Selectamark have been involved in the development of innovative RFID solutions for over 20 years based on the development of a software solution to give the customer the features that they require. Selectamark are able to offer custom software to suit a particular requirement.

RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. The acronym refers to small electronic devices that consist of a small chip and an antenna. The chip typically is capable of carrying 2,000 bytes of data or less. Unlike a barcode, the tag does not need to be within line of sight of the reader and may be embedded in the tracked object.

The RFID device serves the same purpose as a bar code or a magnetic strip on the back of a credit card or ATM card; it provides a unique identifier for that object. And, just as a bar code or magnetic strip must be scanned to get the information, the RFID device must be scanned to retrieve the identifying information.

The many uses for RFID technology include:

• Smart labels and security labels
• Product and inventory management
• RFID chips in car keys for security
• Theft control
• Placement on pharmaceuticals to prevent counterfeited drugs from entering the legal supply chain
• Increased efficiency in admissions into entertainment or sporting events
• Increased efficiency in toll road payments
• Monitoring the whereabouts of luggage, library books, livestock, etc.

Selectamark can offer the two main types of tag:-

Passive Tags which require no battery and are powered and read at short ranges via magnetic fields

Selectamark offer two basic types of Passive RFID tags. Flat label type tags which can be applied to many different items. The size of these labels being dictated by the size of the antenna, as in the picture below where the black rectangle in the middle is the chip and the area around the edge the antenna.

The second types are commonly referred to as glass tags in which the tag and antenna are encapsulated in a tube which is often the size of a grain of rice.

Active Tags which use a local power source and emit radio waves. The tag contains electronically stored information which can be read from up to several meters (yards) away.

Active RFID tags can again be supplied in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the volume that is required.

The size of the tag is largely dictated by the size of the power source or battery that is required.