Several types of RFID tags are available today. It is important to understand the various distinctions that differentiate them, as they often define the applications in which the tags are best suited.
This document helps you in choosing an appropriate UHF Passive RFID TagMatiks tag for your application.
UHF Passive RFID tag is made of three pieces:
RFID4U offers variety of TagMatiks tags to choose from ensuring it is available to every possible application. Based on our experience & expertise on the RFID technology, we have gathered the criteria that will help you with the tag selection. We recommend following below selection attributes one by one; to narrow down your search for the best suited tag.
Let’s discuss in detail about these selection attributes:
| Sr. # | Selection Attributes | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applied Surface | On Metal | or | Off Metal |
| 2 | Environment | Indoor | or | Outdoor |
| 3 | Operating Temperature | Normal | or | High |
| 4 | Usage | One Time | or | Reusable |
| 5 | Form Factor | Label | or | Rugged |
| 6 | Size | Small | or Medium or | Big |
| 7 | Pre – Printed | Yes | or | No |
"Applied Surface"is the surface of an object / asset, on which the tag is to be applied / affixed. It could be ON Metal or OFF Metal.
For On Metal surfaces, special tags are designed / tuned to perform better on metallic objects. These tags are also called as "Mount on Metal (MOM)" tags.
Whereas Off Metal surfaces are the surfaces which are non-metallic in nature, like Wooden, Plastic, Cardboard, Liquid, Glass, Cloth, etc.
Metals are RF-Opaque materials, it basically either blocks or reflects the RF energy. Surfaces like paper, most plastics, cloth, cardboard etc, act as RF-Lucent materials; as the RF energy penetrates relatively easily from these surfaces. Surfaces like green wood, moist wipes, damp paper, etc, act as RF-Absorptive materials as they weaken the RF energy.
In general, RFID tags work well on plastic, wood, or cardboard. Items containing metal, glass or liquids are more complex materials to tag because these materials can interfere with the communication between the RFID reader and tag. Tags that work well on products containing metal, glass or liquid are usually more expensive than typical RFID tags or inlays.
So, using this attribute, you can easily decide whether you want On Metal Tags or Off Metal Tags.
Example:
For assets like : Metallic Pallets or for Electric motors; then On Metal (MoM) tags will be considered.
For assets like : Corrugated Boxes, Wooden or Plastic Pallets; then Off Metal tags will be considered.
The next attribute is “Environment”, this basically describes the environmental conditions of the object / asset on which the tag may encounter during its lifetime. This is one of the major considerations in tag selection.
Thus, TagMatiks tags are classified as Indoor Tags & Outdoor Tags.
For “Indoor” application we can consider TagMatiks RFID labels or Soft tags.
Whereas for “Outdoor” application, we might need to use TagMatiks Encapsulated tags that are designed to protect from abrasion or any chemicals in the environment.
Example:
For assets like : Metallic Containers or Vehicles – parked in open yards; then Outdoor tags will be considered.
For assets like : Corrugated Boxes, Plastic drums stored in a cover warehouse; then Indoor tags will be considered.
"Operating Temperature" attribute decides whether the object / asset is going to operate in normal / ambient temperature or goes through high temperature process. Accordingly, the selection of Normal Temperature tag or High Temperature tag can be considered.
High Temperature tags tags are designed for extreme heat applications by ensuring their protection from high temperatures and stress in manufacturing and industrial processes through rugged encapsulation.
Example:
For assets like : Plastic Bins, pallets operated in supply chain operations; then Normal Temperature tags will be considered.
For assets like : Metallic Reels, Trolleys are using in Power Plants or Furnaces, paint process of car - where ambient temperature is high; then High Temperature tags will be considered.
"Usage" means the RFID tag required for the application - will either have only one cycle process or required for multiple cycles in the span of few weeks/months/years.
Tags which can reuse multiple times for multiple assets / objects are called as Reusable tags.
So, if an asset is to identify for one process / cycle (like from Production to Dispatch process) then here the RFID tag is required only for one cycle and these tags are called as "One Time” tags.
Reusable tag can also be used for the application here, but the challenge with reusable tags is managing the physical tag collection & their data. Thus for every new asset cycle, you need to change/encode its tag ID and then use it as a fresh tag in the system. RFID tags can be recycled, if they are encased in protective plastic or other material that allows them to survive the removal process. If we try to tear a passive RFID label off an object, then it will likely destroy the connection between the chip and the antenna, thereby rendering the tag useless. Also, it will not be able to stick on anything else.
Example:
For assets like : Plastic Bins / Crates operated in supply chain operations; then reusable tags will be considered.
For assets like : Corrugated cartons, Garments ; then One-Time tags will be considered.
The "Form Factor" of an RFID tag refers to its shape, packaging and handling features. To a large extent, an RFID tag's form factor include the weight of the RFID tag as well as the method by which the RFID tag is affixed to and removed from its associated object / asset (in case of reusable).
TagMatiks RFID tags come in a variety of form factors, to include Labels, Wristbands, badges, adhesive sticker tags, zip tie attachment, autoclave, and so on.
Thus, depending upon the application & Usage; we can select the tag based on its Form Factor.
Example:
For assets like : Plastic Bins / Crates operated in supply chain operations; then reusable Soft / Hard tags will be considered.
For assets like : Corrugated cartons, Garments ; then One Time tags – smart labels will be considered.
For assets like : Dumper, Metallic Drums, Containers; then Rugged tags will be considered.
“Size” attribute, a crucial parameter of the tag. The size of the tag is related to the read range. So, if we need a longer read range tag (say of several meters), then the tag should be of a bigger size. However, it is essential to consider the available surface area of the tagged item / object.
Thus, if the surface is less for tagging then, we must consider small tags / medium tags and if more read distance is required, then we must consider big size tags.
“Pre-Printed” tags are the tags - which are already printed & encoded. RFID4U has variety of Pre-printed TagMatiks tags to cater every possible application.
The benefits of Pre-printed and encoded RFID labels / tags allow you to quickly and easily associate / tagging an asset / object and do integrate with the RFID system.
| Application | UHF RFID based Container Tracking System in yard Pallet Tracking System in manufacturing plant Cylinder & Drums Tracking System in plant. |
|---|---|
| Assets | Containers / Pallets / Cylinders / Drums (all are Metallic) |
| Applied Surface | On Metal |
| Environment | Outdoor |
| Operating Temperature | Normal Ambient Temperature |
| Usage | Reusable Tags |
| Form Factor | Rugged Tags |
| Size | Medium / Large |
| Pre-Printed | Yes |