Frequently Asked Questions on RFID & NFC Tags

An RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification) is a device consisting of a microchip and an antenna that enables automatic identification of objects via radio waves, without requiring line of sight or a battery (for passive tags, which are powered inductively by the reader's field).

There are three main families: LF (125–134 kHz) for animal identification and access control; HF/NFC (13.56 MHz) for payments, tickets and smart cards; UHF (860–960 MHz) for logistics, industry and retail where long-range reading is required.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a standard derived from HF RFID, operating at 13.56 MHz with a maximum range of 4–10 cm. All NFC tags are RFID, but not all RFID tags are NFC.

The practical distinction: UHF RFID covers distances up to 10–12 m and is ideal for bulk tracking (warehouses, gate portals, production lines). NFC is designed for individual bidirectional interactions, typically with smartphones, for authentication, proximity marketing and manual inspection.

The choice of frequency depends on the object's material, the required read distance and the operating environment. Dual frequency tags combine UHF and NFC in a single device.

In optimal conditions (tag in free air, reader at full power, high-gain antenna), a passive UHF RFID tag reaches 3–12 m.

Effective field range depends on: reader power (maximum 2 W ERP in Europe per ETSI EN 302 208), antenna type and gain, tag orientation relative to the antenna, presence of absorbing materials (metal, liquids), and ambient RF interference.

In industrial applications with moderate interference, a reliable 2–5 m range is a realistic target without specific antenna optimisation.

Yes — this is one of RFID's main advantages over barcodes. A UHF RFID reader can identify hundreds of tags in the field simultaneously thanks to the stochastic ALOHA anti-collision algorithm defined by the EPC Gen2 (ISO 18000-63) protocol.

Typical speeds: 200–800 tags per second in controlled conditions. At a warehouse gate portal, a full pallet with 50–100 items is inventoried in fractions of a second, without opening the packaging and without a dedicated operator.

Standard RFID tags do not work correctly on metal (the conductive surface disturbs the field and detunes the antenna) or near liquids (water absorbs UHF waves, drastically reducing range).

For metal applications, on-metal tags exist with foam or ferrite spacer layers that create the necessary dielectric separation. For liquids, special antenna designs with optimised radiation patterns are used. Our hard tags and RFID labels include solutions designed and tested for both cases — tell us about your specific application.

A passive RFID tag has no moving parts or battery, so the operational life of the chip is theoretically unlimited — typically declared as 10–20 years. The practical limit is the mechanical and chemical resistance of the physical housing (substrate, coating, tag body).

Our industrial hard tags are designed to withstand UV, chemical agents, pressure and temperatures from −40 °C to +260 °C (PEEK material), ensuring reliability for the entire service life of the tracked asset.

EPC (Electronic Product Code) is the encoding standard managed by GS1 for uniquely identifying objects via UHF RFID tags. The most common format is EPC-96 bit: a header + company Manager Number + product code + unique serial number.

It is compatible with ERP, WMS and management systems from all major vendors (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft). A consistent EPC scheme is fundamental for interoperability across the entire supply chain. Alternatively, proprietary codes are used when GS1 interoperability is not required.

An NFC tag is a label or insert with a microchip that stores data in NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format). When an NFC-enabled smartphone is brought close, the phone reads the NDEF record and can automatically open a URL, save a contact, launch an app or execute a custom action.

No dedicated app is needed for reading: the operating system (Android and iOS) handles the interaction natively. For writing, specific apps are required such as NFC Tools or NFC TagWriter by NXP.

Android: any smartphone with NFC enabled (Settings) can read and write NFC tags from version 4.0. Practically all mid-to-high-end Android devices from 2012 onwards.

iOS: from iPhone XS/XR with iOS 13+ it is possible to both read and write NFC tags. iPhone 7, 8 and X can only read with an app. iPhone 6 and earlier do not support NFC. Note: NFC writing requires at least iPhone XS or XR — it does not work on iPhone X.

Data is stored in NDEF records. The most useful formats are:

• URI — URL of a webpage (e.g. product page, maintenance form)
• Text — free text with language code
• vCard — business contact
• WiFi — network credentials for automatic connection
• Smart Poster — URL + title + image
• AAR — Android Application Record, opens an app directly

The amount of data depends on the chip: NTAG213 has 144 bytes of user memory, NTAG216 reaches 888 bytes. For standard URLs, NTAG213 is always sufficient.

All three are NXP chips from the NTAG2xx series, conforming to ISO 14443-A and NFC Forum Type 2. They differ primarily in user memory:

All support 32-bit password, NFC counter and originality signature. For most industrial applications, NTAG213 is sufficient.

There are three levels of increasing protection:

1. 32-bit password (PWD) — requires a passphrase to write; reading remains open
2. Lock bytes — locks individual memory pages as permanently read-only
3. Permalock — irreversible lock of the entire user memory

For industrial applications where the tag is written once at the factory (e.g. asset tagging), permalock ensures no end user can modify the data — at the cost of never being able to update the content in the field.

Standard NFC tags do not work directly on metal: the conductive surface disturbs the magnetic field at 13.56 MHz and prevents inductive coupling with the reader.

For on-metal applications, NFC tags with a ferrite substrate exist that electromagnetically isolate the chip from the metal surface. Our on-metal NFC hard tags integrate this layer and are tested on steel, aluminium and cast iron — ideal for industrial asset tracking, tooling, moulds and equipment.

RFID labels — flexible, with paper, PET or PE substrate. Designed to be adhesive-applied on flat surfaces in non-aggressive environments: retail, light logistics, pharmaceuticals. Low cost, large-volume production.

Hard tags — rigid, with a technical plastic housing (ABS, PA12, PEEK) or stainless steel. Designed to withstand impacts, vibrations, high temperatures, chemical agents, submersion and outdoor environments. Suitable for valuable assets requiring permanent identification for years or decades.

Wintag manufactures both types with UHF, NFC and dual frequency chips.

Dual Frequency tags combine in a single body both a UHF RFID inlay (860–960 MHz, long-range reading up to 10 m with an automatic portal) and an NFC HF chip (13.56 MHz, reading with a smartphone at a few centimetres).

They are the ideal solution when the tag must be read by both systems: for example in a warehouse (UHF portal for automatic inventory) and in the field by an operator (NFC with smartphone for manual inspection, maintenance or anti-counterfeiting verification).

The IP rating (Ingress Protection, IEC 60529 standard) describes the tag's resistance to solids and liquids:

Our hard tags are available up to IP69K for the most demanding applications.

Yes. Our industrial hard tags are available in different materials with different characteristics:

• ABS — up to 85 °C, good mechanical resistance, low cost
• Nylon PA12 — up to 120 °C, resistant to oils and fuels
• PEEK — up to 260 °C, ideal for autoclave, oil & gas, aggressive environments
• Stainless steel 316L — for severe chemical environments and extreme temperatures

For UV resistance, materials are stabilised with additives and tested for at least 1,000 hours per ISO 4892-3. The RFID chip remains functional as it is protected by the rigid housing.

UHF RFID: Impinj chips (Monza R6, M700, M800) and NXP UCODE 8/9 — compliant with EPC Gen2 / ISO 18000-63. Optimised for reading on metal and liquids.

NFC/HF: NXP NTAG213/215/216 (general use), NTAG424 DNA (secure authentication with AES-128 and SUN), MIFARE Ultralight C and DESFire EV3 (access and payments), ST25TV02K (automotive).

Chip selection is defined with the client during the design phase, based on memory, security, range and reader system requirements.

Yes, we offer free samples to evaluate the compatibility of our tags with your specific application. Simply describe briefly:

• The material of the object to be tracked (metal, plastic, liquid, fabric…)
• The operating environment (temperature, chemicals, humidity, outdoor…)
• The RFID system already in use or planned (reader, software, standard)

Our technical team will select the most suitable samples and send them to you with no order commitment. Request your free sample →

MOQ depends on the product type and required customisation level:

• Standard RFID labels: from 500 units
• Hard tags with colour or mechanical customisation: typically 200–500 units
• Test samples and evaluation prototypes: no MOQ

Contact us with the details of your project: we always try to find the most flexible solution, especially during the initial evaluation phase.

Yes, we offer a factory encoding service:

UHF RFID: we encode the EPC according to your schemes (SGTIN-96, SSCC-96, GIAI-96 or proprietary codes), with optional locking of TID or User memory to prevent field overwriting.

NFC tags: we write custom NDEF records (URL, text, vCard, etc.) and can apply password protection or permanent lock before delivery.

The service includes a full audit trail: report with every tag produced, EPC/UID assigned and functional test result.

Graphic: full-colour printing of company logo, linear or 2D barcode (QR/DataMatrix), progressive number, serial number, custom text, custom RAL colours.

Mechanical: through or blind fixing holes, slots, metal inserts for male/female threading, geometry adapted for mounting on specific parts of the asset to be tracked.

Materials: choice of housing material and surface coating based on the operating environment. Every customisation is verified with a prototype before series production.

• Evaluation samples: 5–10 business days
• First supply (prototype + small batch): 3–5 weeks
• Series orders on already developed items: 2–4 weeks

Times vary based on product complexity and chip availability on the market. We always communicate a confirmed delivery date before starting production.

Yes, an important part of our business is dedicated to system integrators and software houses looking for a reliable tag supplier to integrate into their client projects. We offer:

• Dedicated pricing for resale and long-term partnerships
• Technical support during the system design phase
• Tags tested on multiple market readers (Zebra, Impinj, Feig, HID, Chainway)
• Full technical documentation (datasheets, certifications, test reports)
• Free samples for integration testing

Contact us to explore a partnership →

The main sectors in which we operate:

• Waste management — bin and container tracking for waste collection
• Oil & gas — equipment and instrumentation identification in ATEX environments
• Fashion and luxury — garment traceability and anti-counterfeiting with NFC
• Logistics and warehouse — automatic inventory, gate portals, picking verification
• Industrial manufacturing — WIP tracking, mould and tool management
• Lifting equipment — EN 818-7 / EN 1677 regulatory compliance for inspection and maintenance
• Industrial laundry — tags rated to 160 °C for garment traceability through washing
• Food & beverage — HACCP compliance, traceability in jet-wash environments

In an RFID warehouse, every logistics unit (pallet, case, item) carries a UHF RFID tag. Fixed readers at gate portals automatically record movements in and out without a dedicated operator. Data is sent to the WMS in real time.

The advantage over barcode: no line of sight required, reading of dozens of items per second, automatic inventory with RFID handheld in minutes instead of hours. ROI is typically calculated on picking error reduction, elimination of manual stock counts and reduction of inventory discrepancies.

Yes, it is one of the flagship applications for our hard tags. The RFID tag is embedded in the lid or body of the bin or container. The collection vehicle is fitted with a UHF reader that automatically identifies every bin at the moment of collection, recording the timestamp, geolocation and weight.

The data feeds waste management software for pay-as-you-throw billing (PAYT/TARIP) and regulatory compliance. Our waste management hard tags are designed to withstand decades of outdoor use, high-pressure washing and extreme temperatures.

Yes. In the fashion and luxury sector, thin UHF RFID labels are sewn or heat-applied to garments to manage in-store inventory (EAS anti-theft + inventory in a single tag) and the supply chain.

For anti-counterfeiting in luxury goods, NFC tags with SUN Authentication are used (NTAG424 DNA chip): each interaction with the smartphone generates a unique cryptographically verifiable code on the server, impossible to clone. The end customer can verify product authenticity by holding their iPhone or Android near the tag.

GDPR applies only when RFID data directly or indirectly identifies a natural person. Tags used to track goods (bins, pallets, tools, products) do not fall within the GDPR scope.

When a tag is associated with a person (employee badge, medical wristband, access card), obligations of privacy notice, data minimisation and DPIA (where processing is high-risk) apply. Our tags support pseudonymisation techniques (separating the RFID ID from personal data in the database) to implement privacy-by-design.

Pricing depends on product type, quantity, chip and customisation level:

• Standard UHF RFID labels — from a few cents per unit at large volumes (10,000+)
• Industrial hard tags — typical range from €0.80 to €6 per tag depending on chip, material, mechanical complexity and finish

The best way to get an accurate price is to describe your project: we will reply with a personalised quote within 48 business hours.

The consultation starts with a call or contact form where you describe your application challenge: material of the object to be tracked, operating environment (temperature, chemicals, humidity), RFID system in use or planned, expected volumes.

Our technical team analyses the case, proposes the most appropriate solution (chip, form, material, mechanical protection) and arranges sample delivery for real-world testing. The goal is not to sell a standard tag: it is to design the right tag for your specific case.

Fill in the contact form or write to info@wintag.it specifying:

• Application type and sector
• Material of the object to be tracked
• Expected annual quantity
• Desired frequency (UHF / NFC / Dual)
• Any environmental requirements (temperature, IP rating, chemicals)

We will reply within 48 business hours with an initial technical proposal and, if necessary, follow-up questions to optimise the solution.

Bins and containers need a passive UHF RFID tag designed for application on plastic (HDPE), resistant to weather, impacts and crushing, and readable automatically by the collection vehicle's gate reader without stopping the truck.

Contact us for advice on the best solution for your collection service.

It depends on the tag: a standard one degrades quickly on contact with oils, solvents or extreme temperatures. A rugged tag with an IP67/68 housing and chemical-resistant materials can instead last 10 years or more in the same environment.

No. RFID normally integrates with your existing ERP, WMS or CRM through middleware and dedicated APIs, without needing to replace your current management software.

It depends on the application. The cheapest RFID labels are designed for single use at item level. Industrial hard tags, on the other hand, are designed to be reused for years on assets that return to the process multiple times, such as pallets, containers or equipment.

Specific tags exist that resist industrial washing and autoclave cycles, used for example in food or healthcare settings. A standard tag cannot withstand these conditions: the maximum cycle temperature and the chemicals used should always be checked before choosing.

A handheld reader requires an operator to manually scan one or a few tags at a time, useful for mobile inventories. A fixed gate reader automatically reads all tags passing through, with no human intervention: the right choice for high-volume flows such as warehousing or production.

Metal reflects radio waves and disturbs a standard RFID tag. This is why "on-metal" tags exist, with dedicated shielding designed specifically to work on metal surfaces, with a read range comparable to a standard tag on other materials.

Yes. Unlike a barcode, which requires a clean optical read, RFID reads via radio frequency and is not affected by dirt, dust or paint on the tag surface: one of the reasons it's chosen for industrial environments.