RFID Asset Tags and Labels

There are numerous styles of RFID asset tags and labels ideally suite for tagging assets. Perhaps the most important consideration is that assets with metal surface or with metal near-surface typically require a ‘raised tag’, often referred to as ‘mount-on-metal’ tags. If a flat tag is placed on metal or near-metal surface (such as a laptop that has polymer surface but metal is beneath the surface) the metal causes conflict with the RFID antenna and prevents the RFID tag # from being able to be detected by RFID interrogators (fixed readers/antennas and portable scanners).

If RFID tags are used that are printed, the micro-chip can be encoded with a # from a database, such as a serial #. If RFID tags are utilized that are not printed, then a portable or USB scanner is utilized to input the native RFID # in a database to ‘connect’ a unique database identifier to the RFID # (similar to a license plate # being ‘connected-to’ Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in a database.

Commonly available RFID asset tags include:

> RFID ‘wet inlays’ which are RFID antennas and microchip covered with clear laminate, which can be removed from rolls and placed on non-metal assets;

> Printable flat labels on rolls that print on thermal printers and which enable the RFID computer chip to be encoded with a number during printing;

> Printable flat labels on sheets that print on any standard office ink jet or laser printer;

> Printable raised labels on rolls that print on thermal printers and which enable the RFID computer chip to be encoded with a number during printing;

> Raised tags in many sizes and constructions for placement on assets, including tag types for rugged environmental conditions such as outdoors, heat, water, cold storage or the like;

> Hanging tags of many styles for hanging onto assets;

> Specialty RFID tags that are designed for specific industries, such as underwater tags for oil rigs.