Due to intense competition and increased consumer demands manufacturing companies are searching for ways to streamline their processes and boost manufacturing efficiency. Radio frequency identification (RFID) has proven useful since it allows workers to quickly identify and track assets by location across the supply chain thanks to technology.
RFID readers can easily track everything nearby and provide information on assets with pinpoint accuracy, unlike barcode readers, which need a straight line of sight and can only deliver a limited amount of data. Keep on reading to find out more about RFID readers & how they can improve the efficiency of your workflow:
What is a uhf rfid reader?
A UHF RFID reader is a gadget that operates in the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) band, which is between 840 MHz and 960 MHz. Due to its broader read range than HF NFC readers, one reader can interact with multiple tags at once from distances of several tens of meters.
Types of RFID systems
Depending on the frequency spectrum they operate in (UHF), there are many types of RFIDs: including low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF / NFC), and ultra-high frequency,
RFID systems can be divided into two main groups: passive RFID and active RFID. Below is a brief look of various RFID systems:
RFID Frequencies
The term “frequency” describes the size of the wave that is utilized to connect the various parts of the system. Existing RFID systems can operate at low, high, or ultra-high frequencies. There are benefits and drawbacks to adopting certain bandwidths because radio waves behave differently at these frequencies.
1. RFID with low frequency (LF)
The LF band includes frequencies between 30 KHz and 300 KHz. Standard LF RFID systems operate at 125 or 134 KHz. With this frequency, the reading distance is just around 10 cm, and the reading speed is also low. It is incredibly resilient to outside disturbance.
2. RFID with high frequency (HF)
The HF frequency bands span from 3 to 30 MHz. The majority of 13.56 MHz RFID HF systems have reading ranges between 10 cm and 1 m. HF systems are moderately affected by interference.
3. RFID with Ultra high frequency (UHF)
UHF systems operate in the 300 MHz to 3 GHz frequency band. RAIN RFID systems adhere to the 860 to 960 MHz UHF Gen2 standard. The majority of them operate between 900 and 915 Mhz, but there are variations between the different regions.
How does a UHF RFID system work?
The RFID reader produces radio waves at a particular frequency Through RFID antenna. The waves “provide energy” to the tags, enabling them to exchange messages by emitting distinctive IDs. They don’t require batteries and have a long lifespan. The reader transforms the information so that we can use it in our application and give it significance. The typical reading span is 0 to 12 meters. Readers, antennas, printers, and RFID tags or labels are the components of Gen2 UHF RFID systems. Each of the key components for establishing an RFID project will be defined with a brief explanation in this post.
How RFID devices can improve efficiency and productive workflows?
RFID has made major advancements in providing accurate counts and improving inventory accuracy. RFID can quickly and efficiently gather a greater range of data as opposed to requiring manual inventory counts. You can conduct inventory counts quickly because no direct line of sight is needed.
You can monitor development by deploying RFID readers in strategic locations around your warehouse. This can increase manufacturing productivity while giving you real-time access to inventory levels, making it simple to keep an eye on stock levels and fend off shrinkage. If you need to track pricey containers, pallets, or even individual assets, this is helpful. You can see when products enter and depart your facility in real time.
