How is an RFID tag printed?
In an RFID implementation, the tag can be encoded, verified, printed and even applied to the box by one machine. The RF inlay adds a level of complexity to an otherwise fairly straightforward process. Both the microchip itself and the edges of the inlay cause “bumps” in the otherwise flat label surface. This can cause print distortion. Perhaps even more problematic, the RF environment inside each RFID printer is different. Printer and inlay manufacturers are hard at work within EPCglobal to develop standards to address this. However, for now, the differences between the inner cavity of the printer and the reader antenna location often require unique inlay orientation and placement for labels used on different printers. Also, spacing between smaller labels often needs to be increased to prevent more than one tag from being programmed at the same time. Stand-alone printers can try more than once to program a tag. However, a printer/applicator must keep up with cartons moving along the co
