What is a Blank UHF RFID Label?
A blank Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) label is an unprinted adhesive UHF RFID tag with a white face designed for thermal transfer or direct thermal printing. Blank UHF RFID labels are constructed by laminating a UHF RFID inlay—consisting of a microchip and antenna—between a printable white paper face and an adhesive layer. Some blank UHF RFID labels are Auburn RFID Lab Certification (ARC) certified, meeting Auburn University's performance and quality standards required by major retailers like Walmart and Nordstrom for item-level tagging in retail supply chains. Unlike on-metal UHF RFID labels, blank UHF RFID labels cannot function on metal surfaces without separation provided by foam or flag designs.
Blank UHF RFID labels are used without printing or are printed with basic black text, numbers, or barcodes. Retailers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and sports event timing companies can use thermal transfer or direct thermal printers to print them. Blank UHF RFID labels serve as proxies for the items or individuals to which they are attached in tracking and identification systems.
How to Choose a Blank UHF RFID Label
- Print Method: Choose thermal-transfer-compatible UHF RFID labels for durable black printing or direct thermal UHF RFID labels for on-demand printing without ribbons. Match your printer's specific printing method before ordering.
- ARC Certification: Select ARC certified UHF RFID labels for retail item-level tagging applications required by major retailers. ARC categories define specific performance requirements and construction standards to ensure readability throughout retail supply chains.
- Antenna Design and Size: UHF RFID performance depends on both antenna design and size. Different antenna patterns optimize for specific applications and environments. Larger antennas generally provide better read range.
- Availability: GoToTags stocks popular blank UHF RFID labels in common sizes and ARC specifications for immediate shipment with quantity-based pricing and no setup fees.
- UHF RFID Chip Type: Choose UHF RFID chips based on memory requirements. Impinj Monza R6 offers cost-effective serialization with no user memory. NXP UCODE 8 and Impinj Monza 4D provide moderate user memory for additional data storage.
Customizing a Blank UHF RFID Label
- Printing Options: GoToTags offers thermal transfer printing services for black text, barcodes, and serialization on in-stock or special order blank labels. Customers can print using their own compatible thermal transfer or direct thermal printers.
- Layout Customization: Custom layouts include perforations, sensor notches on the liner, and specific adhesive types. Most orders have short lead times of 1 to 1.5 weeks; fully customized constructions may require higher minimum order quantities (MOQs).
- Encoding: UHF RFID labels can be pre-encoded with specific Electronic Product Code (EPC), Tag Identifier (TID), or user memory data during purchase, or customers can self-encode using the GoToTags Desktop App.
Recommendations
- Most customers use thermal transfer UHF RFID labels due to better print durability.
- Use direct thermal UHF RFID labels only for short-term, non-archival applications.
- Test print compatibility with your specific printer model before ordering large quantities.
- Use ARC certified UHF RFID labels when tagging items for retail supply chains.
- Design systems with UHF RFID chip flexibility to accommodate the obsolescence of older chip models.
- Avoid using blank UHF RFID labels on metal surfaces without a spacer or foam layer.
