What are RFID Hard tags?

Radio Frequency Identification has been a prominent technology present in almost all industries around the globe. This technology allows businesses to automate and operate efficient AIDC operations. A subset/part of this technology is the Rfid Hard Tag. These tags are specially designed to provide additional protection against various environmental dangers. RFID hard tags are durable, encapsulated RFID devices designed for use in harsh environments where flexible or label-based tags might not be suitable. They are often used for asset tracking, inventory management, and other applications requiring robust tracking solutions in demanding settings.

Brief About RFID Technology

It stands for Radio Frequency Identification. It is a type of AIDC technology that allows users to identify and track their assets/items/employees. These systems use work by using radio signals to communicate data between the components.

An RFID system consists of three primary components, namely – Tags, Readers, and Antennas. The tag has a microchip inside it that can be programmed to hold data about the item. The antennas send and receive signals and send them to the reader. The reader converts the signals from the tag into readable format.

Now that you know the basics of this technology, let’s discuss something more specific.

What are RFID Hard Tags?

Before we talk about hard tags, specifically, let’s check out what is the meaning of a tag. An RF tag is a small device capable of storing and communicating information using radio signals. The most basic component of a tag is the inlay. An inlay consists of an antenna that is connected to a microchip, these are then mounted on a substrate surface to provide it protection.

An RFID Hard Tag has one additional feature/component that stands for tags. These have a hard outer shell that acts as a protective layer. This shell provides the tag protection against a variety of environmental threats like extreme temperature, moisture, chemicals, physical damage, etc.

These tags also come with a variety of mounting methods like adhesive backsides, screw mounts, weld mounts, etc. There are two types of hard tags, active and passive. Active tags have an internal power supply (battery, generally coin cells) and can broadcast signals for a significantly longer range (up to 100 meters). Passive Tags on the other hand lack any internal power supply. This means that they have to use a process called electromagnetic induction and signal backscattering to communicate information when working in the near-field and far-field of the antenna, respectively.

What are the Applications of RFID Hard Tags?

As we discussed above, the primary benefit of hard tags is the protection they provide against damage to the inlay or chip. This allows them to work perfectly in harsh environments. These tags are good for applications in industries like:

(A). Automobile Manufacturing, to keep track of the items on the production and assembly line.

(B). Construction Sites, to monitor and maintain inventory of tools and equipment.

(C). Vehicle Windshield Tag for automating access control for private/commercial parking.

Conclusion

These tags are essential to allow effective AIDC implementation in industries with harsh environments. Their hard outer cover can be made of ABS or Other Plastics, protecting the inlay from any outside damage. They are also water-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures. Hard tags come with multiple mounting options like Screws, Rivers, Welding, Adhesive, etc.