This article was originally published on 7/26/2023 and updated on 10/01/2026
RFID systems identify and track items using radio-frequency technology. The finished RFID label, tag, or ticket carries the inlay. A reader and antenna capture the chip information, and software connects that information to inventory, asset tracking, shipment verification, access control, or another business system.
For converters, the work starts with a finished RFID product that can be produced consistently. The inlay needs to be placed accurately within the construction, stay in register with the print or finished format, and move through finishing without creating avoidable handling or quality issues.
What Is an RFID System?
An RFID system includes the physical RFID product and the equipment used to read and manage its data. Most systems include an RFID label, tag, or ticket; an inlay with a chip and antenna; a reader and reader antenna; and a host system or software platform.
The converter’s production work centers on the label, tag, ticket, or specialty construction that carries the inlay. That construction must match the application, substrate, adhesive, print layout, finished format, and data requirements specified for the job.
RFID Tags, Labels, and Tickets
The finished RFID product can be constructed in several different ways. It may be a pressure-sensitive label, apparel tag, airline luggage tag, file label, event ticket, transportation ticket, card, or another converted format.
Different applications use different constructions. A logistics label, a pharmaceutical label, a ski lift ticket, an apparel tag, and an airline bag tag may require different face stocks, adhesives, inlay formats, print layouts, and finishing steps. Those details affect how the RFID product should be produced.
RFID Inlays and Tag Construction
The RFID inlay is the working RFID component inside the label, tag, or ticket. It contains the chip and antenna that allow the finished product to communicate with a reader. Inlays may be wet or dry, and they may be selected for UHF, HF, or NFC/HF applications based on how the finished product will be used.
Inlay placement is a production requirement. The inlay must be positioned relative to the print, repeat, die-cut, or final product format. This matters on jobs that require tight registration, multiple lanes, roll-to-roll output, or roll-to-tag/ticket production.
Inline RFID Label, Ticket, Tag Production
Inline RFID insertion is used when inlay placement runs as part of a flexo press workflow. The Tamarack MVW Inline RFID Inlay Insertion Equipment produces RFID labels, tickets, and tags in a single pass on a new or existing flexo press.
The system is typically installed after the press print stations and before the finishing section. Tamarack’s MVW Inline RFID equipment is servo-driven and designed for wet dry inlay insertion.
Offline RFID Label, Ticket, Tag Production
Offline RFID insertion is used when inlay placement is handled on a separate platform after printing. The Tamarack MVW Offline RFID Inlay Insertion Equipment inserts RFID inlays into pre-printed or blank webs and includes re-registration to help place the inlay in register with the print.
The offline system can be configured for wet inlays, dry inlays, or both. It supports multiple lanes for higher-volume production, with options including reader, marker, and encoder integration; multiple die-cut units in the finishing section; and roll-to-roll or roll-to-tag/ticket production.
Encoding and Testing RFID Tags
Some RFID labels, tags, and tickets need encoded data before delivery. Encoding writes the required information to the inlay so the finished product can identify the correct item when it is read.
The Tamarack EZ RFID Encode supports encoding, testing, and, if required, locking. Labels that do not pass the testing protocol can be marked by communicating with the reader/encoder and the inkjet system. The roll can then be slit, if multi-lane, and rewound into finished RFID-enabled labels. Variable Data Printing can also be added to the system to print a bar code with matching data to the encoded inlay chip.
RFID Tag Production Equipment for Converters
RFID tag systems depend on finished RFID products that fit the application and production workflow. Tamarack® Products works with converters to configure RFID insertion and encoding equipment for inline production, offline inlay insertion, and secondary encoding and verification. Tamarack also provides custom web finishing equipment for applications that require equipment customized around the product, substrate, line layout, or workflow demands.
Tamarack® Products engineers RFID insertion and encoding equipment for converters producing labels, tags, and tickets. Tamarack provides inline, offline, encoding, and custom equipment solutions designed to support accurate inlay placement, controlled web handling, and flexible production workflows. Contact Tamarack today to discuss RFID tag production equipment for your application requirements.
