RFID Companies Mostly Unscathed by Helene

Several companies in the Asheville area of North Carolina were impacted by Hurricane Helene but managed to avoid the worst of the damage. Firms such as Tageos, UPM Raflatac, and Avery Dennison Smartrac, which produce RFID inlays, labels, and materials, expect to resume operations in the coming weeks, depending on the restoration of local infrastructure.

These companies operate in an industrial complex near the Asheville Airport in Fletcher. Last week, wind gusts reached 70 mph, and the French Broad River rose to at least 21 feet, well above its flood stage of 9.5 feet. The storm, which hit on Thursday, caused significant destruction and led to road closures and a ban on non-emergency travel. Evacuees from Asheville used Interstates 40 or 26 to head east toward Tennessee.

The largest site in the Quality Point industrial complex is the Tageos manufacturing facility, which opened in May. According to Chris Hykin, Tageos’ general manager, the factory suffered no direct damage, and equipment, buildings, and machinery remained intact. However, utilities like electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications were still partially out as of Tuesday morning. All staff members were accounted for and safe, though many were personally affected by the disaster. Hykin expressed confidence that operations would stabilize and resume by the end of the week, contingent on the restoration of local utilities and transportation routes.