RFID FOR INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

RFID technology

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or RFID technology, is a technology that allows objects to be uniquely identified by radio waves and can capture hundreds of objects at a time.

Depending on the frequency band RFID technology can be:

UHF (Ultra High Frequency)

This technology is used for long range readings, as the frequency range is much larger. Normally, logistics processes are managed by this technology.

HF (High Frequency)

It is used for closer readings. It is used in production and retail environments and people identification.

In turn, RFID chips can be active (with an additional battery) or passive (without an additional battery).

RFID reading

Unlike barcode technology, where reading is done by direct capture with an image or laser reading, RFID uses a radio frequency signal to capture the information contained in RFID tags. RFID is a very useful technology in those environments where there is no direct vision with the material, merchandise or person and at the same time many simultaneous measurements need to be made.

RFID has many applications in the world of logistics, where it helps us to trace and locate items in real time, in the world of retail, where it significantly reduces reading times and errors and allows inventories with accuracies of 99% or even in healthcare environments where we can trace patients and assets continuously.

A typical RFID solution will consist of 2 elements: an RFID reader together with an antenna, a printer with RFID tag encoding capability.

Advantages of using RFID technology for your business

optimizes enterprise traceability

By identifying products, equipment and people, each of the steps involved in any process can be traced.

reduction of operating costs

Compared to a traditional barcode scanning system, the time and therefore the cost is massively reduced.

control of your supply chain

Being able to take automatic readings throughout the supply chain improves supply chain management and control.

increase in retail sales

Increasing the accuracy of in-store inventory allows the number of items of the same item to be reduced, increasing the number of different products offered.

Millions of businesses benefit from RFID Technology

RFID has many applications in the logistics world where it helps us to trace and locate items in real time, in the retail world where it significantly reduces reading times and errors and allows inventories with accuracies of 99% or even in healthcare environments where we can trace patients and assets on a continuous basis.

Device Types

Fixed RFID Readers

Fixed RFID readers consisting of a reader and several antennas connected to it. They are used more in environments where the objective is to trace elements or people, such as in a warehouse, a factory or a hospital.

Mobile RFID Readers

Mobile RFID readers are usually mounted next to a mobile computer with which it is integrated or to which it is connected either directly or via Bluetooth. These readers have the antenna integrated in the device itself. A typical application of these devices is for inventory taking in stores, replacing the tedious operation of reading barcode labels one by one and drastically increasing the accuracy of the readings.

RFID printers

1) RFID printers are similar to bar code printers. The operation is similar, the label is printed and the chip is programmed, being able to verify that the coding has been correct and thus avoid errors. These tags will later be used to identify assets or products in the chain or even print bracelets for patient identification in a hospital. Like label printers, RFID printers can be industrial printers for harsh and demanding environments, desktop printers that are easy to operate and useful for printing low to medium volumes of labels, or portable printers that increase productivity by printing at the point of use.

Differential characteristics of RFID Technology

Mass reading without the need for visual capture

The application of RFID technology offers the opportunity to perform mass readings in very large reading fields, the beach of a warehouse, for example. It is able to perform an infinite number of readings constantly.

The great differentiating feature is the possibility of performing readings without the need to have a visual field on the product, element or person to be identified.

Information storage capacity

Working with different chips offers the possibility to store as much information as needed. Only the working environment at the time of reading and the throughput speed will define the volume of information to be managed.

Reusability

Especially for asset management and traceability, it is extremely useful to be able to incorporate new information into the RFID tag. Indeed, the RFID chip has its own identification, so when it is necessary to reuse the item to be identified, it is possible to add new useful information to it.

Fully automated systems

During the projects it is necessary to confirm and validate the integration with corporate systems, but also the interface with the user so that it becomes a highly effective tool.

Multiple applications

The high readability offers the option of applying different business rules or processes at the same time. In other words, with the same implemented technology it is possible to carry out several intertwined processes.