
Metalcraft has provided identification solutions since 1950. What began as a solution for the Bostitch Stapler Company’s identification needs has evolved into a company providing durable identification, RFID and complete tracking solutions for customers across a wide range of industries. As member-owners, Metalcraft employees take pride in what they do
and strive every day to exceed customers’ expectations by providing the right technology and solution for their application.


For media inquiries or more information, please contact Julia Deets, VP of Marketing and Customer Experience, at juliad@idplate.com.

Join the Conversation: AIM Launches the NextGen Supply Chain Tech Discord Community

Join the Conversation: AIM Launches the NextGen Supply Chain Tech Discord Community

The technologies powering the supply chain are changing quickly. From RFID and barcode systems to artificial intelligence, IoT, automation, digital product passports, robotics, computer vision, and emerging identification technologies, professionals entering the industry today are working in an environment that looks very different from even a few years ago.

AIM created the NextGen Supply Chain Tech Discord community to give the next generation of industry professionals a place to connect, learn, ask questions, exchange ideas, and build relationships with others interested in the technologies shaping the future of supply chain operations.

While the community is supported by AIM, you do not need to be an expert in automatic identification and data capture technologies to participate. The goal is to create an approachable community where young professionals, students, emerging leaders, engineers, marketers, sales professionals, operations professionals, solution providers, technology users, and others interested in supply chain technology can interact.

Why We Created NextGen Supply Chain Tech

Industry conferences and formal working groups are extremely valuable, but not every conversation needs to happen during a scheduled meeting.  Sometimes you simply want to ask:

  • Has anyone worked with this technology before?
  • What are companies actually doing with RFID right now?
  • How is AI changing warehouse operations?
  • What does a career in AIDC or supply chain technology look like?
  • What events are worth attending?
  • Does anyone know a good resource for learning about 2D barcodes?
  • What emerging technology should I be paying attention to?
  • Is anyone else working on a similar project?

 

NextGen Supply Chain Tech provides a place where those conversations can happen throughout the year.  We want the community to become a resource for peer-to-peer learning, professional development, networking, technology discussions, industry education, and collaboration.  It is also an opportunity to connect professionals who may work in very different parts of the supply chain ecosystem. Those different perspectives are exactly what can make the community valuable.

 

Why Discord?

Discord was originally known primarily as a gaming platform, but it has evolved into a powerful community-building tool used by technology communities, developers, professional groups, students, associations, and organizations around the world.

Unlike email chains or traditional discussion forums, Discord allows conversations to happen naturally across dedicated topic areas called channels.  Instead of every conversation appearing in one long feed, members can participate in the discussions that interest them most.    Discord also makes it easy to have both ongoing conversations and quick interactions. You can post a detailed question, share an interesting article, respond to a poll, participate in a live discussion, or simply read what others are talking about.

There is no expectation that you need to participate every day.

 

What Can You Talk About?

The short answer is: almost anything related to supply chain technology and professional development.  The community is intended to be conversational. You do not need to prepare a formal presentation or write a technical paper before asking a question. You might share an article about a new warehouse robot and ask what others think. You might ask how companies are preparing for the transition from traditional UPC barcodes to 2D barcodes. You could start a discussion about whether RFID, computer vision, or another technology is best suited for a particular supply chain application. Someone early in their career might ask the community what skills they should develop to move into an AIDC or supply chain technology role.  Members could also discuss conferences they are attending, certifications they recommend, new products they have seen, technology demonstrations, implementation challenges, industry trends, or new regulations that could affect technology deployments.  Some conversations may eventually lead to AIM webinars, podcasts, educational resources, industry group discussions, or collaborative projects. The community can help AIM hear directly from emerging professionals about the issues they believe deserve greater attention.

 

How to Use Discord

If you have never used Discord before, getting started is straightforward. First, create a free Discord account using either the Discord website or the Discord mobile or desktop application.  If you click the NextGen Supply Chain Tech links above and below, they will take you right to the free registration area.  After joining the NextGen Supply Chain Tech server, take a few minutes to explore the available channels. Start with the Welcome and Rules section to learn how the community is organized and review basic participation guidelines. From there, introduce yourself. You can share your name, company or school if you would like, what part of the industry interests you, and the technologies you would like to learn more about. Then explore the discussion channels. When you see a conversation that interests you, jump in. You can reply directly to another member, add a reaction, ask a follow-up question, or start a new discussion. Discord also allows members to use @mentions to notify another member when responding directly to them. Threads can be used to keep longer conversations organized without overwhelming the main channel.  If you are not ready to post immediately, that is perfectly fine. Follow the conversations, explore the community, and participate when you find a topic that interests you.

 

A Community Built by Its Members

AIM can provide the platform, educational resources, industry connections, and opportunities, but the value of NextGen Supply Chain Tech will ultimately come from the people participating in it.  As the community grows, AIM hopes NextGen Supply Chain Tech will help emerging professionals expand their networks, learn from experienced industry leaders, discover new technologies, find professional opportunities, and become more involved in the broader supply chain technology community.  So Whether you have worked in the industry for several years or are just beginning to explore it, you are invited to join the conversation.

Join NextGen Supply Chain Tech, introduce yourself, explore the channels, and start a conversation about where supply chain technology is going next.

Seeing Automation and Standards in Practice at Aalborg University Hospital

Seeing Automation and Standards in Practice at Aalborg University Hospital

On August 25, AIDC Denmark brought together professionals from Denmark and Norway for a visit to Aalborg University Hospital and Hospitalsbyen, offering a practical look at how automatic data capture, master data, automated logistics and standards are being applied in a modern hospital environment.

During the day, participants saw examples of automated logistics using bed and trolley AGVs, sterile storage, tracking and localization solutions, as well as the use of RAIN RFID and GS1 standards within the hospital’s logistics infrastructure.

A key takeaway from the visit was that automation does not start with the robots.

For automated logistics to work, the underlying foundation needs to be in place: clear processes, shared master data, unambiguous identification of assets and locations, and integrations that allow systems to exchange information consistently.

This became particularly tangible when participants saw how GS1 standards are used to identify and manage locations and help connect the hospital’s physical environment with its digital systems and workflows.

Concepts such as identification, GLNs and location databases can easily seem abstract when discussed on paper. Seeing them applied in a live hospital environment demonstrated how important they are in enabling automated processes to work reliably.

Tracking and localization were another important part of the visit. In a hospital, beds, equipment, instruments, trolleys and supplies are constantly moving. RFID and localization technologies can provide greater visibility and traceability across these flows and create a stronger data foundation for logistics and operational decision-making.

The visit also highlighted that technology does not operate in isolation. Participants heard about how robots become part of a wider sociotechnical system, interacting with people, workflows, physical spaces and other technologies. What happens around the robot can therefore be just as important as the technology itself.

For many participants, one of the most valuable aspects of the day was the opportunity to see solutions in actual operation and hear open and practical experiences from the first months of use.

The visit provided a strong example of how automatic identification, data capture, standards and automation come together as parts of a larger operational infrastructure – and how the less visible elements, such as master data and standardised identification, are essential to making the more visible automation possible.

AIDC Denmark would like to thank Aalborg University Hospital and Region Nordjylland for opening the doors and sharing their experiences, and all speakers and participants for contributing to an insightful day.

Bridging Industry and Learning: AIM India and ID Tech Collaborate for AIDC Technology Training

Bridging Industry and Learning: AIM India and ID Tech Collaborate for AIDC Technology Training

As technologies such as RFID, barcode and automated data capture continue to transform industries, building practical knowledge and developing skilled professionals has become increasingly important.

With this objective, AIM India, in collaboration with ID Tech Solutions, conducted a four-day training program on AIDC, RFID and Printing Technologies, bringing together industry professionals and young technology enthusiasts for an engaging learning experience.

Hosted at the ID Tech office, the program was designed to go beyond theoretical concepts and provide participants with practical exposure to technologies being deployed across industries today.

The training began with an overview of the AIDC ecosystem, introducing participants to the different technologies that enable automatic identification, data capture and tracking.

The second day focused on barcode and printing technologies, including barcode printers, labels, ribbons and printing concepts, providing participants with an understanding of how these technologies support identification and traceability applications.

The third day was dedicated to RFID technology, covering its fundamentals, components, working principles, industry applications and real-world case studies. Live demonstrations of RFID tags, readers and related solutions allowed participants to see the technology in action and better understand how RFID systems operate in real-world environments.

On the final day, participants explored RFID printing and encoding technologies, along with emerging developments shaping the future of the AIDC industry. The program concluded with an assessment and certification for the participants.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the four days was the level of interaction and curiosity from the participants. The RFID sessions and live demonstrations, in particular, generated strong interest and discussions around practical applications and career opportunities within the AIDC ecosystem.

Building the Next Generation of AIDC Professionals

Beyond technology training, the initiative represented a shared effort to bridge the gap between industry knowledge and the next generation of professionals.

ID Tech Solutions sincerely thanks AIM India for choosing ID Tech as an industry partner for this initiative and for creating a platform through which practical AIDC knowledge can be shared with IT professionals, fresh graduates and young individuals interested in building their careers in this growing technology domain.

Such collaborations play an important role in strengthening the AIDC ecosystem by bringing industry experience, practical technology exposure and emerging talent together.

ID Tech looks forward to continuing its collaboration with AIM India and contributing to initiatives that encourage learning, skill development and greater awareness of AIDC technologies across India.