The Internet of Things and RFID technology are now used in all parts of manufacturing and everyday life. In the area of intelligent manufacturing, RFID tags are used to collect real-time production data and manage processes more efficiently. This has completely changed the traditional way of managing production. The special features of the intelligent manufacturing environment, such as metal interference, high-temperature oil pollution and high-speed processes, mean that RFID tags need to perform much better than those used in other applications. This includes things like the label’s material, size and sensitivity. It also means the label needs to be able to resist high temperatures, acid and alkali, and be able to be read and written many times without wearing out. This makes sure that production data can always be easily accessed.
When RFID technology was still being developed, it was hard to make the tags balance how well they worked and how small they were. This was because the technology used to make the antennas and chips was not very good. Tags are often designed to be quite big so that they can perform well and be stable. This can limit how they can be used. To make them smaller and more flexible, they often have to be less efficient. This problem of “one out of two” has stopped RFID technology from becoming more popular.
Now, with big improvements in microelectronics and antenna design, these long-standing problems have been solved. Modern RFID tags successfully find a balance between performance and size. This means they can reliably read and write data in a smaller form and meet the requirements of complex environments.
I will use RFID PCB tags as an example to explain the benefits of small PCB tags in automated manufacturing.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is concentrated in FR4 materials of only a few millimeters in size to create small size RFID PCB tags that are resistant to metals, high temperatures, chemicals, and have high read and write accuracy, perfect for complex production environments. These labels are changing how efficient and transparent smart manufacturing is, from automotive assembly lines to precision tool management.
The main benefits of small size RFID PCB tags are their compact design and their ability to adapt to the environment. These tags are usually only a few millimetres to a centimetre or two long. This makes them perfect for putting into tight spaces such as tools, fixtures, or circuit boards without affecting how the device works. They are available in FR4 or ceramic substrates and have IP68 protection, meaning they are completely dust and water resistant and stable in extreme conditions. For example, in the high-temperature welding workshop of automobile manufacturing, the label can withstand temperatures of up to 150°C, resist chemical solvents and oil, and ensure data integrity. What’s really important is that these tags have great anti-metal properties thanks to their built-in ferrite shielding layer. This means they can overcome the common signal interference problems of metal surfaces, even if attached to metal tools or engine parts. They can be read and written from distances of up to 1-5 metres, in accordance with ISO 18000-6C standards (UHF, 860-960 MHz). This high-precision reading and writing ability is especially important on complex production lines, accurately identifying each component and avoiding human error.
In intelligent manufacturing, small size RFID PCB tags can be used in many ways and are very efficient. For example, in tool lifecycle management, factories embed these tags for each precision wrench or drill bit to track usage and maintenance status in real time. These labels keep track of how each circuit board or component is being made. They do this from soldering to assembly traceability. This means they can avoid the problem of traditional bar codes failing due to high temperature or stain. In automated robot control scenarios, tags provide precise positioning data for the robot to guide the robot arm to grab a particular fixture or part. These applications benefit from the label’s high read/write accuracy and IP68 protection, ensuring reliability in dusty, wet or hot industrial environments.
The car industry is another big area where small size RFID PCB tags are used. In the management of transport vehicles that can be recycled, these labels are put on pallets or metal containers so that their movement through the supply chain can be tracked. The label can resist metal and high temperatures, so it keeps working even after being cleaned and sterilised a lot. Tags are put into engine parts when they are being made. They record information about the production lot and quality of each part. They can be read reliably even in hot or pressurised assembly environments. These tags are very precise and long-lasting, which makes them an important part of the automotive industry.
In the future, we will use small RFID PCB tags more and more. With more and more people using wearable devices and avionics, these tags will be able to be made smaller and able to resist high temperatures. This will mean they can be put into smaller smart devices for tracking and managing data. They make intelligent manufacturing more efficient and help companies make decisions based on data. If you want to introduce tracking solutions that are both efficient and reliable into production, small size RFID PCB tags are undoubtedly the best choice. Contact Guangdong Xinye Intelligent Label Co., Ltd. to find out more about custom RFID tags and get ready to take your automated manufacturing to the next level!
