As the label is one of the largest items in an RFID project, it is understandable that the specialist department and purchasing department want to fall back on the cheapest option. However, there is a pitfall lurking here: the cheapest solution can turn out to be the biggest cost driver in the coming years. If the label does not work properly, this leads to considerable additional costs during use: if even just two percent of the components or logistics containers have to be checked manually due to failures in automatic recording, this quickly results in additional costs that exceed the label price many times over. The effects are even more serious with returnable solutions if a larger percentage fails over the long term.

For more demanding or longer-term applications, it is therefore worthwhile relying on individually tailored RFID cable solutions that meet the respective requirements. The decisive factor is the coordination of material structure, chip and antenna. Schreiner Logidata shows what companies should consider when choosing an RFID solution:

UHF chip: duration of use and data security
There are huge differences in the quality of the chips. Some are produced very cheaply because they were only designed for a short, simple process cycle, such as for marking cartons in retail. They are not optimized for special applications such as regular washing.

If labels fitted with such chips are used over a longer period of time, failures are to be expected, leading to high testing and replacement costs. In addition, any sensitive data is not secure. In these cases, the use of a high-quality, albeit more expensive chip is absolutely appropriate and worthwhile.

Chip application: Consistency of quality
In chip mass production for very low-cost inlays, the contacting of chip to antenna does not always have the same quality in different batches. These fluctuations pose a major problem if the RFID labels have to reliably achieve a minimum read range during bulk detection in difficult environments. A label that only manages four meters instead of the required five, for example, is not suitable for the process because the container or components fitted with it are not detected. The unit has to be checked manually each time, which is time-consuming.

If the RFID labels are exposed to higher temperatures during the processing of their carrier unit, standard labels from mass production can no longer keep up. In this case, both the connection of the chip to the antenna and the base substrate must be adapted to the special requirements, otherwise the label may lose its functionality too soon.

Antenna: choosing the ideal version from the variety available
The choice of antenna design depends on the specific application, as there are considerable differences in the performance and range of the label with the same antenna size. For example, there are specialized antennas that achieve a consistently good read range from all angles. Although they are more expensive, they may be much more reliable in use. It is also important to adapt the antenna to the specific range requirement. This is because the greatest reading range is not always desirable: it can lead to overreaching and therefore countless false readings.

In order to select the ideal antenna for the application, a label expert with practical experience should work with the RFID system integrator to determine which inlay is best suited to the specific application.

Difficult substrates: A special label is essential
On some surfaces, only specialized RFID inlays work reliably. A normal RFID label cannot be read on metal, for example. An adapted inlay with an appropriately designed label, on the other hand, achieves high ranges.

On surfaces made of conductive materials, ESD and carbon, cheaper RFID standard labels are at least partially readable, but only at shorter ranges or at narrowly defined reading angles. In addition, they are often no longer functional even with the smallest changes in the material composition. By contrast, professional products that are tailored to the substrate achieve a multiple of the range and reading performance and react less sensitively to fluctuations in the material composition. as