This article was published on 4/20/2023 and updated on 8/4/2026
RFID insertion machines place RFID inlays into labels, tags, and tickets during the converting process. The inlay is the functional part of the RFID construction. It contains the antenna and chip that allow the finished label, tag, or ticket to communicate with an RFID reader.
RFID is used to identify and track products, assets, shipments, inventory, tickets, and other items via radio-frequency technology. Unlike barcode scanning, RFID does not require direct line-of-sight scanning, making it useful for applications that require faster identification and automated data capture.
RFID production requires accurate inlay placement, consistent registration with the print or finished format, and controlled movement through the rest of the converting process.
What Is an RFID Insertion Machine?
An RFID insertion machine is a type of converting equipment used to produce RFID-enabled labels, tags, and tickets. It inserts RFID inlays into web-based materials so the finished product can be used for identification, tracking, or data capture.
RFID insertion equipment may be used for apparel tags, logistics labels, asset-tracking labels, airline luggage tags, pharmaceutical labels, library labels, event tickets, transportation tickets, ski lift tickets, and other RFID applications.
Each job can have different requirements for material, inlay, print, registration, and finishing. That is why RFID insertion equipment is typically selected based on the production workflow, not only the finished product.
How RFID Inlay Insertion Works
During RFID inlay insertion, the web moves through the equipment while the RFID inlay is placed into the label, tag, or ticket construction. The process depends on the equipment configuration, the type of inlay, the material being converted, and the way the finished product will be delivered.
The basic requirements are straightforward. The web needs to move through the equipment in a controlled process. The inlay must be placed accurately. The finished construction needs to remain compatible with the next step in production, whether that involves die-cutting, slitting, rewinding, or roll-to-tag/ticket output.
Inline and offline RFID insertion equipment handle these requirements differently.
Inline RFID Insertion on a Flexo Press
Inline RFID insertion is used when converters want RFID inlay placement built into 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. This allows the converter to print, insert, and finish RFID products on a single connected press line, depending on the configuration of the press and equipment.
Tamarack’s MVW Inline RFID equipment is servo-driven and designed for dry inlay insertion, with wet inlay insertion also available. Operator-friendly controls, fast setup, and a simple web path support short runs, trials, and production work. Options include static elimination and reader, marker, and encoder integration.
For converters, inline RFID insertion can make sense when RFID production must remain connected to the press. Registration, lane count, inlay type, repeat size, and finishing requirements all affect how the system should be configured.
Offline RFID Insertion for Pre-Printed Webs
Offline RFID insertion is used when RFID inlay placement is handled separately from the press line. The Tamarack MVW Offline RFID Inlay Insertion Equipment is designed to insert RFID inlays into pre-printed webs.
This can be useful when printed material comes from different presses or when RFID insertion needs dedicated equipment time. The offline platform includes re-registration to help place the inlay in register with the print.
Tamarack’s MVW Offline RFID equipment can be configured for wet inlays, dry inlays, or both. It also supports multiple lanes for higher-volume production. Options include reader, marker, and encoder integration, multiple die-cut units in the finishing section, and roll-to-roll or roll-to-tag/ticket production.
The main difference is workflow. Inline insertion keeps the RFID inlay placement on the press. Offline insertion gives converters a separate platform for adding inlays to pre-printed material.
Encoding, Testing, and Finishing RFID Labels
Some RFID labels, tags, or tickets also need encoded data before they are delivered. RFID encoding writes data to the inlay, allowing the finished product to be identified when it is read. Encoding can be done inline on the MVW systems or as an independent process.
When an independent process is preferred, the Tamarack EZ RFID Encode provides a productive option. A roll of RFID labels, tickets, or tags is brought to the system, where the inlay can be encoded, tested, and locked if required. Labels that do not pass the testing protocol can be marked through communication with the reader/encoder and inkjet system. Additionally, variable data printing can be added to the EZ RFID Encode to allow the label to be printed with bar codes or variable printing which typically matches the data encoded into the chip. To assure matching data between the print data and chip data, a camera system is incorporated for a final verification.
After that, the roll can be slit if it is multi-lane and rewound into finished RFID-enabled labels.
Choosing the Right RFID Production Workflow
The right RFID equipment depends on how the converter prints, inserts, verifies, and finishes the product.
Inline RFID insertion is used when inlay placement needs to run as part of a flexo press workflow. Offline RFID insertion is used when inlays are inserted into pre-printed webs on a separate platform. RFID encoding and testing may be used when the finished label, tag, or ticket needs verified data before delivery.
Converters use the appropriate inlay insertion equipment for their workflow. Press capacity, job mix, inlay type, lane count, registration needs, finishing format, and encoding requirements all matter.
RFID Insertion Equipment for Labels, Tags, and Tickets
RFID production depends on more than selecting a standard machine. Web path, inlay type, registration, press integration, finishing format, encoding needs, and production volume all influence how the equipment should be configured. Tamarack® Products works with converters to develop RFID insertion and encoding equipment that fits the application, whether the workflow requires inline production on a flexo press, offline insertion for pre-printed webs, or a separate encoding and verification process.
Tamarack also provides custom web finishing equipment for converters with unique production requirements. With experience in web handling, modular equipment design, motion control, die cutting, patching, affixing, gluing, and RFID integration, Tamarack can customize equipment around the product, substrate, line layout, and workflow demands.
Tamarack® Products engineers RFID inlay insertion and encoding equipment for converters producing RFID labels, tags, and tickets. Tamarack provides inline, offline, encoding, and custom web finishing equipment designed to support accurate inlay placement, reliable web handling, and flexible production workflows. Contact Tamarack today to discuss RFID inlay insertion and encoding equipment for your production requirements.
