RFID GUIDE FOR DISTRIBUTORS

In a time where efficiency and precision are becoming non-negotiable, ID Images presents Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) labels as a critical solution for businesses looking to transform their asset tracking and inventory management.

For a growing number of markets, we provide customizable RFID labels that can adapt to any operational environment, boosting your capacity to seamlessly monitor and manage assets.

RFID technology is a wireless communication technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. It consists of RFID tags, which are attached to objects, and RFID readers, which communicate with the tags wirelessly.

It’s become increasingly popular in various industries due to its ability to provide quick and accurate identification and tracking of objects. As your customers’ demand for RFID tags and labels accelerates, ID Images is your trusted partner to navigate the details that can help you deliver what they need.

RFID SYSTEM IN A NUTSHELL

An RFID system consists of tags, readers, and middleware, which create a durable network for reliably transmitting and managing data.

Tag: A small device that contains a microchip and an antenna. It stores data and communicates wirelessly with RFID readers. Tags can be passive (powered by the reader’s signal) or active (with their own power source).

Reader: The device that sends and receives radio signals to communicate with RFID tags. It transmits energy to power passive tags and reads the stored data.

Middleware: This includes the software and hardware infrastructure that manages and controls the RFID system. It communicates with RFID readers, collects data from tags, and processes the information.

There are two main types of RFID tags:

Passive: Have an internal power source and rely on the energy from the RFID reader to transmit data. They are commonly used and less expensive than active tags.

Active: Have an internal power source (usually a battery) and can transmit data over longer distances. They are used in applications requiring long-range identification.

And then variations on those tags and inlays:

Inlays and Tags: Provide identification and tracking capabilities in various industries and frequency bands.

Hard Tags: Designed for specific requirements and offer resistance to dust, chemicals, and mechanical stress.

Dual Frequency Tags: Operate in two frequency bands, providing flexibility.

Sensor Tags: Detect environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, light, or motion for real-time monitoring.

An RFID inlay is the core component of an RFID tag, consisting of an antenna, microchip, and substrate. A tag is a complete product ready for use, containing an inlay and a face or encasement. The inlay is integrated into various tag formats like labels, cards, or hangtags.

To put it all together, when an RFID reader is activated, it transmits a radio frequency signal to the antenna, which broadcasts the signal to the surrounding area. If an RFID tag is within range, the tag’s antenna absorbs the energy, powering up the microchip, which transmits stored data back to the reader. Each tag responds with a unique number.

Working in unison, this system is an elegant approach to tracking and data administration that surpasses conventional systems, delivering instantaneous updates, upgrading inventory precision, and enabling automated asset oversight without requiring a direct line of sight.

KEY MARKETS AND APPLICATION AREAS

RFID is yet to be in every market and application, but it is expanding. Widespread adoption is already evident in the automotive, inventory management, product authentication, asset tracking, retail, food safety, logistics, and access tracking sectors, as in parking and tolls.

ID Images currently serves markets such as automotive, consumer durables, food & beverage, health & beauty, retail labels, shipping labels, warehouse inventory labels, manufacturer labels, medical labels, and electronics. With 16 manufacturing facilities across North America, we’re innovating and taking on new possibilities every day.

In Food & Beverage, for example, ID Images helps customers use RFID to track products from their origin to the supermarket aisle, as well as monitor temperature in the cold chain supply, which helps ensure food safety. This is a formidable tool in the areas of frozen foods, perishable goods, and seafood, which often travel long distances, change environments, and are highly regulated.

In the area of automotive engineering and supply chain management, the intricate operations within automotive plants also demand seamless coordination of processes, equipment, and systems. RFID offers a streamlined approach to tracking parts, significantly reducing the time and effort required to locate misplaced items within warehouses. With RFID readers, the whereabouts of items can be swiftly identified by simply scanning within the tag’s range, eliminating the need for cumbersome manual searches.

RFID also eliminates the need for manual scanning in logistics and improves overall dock operations productivity. LTL (“less than truckload”) sectors, which include shipping services that move small loads or quantities of freight up to 15,000 pounds, are experiencing extraordinary improvements in key metrics. Read accuracy is reported to be above 99%, reducing inbound manifest errors, and mis-shipment rates.

HOW AN RFID LABEL IS CONSTRUCTED

RFID tags typically consist of adhesive, substrate, antenna, microchip, face laminate, and encapsulation layers. They are constructed to withstand environmental factors and fulfill specific application requirements.

RFID inlays and tags are available in dry or wet formats. Dry inlays lack backing material or adhesive, suitable for integration into products. Wet inlays have backing material and adhesive for surface attachment. Tags can be labels or hangtags, serving adhesion and information printing purposes.

ID Images offers various material options for RFID labels, as well as the type of adhesion. For the material, we have both synthetic and paper options, and the decision on which one to use depends on the market, applications, and overall budget. In general, synthetic options work better for harsher environments, as they are more durable, and paper options are great for short-term, indoor use, such as in retail inventory. We then have permanent adhesives, removable adhesives, and specialty adhesives.

Selecting the right material and the right adhesive involves analysis of the environmental conditions, the surfaces to which the label will be applied, the environmental conditions, and how long the label should last. An ID Images label expert can help you determine the right materials and adhesives for your customer.

THE FUTURE

To be sure, RFID is the new barcode.

First, both RFID and barcodes serve identification and data storage purposes but differ in how that data is read and stored; where RFID does not require a direct line of sight to access and read data, human labor is reduced, while accuracy and security are greatly enhanced.

Next, RFID is closely aligned with a company’s evolving sustainability goals. Companies who embrace eco-friendly practices are more likely to align with their customers’ expectations. Those who choose to integrate RFID tech inherit a fast track to efficiency across the board. In addition, by using certified materials and improving recycling visibility, RFID reduces carbon footprints and can improve a company’s public image and reputation.

Indeed, homes and businesses are becoming more powered by “smart” technologies and internet-of-things (IoT) solutions. As the planet exponentially moves towards hyper-connectivity, a combination of RFID and IoT solutions is inevitable. RFID will surely be there in any market or sector where better-connected systems and accurate, real-time monitoring of objects are profitable and sustainable.

Explore the transformative potential of RFID labels with us. With decades of experience and personalized support from our team, ID Images can help you customize RFID solutions for your customers that can move their organization and systems into exciting new levels of optimization. Speak to a label expert today.