Smartrac Technology Group, a global market provider in RFID products and IoT solutions, today announced the launch of its SKYLINE inlays and tags for industrial on-metal applications. With their optimized antenna and sophisticated spacer-based design, the new, compact RAIN RFID (UHF) products offer an outstanding read range of up to 6 meters under real-world conditions.

For SKYLINE, Smartrac developed a customized UHF inlay based on NXP’s UCODE 7xm IC with 448-bit EPC memory and extended user memory of 2 Kbits. The resulting transponder is then folded and applied around a synthetic spacer developed and provided by identytag of Bad Berleburg, Germany. identytag is one of Smartrac’s long-term converting partners and is also involved in the initial manufacturing process. The advanced antenna design, the IC’s long read range and reliable operation in dense reader and noisy environments through high interference rejection, as well as an optimized spacer material result in a high-quality product with an on-metal read range that previously seemed unattainable for a tag as compact as SKYLINE (die-cut size 54 x 25 x 1,8 mm).

Ideally suitable for demanding component tracking applications

For product convenience and robustness, the inlay is permanently attached to the spacer, and a layer of strong and resilient RA-33 adhesive is applied, providing excellent adhesion to a wide array of surfaces. As a finished tag, SKYLINE’s surface is printable with TTR printers.

With its compact size, outstanding read range and high number of possible applications, the new RAIN RFID product is a superior solution for tracking metallic assets, items and components in industrial environments such as automotive, mechanical engineering and aviation. Smartrac’s SKYLINE inlays and tags are fully compliant with VDA recommendations for the automotive industry and supported by the leading automation companies globally.

“With its unique combination of long on-metal read range and compact size, the new SKYLINE inlays and tags underscore our position as the leading RFID provider for demanding application areas such as those in the automotive industry. SKYLINE also highlights the potential of strong market partnerships, evidenced by the know-how and strengths we have been able to combine within this new product, together with identytag and NXP, all for the benefit of our customers globally,” said Patrick Eichstaedt, Vice President Sales EMEA at Smartrac.

Smartrac and identytag completed initial product volumes and will be ramping up production in the second half of the year 2019.