July 15, 2003 — Alien Technology will build a plant in North Dakota to mass-produce its radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, according to a news release.

The Morgan Hill, Calif.-based firm, which uses a microfluidic method to make the tiny tracking devices, said it chose the site in Fargo’s North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park because of its successful joint development programs with the university’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering. It also cited the state’s work force and business-friendly approach, the release said.

Details about the center will come later, but Alien did say it plans to install equipment capable of manufacturing billions of labels annually. The company touts its Fluidic Self-Assembly process as a way to make the tags in high volumes at low cost, and signed a manufacturing deal earlier this year with Gillette Co.