What is an FPC NFC Tag?
A Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) NFC tag is a compact Near Field Communication (NFC) tag built on flexible circuit substrate, designed primarily for embedding in electronics and small devices where space is limited. FPC NFC tags use copper-etched antennas on polyimide film, enabling tighter antenna geometries and improved mechanical durability compared to standard aluminum-on-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) NFC inlays. This construction allows for compact NFC tag sizes while maintaining stable read performance compared to aluminum antennas of similar dimensions. Unlike NFC stickers that prioritize printability and surface application, FPC NFC tags are slightly thicker, not printable, and optimized for embedding rather than surface labeling.
FPC NFC tags are used by manufacturers and engineers for embedded applications in electronics, appliances, and compact products where space constraints require very small form factors. They serve as embedded proxies for product authentication, asset tracking, maintenance records, and device identification in industrial manufacturing environments.
How to Choose an FPC NFC Tag
- Tag Dimensions and Shape: FPC NFC tags range from 5 × 5 mm up to 23 mm diameter circles. Available shapes include circular, square, and narrow rectangular designs. Smaller sizes are easier to embed but offer shorter read range due to reduced antenna area.
- Adhesive and Ferrite Options: All stocked FPC NFC tags include adhesive backing for easy temporary attachment during prototyping. Ferrite-backed versions enable operation on or near metal surfaces. NFC tags can be used with or without the adhesive layer depending on integration requirements.
- Availability: GoToTags stocks adhesive-backed FPC NFC tags with and without ferrite, primarily using NTAG213 chips. These inventory tags are intended for sampling, testing, and prototyping. Special orders are available for alternative chip types, sizes, or no-adhesive variants with 2 to 3 week lead times.
- NFC Chip Type: NTAG213 is standard for general applications. NTAG216 provides higher memory for applications needing multiple NDEF records. NTAG 424 DNA is rarely used due to size and cost constraints.
Customizing an FPC NFC Tag
- Custom Constructions: FPC NFC tags cannot be customized in shape or printed directly. They do not support surface printing or visual branding. However, they can be incorporated into custom flexible products using synthetic PET or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) overlays on one or both sides. These constructions support basic thermal printing of black text, digits, and sometimes small QR codes or data matrix codes.
- Encoding: NFC tags can be pre-encoded by GoToTags or self-encoded later using the GoToTags Desktop App.
Recommendations
- Use adhesive-backed NFC tags for testing, even if the final product will use a non-adhesive version.
- Select a stocked size for faster delivery and lower cost.
- Avoid using FPC NFC tags in wet environments or directly on metal surfaces unless a ferrite-backed version is selected or the NFC tag is properly encapsulated.
- Use FPC NFC tags only when size or durability requirements rule out aluminum-based inlays.
