RFID

Our knowledge of both industry and technology allows us to provide our customers with effective solutions. We offer off-the-shelf products as well as modifications and completely new solutions.

RFID solutions may not be appropriate for every situation. It is very important to do a complete study of needs, end-goals and Return on Investment (ROI) before taking on an RFID solution.

Hardware and tags costs are much higher than barcode equipment costs. Implementation can take longer and is also expensive. RFID tags are still very limited in size and are several times more expensive than barcode labels. In some cases where RFID is a requirement a combination of both RFID and Barcode technologies may be the best solution.

We have compiled a short summary of the main features of RFID Standards, Barcode Standards and the differences between them.

Using TPGTEX for your RFID smart labeling needs enables you to conform to RFID standards such as the Electronic Product Code (EPC), Department of Defense (DOD), Gen 2 standards, RFID patient identification and more.

Call us at 713-726-9636 to discuss your needs.

RF tag support

  • 64 and 96 UHF tag support
  • UHF support for Class 0, Class 0+, Class 1, UCODE and ISO 18000-6B
  • Gen 2 RFID Standards
  • HF support for Phillips I-Code, TI Tag-it, My-d, Pico Tag and ISO 15693
  • Configurable RFID Interface for creating any tag structure

    • Encoding Wizard Compliance

    64 bit: DoD-64 | SGTIN-64 | SSCC-64 | SGLN-64 | GRAI-64 | GIAI-64 96 bit: DoD-96 | SGTIN-96 | SSCC-96 | SGLN-96 | GRAI-96 | GIAI-96 | GID-96

    Custom Encoding:

    INI file configuration enables you to create a wizard for custom encoding of the tag structure.

    Industry Standard and Compliance Support

    Electronic Product Code (EPC), DoD UID, EAN.UCC 128, FACT, Transfer Syntax, HIBC, AIAG, ODETTE, GM1724, and more.

    RFID Printer Support

    Avery, Cognitive, Datamax, Imaje, Intermec, Novexx, Printronix, Sato, and Zebra.

    Database Connectivity Support

    Connection to text (ASCII) files, Access, dBase, Excel, Fox Pro, Paradox, Oracle, MS SQL Server, AS/400 and many other database through different connection providers connection provider ( OLE DB, ODBC support, SQL Links).

    Support for custom

    SQL scripting and multilingual, UNICODE database information.

    Barcode Support

    EAN-13, EAN-14, Dun-14, UPC Case Code, EAN-8, Upc-A, Upc-E, EAN/UPC bar codes with supplements, Interleaved 2 of 5, Code-39 (normal, full ASCII, Tri Optic), Code-93, Code128 (A, B, C), Postnet (32, 37, 52, 62), Codabar,Bookland, MSI, Pharmacode, Plessy, Anker, RSS (linear and composite), SSCC, EAN.UCC 128, ITF 14, ITF 16, Kix,InfoGlyph, PDF-417, DataMatrix, MaxiCode, Aztec, QR, Micro-QR, Codablock F, 2-D Pharmacode, MicroPDF.

    Multi-Lingual Support (Full UNICODE compliance)

    Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Slovenian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Ukrainian and more.

    Solutions

    The following is a very short summary of the differences between barcode and RFID

    RFID

    RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification.

    Small electronic devices that consist of a small chip and an antenna. The chip typically is capable of carrying 2,000 bytes of data or less.

    It provides a unique identifier for that object. And, just as a bar code or magnetic strip must be scanned to get the information, the RFID device must be scanned to retrieve the identifying information.

    Bar Codes

    A machine-readable representation of information

    When a manufacturer packs a box with any given item, a Unique Indentifying Number (UID) can be assigned to the box.

    A relational database can be created to relate the UID to relevant information about the box; such as order number, items packed, quantity packed, final destination, etc

    The information can be transmitted through a communication system such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) so the retailer has the information about a shipment before it arrives.

    Tracking results when shipments are sent to a Distribution Center (DC) before being forwarded to the final destination.

    When the shipment gets to the final destination, the UID gets scanned, and the store knows where the order came from, what's inside the box, and how much to pay the manufacturer.

    RFID combines all the advantages of Bar Codes with the additional advantages of:

    Barcode readers require a direct line of sight to the printed barcode; RFID readers do not require a direct line of sight to either active RFID tags or passive RFID tags.

    RFID tags can be read at much greater distances; an RFID reader can pull information from a tag at distances up to 300 feet. The range to read a barcode is much less, typically no more than fifteen feet.

    RFID readers can interrogate, or read, RFID tags much faster; read rates of forty or more tags per second are possible. Reading barcodes is much more time-consuming; due to the fact that a direct line of sight is required, if the items are not properly oriented to the reader it may take seconds to read an individual tag. Barcode readers usually take a half-second or more to successfully complete a read.

    Line of sight requirements also limit the ruggedness of barcodes as well as the reusability of barcodes. (Since line of sight is required for barcodes, the printed barcode must be exposed on the outside of the product, where it is subject to greater wear and tear.) RFID tags are typically more rugged, since the electronic components are better protected in a plastic cover. RFID tags can also be implanted within the product itself, guaranteeing greater ruggedness and reusability.

    Barcodes have no read/write capability; that is, you cannot add to the information written on a printed barcode. RFID tags, however, can be read/write devices; the RFID reader can communicate with the tag, and alter as much of the information as the tag design will allow.