RFID labels are perfectly suited for fast product identification and tracking. But what if products must be stored at extremely low temperatures? Schreiner LogiData has found a solution: RFID labels that still work at -80 °C.

RFID labels are practical: They store a wealth of information, can be read in a contactless process, and are highly tamper-proof. But they are not really made for harsh conditions—normal RFID labels work only at up to 50 °C. However, several years ago, Schreiner Group achieved a breakthrough at very high temperatures: The company’s sophisticated RFID specialty label developments work even at temperatures of up to 230 °C.

Now, Schreiner LogiData has developed a high-tech innovation for freezing temperatures as well. Conventional RFID labels are designed only for freezing temperatures down to -40 °C. Extremely low temperatures pose a major problem, though: Cold has a massive impact—both on the electric properties of an RFID label and on the material and substrates. That in turn affects adhesiveness, range, and even the frequency of the label. Despite these factors, the Schreiner LogiData competence center managed to develop a UHF RFID label that works even at -80 °C.

That the label needs to deliver equally good performance at both normal room and at very low freezing temperatures posed a major challenge during the label development project. To achieve that, the experts developed a special UHF antenna design that considers the frequency shift at various temperatures. In addition, read ranges were optimized accordingly.

Moreover, the label was tested under real-world conditions. Consequently, it had to be dispensed and cooled down to -80 °C—while being permanently maintained at that temperature range—for performing measurements and tests. That is why the utilization of a normal freezer was no option: if it were kept open all the time it would heat up; if it were kept closed the metallic environment would affect the RFID functionality. Instead, the developers at LogiData created extreme refrigeration conditions in a non-metallic environment with great success: the RFID label remains refrigerated and achieves good read results at -80 °C according to our tests.