How Can RFID Tags Be Embedded in Plastic?

Published: October 13, 2009

Which companies offer a process for embedding an RFID tag in plastic without first encapsulating the tag?

—Johnny, Singapore

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Dear Johnny,

I have not heard of any businesses that have a special process enabling them to embed a tag in plastic without fist encapsulating it.

Back in 2003, Rafsec (now UPM Raflatac) developed a high-frequency (HF) tag that could withstand the injection-molding process (see Rafsec Offers Embedded RFID Tags). Around the same time, Tagsys began offering a tiny HF tag designed to be embedded in products for authentication (see Tagsys Demos Smallest EPC Tag).

More recently, William Frick began offering a tag that could withstand high heat levels and, thus, the injection-molding process (see William Frick & Co.’s Gen 2 UHF Tags Take the Heat for Manufacturing Apps).

I would suggest that you contact these companies. Perhaps RFID Journal‘s readers know of other tags or a process that would allow tags to be embedded without special encapsulation.

—Mark Roberti, Editor, RFID Journal