On-metal RFID tags
Standard RFID tags fail on metal. The surface detunes the antenna and the read simply disappears, usually discovered after the tags are already applied.
Contents
On-metal RFID tags manufactured in Nairobi
Standard RFID tags fail on metal. The surface detunes the antenna and the read simply disappears, usually discovered after the tags are already applied.
On-metal tags are engineered with a spacer layer that separates the antenna from the surface, so they work mounted directly onto servers, machinery, vehicles, cabinets and plant.
We test read performance on your actual surfaces before a production order, because the same tag behaves differently on a steel cabinet and an aluminium housing.
Product and application photos
Technical specifications
| 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 |
What goes on every tag
Included as standard
- Your logo, printed in full colour at no surcharge
- A unique sequential asset number
- A machine-readable barcode or QR code
- Your organisation name
Optional additions
- Department or cost-centre code
- A “Property of …” line
- Location or building code
- Return-if-found instruction
Sizes available
This product is quotation-only because specification, quantity and fixing materially change the price. Configure it below and we respond within 4 working hours. Minimum order 100 pieces.
| 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 |
Prices are estimates and may vary with quantity, artwork complexity, coding and finishing. Minimum order 100 pieces. All prices exclude VAT at 16%. Full-colour logo printing is included at no extra charge.
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Live order total
Quotation on request
We respond within 4 working hours.
Prices are estimates and may vary with quantity, artwork complexity, coding and finishing. Minimum order 100 pieces. All prices exclude VAT at 16%. Full-colour logo printing is included at no extra charge.
All prices shown are for cash upfront orders and exclude VAT.
Where it works, where it doesn't
Where it works
- Server racks and IT cabinets
- Machinery and control panels
- Vehicles and mobile plant
- Steel cabinets and lockers
- Tool and equipment stores
- Metal-heavy industrial sites
Where it doesn't
- Non-metal assets where standard RFID is cheaper
- Small populations that barcode tags handle
- Projects with no RFID reader budget
On-metal RFID vs standard RFID
| 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 |
In use on real assets
Questions about on-metal RFID tags
What makes an on-metal tag different from a standard RFID tag?
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.
We already bought RFID tags and they do not read on our machines. Can you help?
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.
request a specification reviewHow much read range do you lose on metal?
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.
Are on-metal tags thicker than normal RFID tags?
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.
Can they be fixed with adhesive or do they need rivets?
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.
compare riveted asset tagsWhat assets need on-metal tags?
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.
compare standard RFID asset tagsDo they survive a workshop environment?
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.
Can we read a whole racking bay at once?
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.
Are they worth it for a small workshop?
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.
Can we mix on-metal and standard RFID tags in one system?
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.
Need another answer? Browse the complete asset tag FAQ.
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ExploreReady to order on-metal RFID tags?
Send us your quantity, size and asset list. We respond to quotation requests within 4 working hours.