Pittsburgh, PA, October 28, 2025 – AIM Global, the leading industry association and global authority with more than 50 years in innovation, standards, and solutions in barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, RFID, RTLS, and RAIN, has revealed the winners of the 2025 AIM industry awards. These awards celebrate the years’ most remarkable achievements and successes across the dynamic digital identification technology landscape.  

The annual AIM Global awards unite technology professionals, industry leaders, educators, academia, and media. The awards were judged by a panel of distinguished technology leaders from across industry.

The AIM Community is propelling us into a future rich with possibilities, driven by developments such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, machine learning, data analytics, standards, interoperability, and more. This dynamic environment presents an opportune moment to acknowledge and celebrate the individuals and organizations spearheading technological innovation.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The AIM Global Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to an elite group of past and present members whose careers have contributed in a major way to the advancement of AIDC technology that is being used in multiple use cases such as automated asset tracking, product verification, internet of things, etc.

Winner: Masahiro Hara

Masahiro Hara, with DENSO WAVE Incorporated, was honored for his distinguished and esteemed work in developing the QR Code, one of the most recognizable barcode symbologies in the world today, helping to enable consumer engagement. In addition, he also developed the world’s first CCD-type handheld barcode reader. Mr. Hara also received the 2002 R&D 100 Award, 2014 European Inventor Award, 2020 IEEE Milestone Award, and the 2022 IEEE Corporate Innovation Award

Don Percival Award:

The Percival Award was established in 1982 to honor Don Percival, an early founder and pioneer in the development of barcode scanning. The award is presented each year to an individual or organization from the user community recognizing outstanding contributions to the application of automatic identification and data capture technologies.  

Winners: Sean Murphy and Paul Whitney

Sean Murphy is recognized for his outstanding leadership in advancing barcode and packaging standards at Cencora, including building critical internal tools that help manufacturers proactively address barcode issues and ensure DSCSA compliance. His contributions also extend to pioneering work in RFID and eLabeling initiatives in collaboration with the Axia Institute, driving innovation in automatic identification and data capture technologies.

Paul Whitney of AsReader, Inc., is acknowledged for his pivotal role in introducing groundbreaking RFID technologies—like the wearable RecoHand device—to Western markets, dramatically improving efficiency in real-world applications such as logistics and healthcare. His two decades of cross-cultural innovation and leadership in AutoID and IoT have helped revolutionize item identification by seamlessly integrating RFID into wearable robotics.

Allan Gilligan Award:

This award was established in 2012 to honor a revolutionary developer of supply chain standards across multiple industries. The award is given to a member of the industry who has made outstanding contributions to the development of AIDC applications in materials handling and logistics supply chain.

Winner: Hana RFID 

Hana RFID was awarded for the company’s embodiment of the very qualities the award was created to recognize with visionary innovations in tire tagging, long-term technical leadership, and cross-industry collaboration in advancing automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) within supply chain logistics.

Clive Hohberger Technology Award:

Created in 2018 to honor the lifetime contribution of Dr. Clive Hohberger, a prolific inventor. This award recognizes scientists, engineers, software developers, or systems integrators for outstanding contributions that have furthered the growth of the industry through important applications and new technology developments.

Winner: Eckhard Wernich

Eckhard Wernich is applauded for his work in developing the SATO AEP Cloud. His work in developing this solution shows the importance of the modernization of AIDC workflows and the important shift to cloud-based systems.  

Paul Bergé International Business Development Award:

The Paul Bergé Award, established in 2020, recognizes the extensive international AIDC business development efforts spearheaded by Paul Bergé throughout his career. Presented each year, this award distinguishes an individual or an organization that demonstrates an international impact on expanding AIDC technology awareness and implementation.

Winner: Bill Toney

Bill Toney is celebrated for his transformative leadership in the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) industry. His global work over the last 28 years has significantly expanded the reach and practical implementation of digital identification technologies. Bill’s global influence, forward-thinking leadership, and dedication to building bridges across markets and technologies embody the highest values of the Paul Bergé Award

Ted Williams Award:

Named in honor of Ted Williams, an industry innovator, collaborator, and long-time member of the AIM Global Technical Symbology Committee. The award is presented annually to a professor or student in recognition of innovative and exceptional contributions to the development of the Automatic Identification and Mobility industry that can further the growth of the industry through their work as a teacher, researcher, or entrepreneur.

Winner: Dr. Antonio Rizzi

Dr. Rizzi is commended for his innovative and impactful contributions to the Automatic Identification and Mobility industry as both a professor and entrepreneur. Through his academic leadership at the University of Parma and as founder of Id-Solutions, he is advancing sustainable RFID technologies and shaping the future of the industry through groundbreaking research and practical applications like Environmental ROI.

Bert Moore Excellence in Journalism Award 

In 2006, the Excellence in Journalism Award was established to recognize a journalist or media representative in the automatic identification industry whose work exemplifies the qualities of honest, educational, and unbiased reporting of the automatic identification and mobility industry. The award was renamed in 2012 to honor Bert Moore, long-time AIM contributor and industry expert. 

Winner: Claire Swedberg

The late Claire Swedberg was praised for her reporting expertise in covering subjects such as the innovation, development and deployment of technology including AIDC, IoT and RFID. She served as the senior editor at RFID Journal as well as previously serving as the editor of IoT Journal. Her peers revered her as an honest, fair and unbiased writer.

“I proudly join the AIDC community in celebrating these achievements and express our deep gratitude for their commitment, engagement and leadership,” said AIM’s CEO, Mary Lou Bosco. “The awardees’ contributions and foresight mirror the legacies for which these awards are named.”

About AIM

AIM is the trusted worldwide industry association for the automatic identification industry. For more than half a century, AIM has provided unbiased information, educational resources, and standards to providers and users of these technologies. ​AIM membership provides access to an insider’s perspective on trends and opportunities along with a voice in shaping the growth and future of the industry.  Member benefits include education, advocacy, and community, as well as a role in creating industry standards through collaboration. Visit www.aimglobal.org for more information.