RFID Printers

RFID Printers can be used to print and encode RFID smart labels and hang tags. The printers are thermal/thermal transfer or laser printers allowing the labels to be printed and RFID encoded singularly as the labels exit the printer. These printers are normally used in supply chain applications but also find a place in systems tracking returnable containers.

The most common RFID printer application involves printing and encoding smart labels for corrugated cartons or hang tags for item tags. The printers have an RFID reader and very short range antenna embedded within their enclosure. This RFID reader performs the write process to the RFID chip to encode the smart label with the correct information. Processes are built into the RFID printing module to ensure that each smart label is encoded correctly. RFID smart labels that fail this process are marked with a "void" pattern to indicate failure and the print retries on the next smart label in the roll.