How to choose a Metal-mount RFID Tags

How to choose a Metal-mount RFID Tags

Here are some key points and steps for selecting a Metal-mount RFID Tags suitable for your application scenario:
I. Clarify the needs and limiting factors of the application scenario

1. Environmental conditions
   o Temperature: If it is in a high-temperature environment such as steel smelting, etc., you need to choose types that can withstand high temperatures, such as ceramic metal-resistant tags, high-temperature resistant PCB metal-resistant tags, etc. For low-temperature environments, consider the low-temperature resistance of the tag material to ensure that the adhesive backing is not affected.
   o Humidity: For long-term high humidity or underwater environments (such as underwater metal equipment monitoring), tags with strong waterproof performance are needed, such as well-sealed metal-resistant tags.
   o Chemical corrosion: In scenarios with corrosive substances such as chemical industry, ceramic metal-resistant tags with strong corrosion resistance are more suitable.
2. Metal type and surface condition
   o Metal material: Different metals have different degrees of reflection interference with signals. Generally, metal-resistant tags are needed, but if it is some metals that have relatively little signal interference, the requirements for the metal resistance performance of the tag may be appropriately relaxed.
   | Surface flatness: Most flat surfaces can be well fitted with metal-resistant tags; if it is a curved surface, irregular curved surface (such as pipes, engine cylinder bodies, etc.), flexible metal-resistant tags are a better choice.
3. Installation method
   o Permanent fixation: If it needs to be permanently fixed on a metal object and is not easy to disassemble, you can choose the corresponding tag type for methods such as epoxy adhesive (such as industrial equipment), welding (such as large metal components), screw fixing (mechanical with reserved card slots), etc.
   o Temporary or replaceable: Adhesive metal-resistant tags (pay attention to adhesion and removability), etc.
4. Reading distance and direction requirements
   o Reading distance: If long-distance reading is required (such as inventory of metal goods in large warehouses), you need to choose metal-resistant tags with stronger performance and larger size (usually), as well as readers with corresponding larger power and suitable antennas.
   o Reading direction: If it is an all-round reading requirement, the tag antenna design should be reasonable; if it is a fixed direction reading, you can optimize the tag installation position and antenna pointing according to the direction.
5. Asset and item management needs
   o Asset tracking: Such as tracking the location of metal containers, pallets, etc. in logistics, stable and durable metal-resistant tags are needed.
   o Inventory management: For inventorying goods on metal shelves, etc., tags may need to be convenient for batch reading, etc.
   II. Understand the characteristics of different types of metal-resistant tags
6. PCB Metal-mount RFID Tags
   o Advantages: The performance is relatively stable, it can be directly attached to the metal surface, and the cost varies (FR-4 material is cheaper and has high temperature resistance up to 200°C).
   o Disadvantages: The size is relatively fixed and not very suitable for some special shaped surfaces.
7. Ceramic Metal-mount RFID Tags
   o Advantages: Corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance is outstanding, can work stably in harsh environments.
   o Disadvantages: The price is slightly more expensive than the general ones, and it is relatively fragile and needs attention to avoid collision damage during installation.
8. Flexible Metal-mount RFID Tags
   o Advantages: It can be bent and folded, suitable for curved metal objects, with good directionality and long reading distance.
   o Disadvantages: Long-term exposure to harsh environments may age and affect performance.
9. Dropping glue metal-resistant tag
   o Advantages: The cost is relatively low and has a certain waterproofness.
   o Disadvantages: The reading distance is limited and not very suitable for long-distance reading scenarios.
10. ABS Metal-mount RFID Tags
    o Advantages: Made of engineering plastics with a certain strength, sun protection, waterproof, high temperature resistance, commonly used in logistics pallets, etc.
    o Disadvantages: Compared with other special metal-resistant tags, the performance is slightly inferior.
    III. Actual testing and verification
11. Small-scale test
    o Select several possible suitable metal-resistant tags and paste or fix them on metal objects in the actual scene.
    o Use the corresponding reader for reading tests to check whether the reading distance, stability, and reading direction meet the requirements.
12. Cost and benefit assessment
    o Comprehensive consideration of tag price, installation cost, maintenance cost, as well as management efficiency improvement, economic benefits, etc.
13. Supplier assessment
    o The supplier’s technical strength, product quality stability, after-sales service capability, etc. are also important factors.
    o You can refer to the application cases of the same type of scenario provided by the supplier.
    IV. Other factors
14. Regulations and standards
    o For some special industries (such as aerospace, medical, etc.), tags may need to meet specific regulatory and standard requirements.
15. Budget
    o Balance performance and budget, not necessarily the most expensive is the best, choose a cost-effective solution reasonably.
16. Future scalability
    o Consider whether the tag can still meet the possible increased needs or new application scenarios after business development in the future.