The Market for Read-on-Metal Ruggedized Gen2 UHF Tags

We’ve been getting a lot of requests recently about the read-on-metal ruggedized UHF tag market.  These tags have been gaining more attention not only due to their ability to perform on or in ‘harsh RF’ environments (i.e.: metals, liquids that distort the RF signal), but also due to their durability.  Typically housed in a durable plastic casing designed to ‘take a knocking and keep on working’, these Gen2 transponders typically offer read ranges in excess of 10 ft in some of the most hostile RF environments. 

They are primarily used for tracking assets such as containers, equipment, vehicles and more recently, IT assets.  In addition, recent innovations around performance and footprint reduction are enabling companies to embed RFID tags in a diverse array of products and materials such as piping, concrete, instruments and tools and consumer electronics.  Although these are not the 10¢ tags (they are typically greater than $1) most commonly associated with EPC Gen2 solutions, they are a cost effective solution for tracking an increasing number of objects in real world installation environments. 

Leading manufacturers of these ruggedized Gen2 UHF read on metal tags include Confidex, Omni ID, Xerafy, RCD, Intermec and Emerson & Cuming.

VDC estimates that the total global market for these tags in 2010 was $36.5 million and is expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 48% through 2012 when global revenues are anticipated to exceed $80 million.  Preliminary longer-term forecasts indicate a significant increase in activity starting as early as 2013, particularly as supply chain and IT asset tracking applications begin to scale.