RFID Smart labels using Alien, Avery and Rafsec RFID inlays

SmartTrak RFID Labels

Weber Marking Systems is applying its expertise as a leading manufacturer and supplier of pressure-sensitive labels to provide the finest in radio frequency identification (RFID) smart labels.

The Process
Weber is an expert at manufacturing labels. We use the latest high-speed flexographic presses to produce rolls of blank and printed pressure-sensitive labels and tags.

Our innovative method of inserting the RFID inlays fits seamlessly within that conversion process. And because we manufacture the RFID smart labels ourselves, we’re able to offer RFID media that will maximize performance and minimize costs.

RFID inlay manufacturers and labeling systems

All SmartTrak RFID labels are produced using fully tested RFID inlays from trusted sources like Avery Dennison, Alien Technology, and UPM Rafsec. Every label is certified and verified to be the highest in quality.

The Expertise
Weber is a full-service, ISO 9001:2000-registered labeling company. We do more than convert label material. We also are expert at recommending the right face stock and adhesive combination for a specific application.

Our facestock materials are available in thermal-transfer and direct thermal papers, film and other synthetic substrates – all of which can be provided in custom shapes and sizes – along with high- or low-tack adhesives. These are important considerations that can contribute to the overall success of an RFID smart label program.

Also critical is the selection of the optimum RFID inlay. We can help you determine which inlay will deliver the best performance for the intended application. And we’ll guarantee its performance.

The Technology

RFID smart labeling is an emerging means of product identification that has been adopted by retailers and governmental agencies to track the movement of products throughout the supply chain.

A smart label is a pressure-sensitive label with an RFID transponder (inlay) embedded between the label face stock and its release liner. This RFID tag can be encoded with large amounts of variable information which can be gathered by an RFID reader. Unlike bar codes, RFID data can be accessed without the visibility of the tag itself, and multiple RFID smart labels can be read at the same time.

Various standards have been developed by EPCglobal Inc. to support the use of RFID in today’s data rich trading networks. Weber has the capability to supply RFID smart labels that will meet both established and emerging standards.

Case History
• Learn how a team approach and Weber RFID smart labels helped a DVD/CD distributor meet a challenging RFID initiative.

The Specifications
The specifications below outline a portion of the inlays available for SmartTrak RFID labels. We recommend consulting with your customer and a Weber account representative prior to acquisition.

EPC Class 1 Gen 2 96-Bit Read/Write Memory
Performance	Antenna	Inlay	Oper. Freq.	Min. Label Sizes
Standard: Designed for most packaging applications including products containing metal or water		Avery AD-222	Global	4" x 1"
		Alien Squiggle	Global	4" x 1"
		Rafsec Short Dipole	Global	4" x 1"
High-Gain: Designed for contents such as metal and water or for long read ranges		Avery AD-430	Global	4" x 2"
		Avery AD-612	Global	6" x 1.25"
		Alien M	Global	4” x 2”
		Rafsec DogBone	Global	4” x 2”
		Rafsec Twister	Global	4” x 2”
3-D Orientation: Designed for orientation-insensitive, high-volume labeling applications with a long read range		Avery AD-630	Global	4” x 4”
		Alien Omni-Squiggle	Global	3” x 3”
		Rafsec Frog	Global	3” x 3”
Item-Level: Designed for small items such as pharma bottles and garment tags		Avery AD-813 Pharma	Global	1.25” x 1.25”
		Avery AD-820/821 Apparel	U.S./Europe	3” x 2”
		Alien Mini-Squiggle	U.S.	2” x 1”
		Alien 1x1	U.S.	1.25” x 1.25”
		Alien 2x2	Global	2.25” x 2.25”
		Rafsec Mini Dipole	U.S./Europe/ Japan	1.25” x 1.25”
		Rafsec Web	Global	2” x 3”

Starter Kits
Weber Standard Performance SmartTrak RFID labels also are available in Starter Kits consisting of a small roll of smart labels and a thermal-transfer printer ribbon for pilot testing. Please contact your Weber account representative for details.

The Guarantee
Weber SmartTrak RFID labels are certified by the inlay manufacturer, inspected by Weber in order to isolate and remove bad tags, and re-verified after encoding using Weber smart label encoders, printer-encoders and application equipment.

We guarantee that 100 percent of Weber SmartTrak RFID labels have been thoroughly tested and verified.

The Systems
Weber provides a complete range of solutions that makes it easy to encode, verify and print RFID smart labels on site.

Our stand-alone RFID printers and on-line printer-applicators encode SmartTrak labels with data while simultaneously imprinting variable information like text and bar codes. We also supply built-in and auxiliary reject systems to identify and segregate any bad tags.

In addition, Weber’s exclusive Legitronic® Labeling Software now supports the encoding of SmartTrak RFID labels to meet existing EPC protocols and emerging Gen 2 specifications.

The Service Bureau
For companies that need to establish RFID labeling right away or are not ready to acquire equipment to encode smart labels themselves, we provide an answer.

The Weber Service Bureau is equipped with the latest RFID encoder-printers. These systems not only encode SmartTrak labels, they verify the results to ensure compliance and readability.

Our encoder-printers also imprint text and bar codes at a resolution of 203 or 300 dpi. We are able to ship encoded SmartTrak labels within 48 hours.

For more information on Weber SmartTrak RFID smart labels, please e-mail your local direct account representative or phone 1.800.843.4242.