Question 1

What makes an on-metal tag different from a standard RFID tag?

Accepted Answer

A spacer layer between the antenna and the mounting surface, plus an antenna designed to work with the metal rather than against it. A standard tag mounted on steel effectively stops working. An on-metal tag mounted on the same steel reads at its rated distance.

Question 2

We already bought RFID tags and they do not read on our machines. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

That is the single most common RFID problem and it is not something you did wrong, it is what happens when a supplier sells a general-purpose tag for a metal application. On-metal tags will solve it. Send us photographs of the mounting positions and we will specify.

Question 3

How much read range do you lose on metal?

Accepted Answer

With an on-metal tag, less than you would expect, typically a modest reduction against free-air performance. With a standard tag on metal, you lose effectively all of it. We quote a tested range for the specific tag, reader and surface combination.

Question 4

Are on-metal tags thicker than normal RFID tags?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because the spacer is what makes them work. This matters for placement: you need a position where a slightly raised tag will not be knocked, caught or interfere with a moving part. We advise on placement with the quotation.

Question 5

Can they be fixed with adhesive or do they need rivets?

Accepted Answer

Both options exist. On clean housings, industrial adhesive works. On oily, vibrating or wash-down equipment we would specify a mechanically fixed version, for the same reasons that riveted tags exist.

Question 6

What assets need on-metal tags?

Accepted Answer

Anything where the tag sits directly on metal: machinery, server racks, steel racking, vehicles, generators, tool chests, metal cabinets and filing units. If there is a non-metal part of the asset in a sensible position, a standard tag there is cheaper.

Question 7

Do they survive a workshop environment?

Accepted Answer

The versions we supply for industrial use are sealed and rated for it. Tell us the specific exposure, oil, solvent, wash-down, temperature, and we will quote a tag rated for that rather than a general-purpose one.

Question 8

Can we read a whole racking bay at once?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, and this is where on-metal tags earn their cost in a warehouse. A gate or handheld sweep reads a bay or a loaded trailer without anyone climbing on it. Read reliability depends on tag placement, so plan positions before you fix a thousand tags.

Question 9

Are they worth it for a small workshop?

Accepted Answer

Probably not. If you have a few hundred machines in one building and count them annually, riveted barcode tags will cost far less and take a morning. On-metal RFID makes sense at scale or where equipment moves in and out constantly.

Question 10

Can we mix on-metal and standard RFID tags in one system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. They are read by the same reader and produce the same asset numbers. We routinely specify on-metal for machinery and standard RFID for furniture and non-metal equipment within a single project.

Tag type	From	Best for
Aluminium Barcode	KSh 50excl. VAT	general assets
Aluminium QR Code	KSh 55excl. VAT	QR workflows
Acetone-Activated	KSh 60excl. VAT	permanent bonds
Tamper-Evident	KSh 55excl. VAT	tamper evidence
Polyester / Vinyl Barcode	KSh 35excl. VAT	indoor assets

Up to 200	Same-day production
Up to 1,000	2 working days
Up to 5,000	3–5 working days
Over 5,000	Confirmed on quotation

Specification	Details
Technology	UHF RFID with on-metal spacer construction
Mounting	Directly onto metal, adhesive or mechanical fixing
Read range	Confirmed by testing on your surfaces
Encoding	Unique EPC per asset, optional printed barcode or QR
Environment	Industrial, indoor and outdoor options
Minimum order	Confirmed per project

Size	Best for	Price per tag
39 × 13 mmAnchor price	Compact, laptops, small electronics, instruments	Quotation on request
50 × 20 mm	Most popular, general fixed assets	Quotation on request
50 × 30 mm	Larger barcode, easier scanning at distance	Quotation on request
35 × 35 mm	Square, best for QR codes	Quotation on request
60 × 30 mm	Maximum data, logo and text	Quotation on request

	On-metal RFID	Standard RFID
Mounted on metal	Reads reliably	Read collapses
Construction	Spacer layer and tuned antenna	Flat inlay
Price	Quotation on request, higher than standard	Quotation on request
Thickness	Thicker, more visible	Thin and discreet
Best for	Servers, plant, vehicles, cabinets	Furniture, plastics, cartons

On-metal RFID tags