RFID Journal Staff asked 10 years ago I own a laundry business and need some help picking out ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) tags that can withstand 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) and offer a read range of 5 meters (16.4 feet), as well as a portal and some software to run it all. Can you please help me with types and prices?
—Name withheld
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William Frick & Co. offers an RFID Wire Laundry Tag that I believe will meet your needs. The tag's specifications claim it will operate from -40 degree to +200 degrees Celsius (-328 degrees to +392 degrees Fahrenheit), while the read range should be around 5 meters (16.4 feet) on clothing.
Another option is HID Global's SlimFlex Laundry Tag, which can withstand operating temperatures of up to 85 degrees Celsius (185 degrees Fahrenheit) and peak temperatures of 230 degrees Celsius (446 degrees Fahrenheit). The read range is just under 3 meters (9.8 feet)
GAO RFID's Flexible and Durable UHF RFID Laundry Tag 116407 can withstand operating temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), but can survive 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to 10 seconds during ironing and up to 120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit) for ten minutes during drying. The read range, however, is only 200 centimeters (78.7 inches).
Fujitsu's WT-A522 UHF RFID Laundry Tag can operate at temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), with a reading distance of about 2 meters (6.6 feet).
As for software, you could probably purchase a generic RFID database application and tailor it to your needs, but InvoTech Systems, RFID Laundry Consultant and Towel Tracker are among the RFID providers that offer complete laundry solutions, including tags, readers and software. With a turnkey system, the hardware and software components work together, and the solution typically includes installation and training—and, in some cases, software updates and support services (see Coming Clean About RFID Laundry Systems).
—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal
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