Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are crucial tools in tracking and identification systems used in the retail and logistics industries. These tags help manage complex supply chains and ensure product integrity by allowing stakeholders to confirm that they are keeping the right stock.
Whether you use active, passive or semi-passive RFID tags depends on the specific demands of your operations, from inventory management to securing high-value items.
Understanding RFID Technology
RFID tags use radio waves to transmit data to readers, helping businesses manage inventory, improve security and streamline operations. They can be active or passive and come in different frequencies, including low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF).
The RAIN Alliance specifically oversees passive UHF RFID technology to ensure it complies with the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard — it does not regulate all RFID types. The RAIN RFID branding is used to simplify and differentiate UHF RFID from other forms of RFID technology, ensuring standardization and compatibility.
RFID tags can be read by any reader with a compatible protocol like ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and B. One of these tags can hold up to 64 bytes of data, depending on whether they are active or passive.
Types of RFID Tags
The different kinds of RFID tags vary based on how they power their signals, their communication range and the environments they are designed for. Depending on its application, each type offers unique advantages, whether for short-range scanning or long-distance tracking. Understanding these differences is key to selecting the right tag for your specific need.
Passive RFID Tags
Passive RFID tags consist of a microchip and antenna. The microchip stores data like product information or serial numbers while the antenna receives and transmits signals. These tags have no internal power source, such as a battery. Instead, they rely on energy from a nearby RFID reader to function. The electromagnetic energy from the RFID reader activates them.
When the reader emits a radio frequency signal, the passive tag’s antenna picks up the signal, converting it into energy. The energy powers the microchip to send the stored data back to the reader. This quick communication process takes place in milliseconds. The passive RFID tag range depends on antenna size and frequency. They often read from a few inches to about 30 feet, but specialized equipment can increase this distance.
Passive RFID tags are often used for:
- Inventory management
- Asset tracking
- Supply chain logistics
- Access control
- Equipment or patient tracking
Active RFID Tags
Active RFID tags have a built-in power source, usually a battery, that allows them to send out signals independently. They transmit signals at regular intervals to communicate with RFID readers. Depending on the frequency and environment, they can broadcast this signal over long distances, even hundreds of feet.
The signal includes data stored on the tag, like sensor information on humidity or temperature, location and identification numbers. The RFID reader picks up this signal and sends the information to a backend system, where it is processed and used to track inventory or monitor equipment.
Active RFID tags are often used for:
- Asset tracking
- Supply chain and logistics
- Cold chain monitoring
- Personnel tracking
- Vehicle and fleet management
Comparison Between Passive and Active RFID Tags
Whether you should choose passive or active RFID tags depends on your specific application needs, like data requirements and range. The fundamental comparison between these two devices looks like this:
| Passive RFID Tags | Active RFID Tags | |
| Power source | No internal power source. | Built-in battery. |
| Range | Short range. | Long range. |
| Cost | Simple design, making them cost-effective. |
Complex design that comes at a higher cost. |
| Life span | Long life span. | Life span limited by the battery. |
| Data storage | Store less data and have limited writable memory. |
More memory and advanced functionality. |
| Size and weight | Small and lightweight. | Larger and heavier. |
| Application environment | Common in retail inventory and access control. |
Common in asset tracking and supply chain management. |
Specialized RFID Tags
Specialized RFID tags are advanced tools for specific environments, applications or materials. They offer tailored solutions for businesses with more complex needs.
Semi-Passive RFID Tags
Combining the features of passive and active RFID tags, semi-passive tags use a battery to power their internal circuitry but rely on an external RFID reader to communicate. Characteristics include:
- Longer read range: The battery makes the tag’s chip more sensitive to signals from the reader, extending its range up to 100 feet, depending on the environment.
- Low power consumption: Semi-passive RFID tags use less power than active RFID tags, resulting in longer battery life.
- No internal transmitter: These tags don’t actively broadcast their own signal tags. They rely on energy from the reader’s signal to send data back.
RFID Tag Frequencies
LF tags are suitable for short-range scanning and can effectively read through liquids and metals. They transmit frequencies between 125 to 134 Kilohertz (KHz). They are often used for animal tracking, like pet microchips and access control.
HF RFID tags operate in the mid-range frequency of around 13.56 megahertz (MHz) and work well with items like smart cards and tickets. They can handle data-intensive operations and support the near-field communication (NFC) protocol, allowing easy integration with smartphones and other devices.
UHF RFID tags have the longest range and operate at high frequencies between 865 and 960 MHz, allowing for fast data transfers, which is essential in logistics and supply chain management. However, as these are more sensitive to interference from liquids and metals, you need specialized UHF tags that perform better around these materials.
RFID Tagging in Pharmaceuticals
In the pharmaceutical industry, RFID tagging helps with inventory management, preventing drug counterfeiting and ensuring product authenticity. Each RFID tag gets a unique identifier so that you can track individual bottles and packages across the supply chain. It also plays a role in product verification. Manufacturers use this technology to confirm that pharmacies have their products instead of products from counterfeit suppliers. It also helps send out real-time recalls quickly and efficiently.
In healthcare settings, hospitals use RFID systems to track their inventories, ensuring accurate records at all times. These tags can be attached to medical supplies, sewn into blankets and even affixed to gurneys.
Why Trust Us?
At CCL Healthcare, we understand the importance of keeping your products safe. Our goal is to consistently deliver high-quality pharmaceutical merchandise that prioritizes patient safety. We have ISO, cGMP and FSC certifications to give you peace of mind about the quality of the product you receive. This also gives us global leadership status in the healthcare packaging industry.
Our RFID inlays are converted and encoded into labels in one of our dedicated cGMP healthcare facilities, located worldwide. These labels undergo rigorous inspection systems, including a second redundancy inspection to ensure they are efficient and fully operational.
Partner With CCL Healthcare for Your Smart Packaging Needs
RFID tags have revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry’s approach to managing and tracking products. As these supply chains grow and become more complex with regulatory changes, RFID technology provides support that ensures compliance, efficiency and product safety.
CCL Healthcare is dedicated to enhancing patient well-being while minimizing overhead costs. With a global footprint spanning over 65 years, we cater to businesses of varying sizes with fully made-to-order options. Contact us today for RFID tag labels and more smart packaging solutions.
