SATO UK has cut the price of self-adhesive EPC RFID tags after commissioning a brand new RFID label manufacturing line.

Part of the international SATO Corporation, SATO UK now offers 4” x 6” (100x150 mm) EPC Class 1 RFID labels, in both Gen1 and Gen2 specifications at the extremely competitive price of 19 eurocent each on orders of a million or more, further reducing the cost of implementing and running RFID systems.

New production line equipment, commissioned in December 2005, automatically inserts RFID inlays into self adhesive labels. An in-line process tests each individual label to verify that the labels are fully functional. It means that every part of the print and production process for RFID tags is now in-house.

“With everything under one roof, we can offer customers these highly competitive prices and short lead times,” commented Director of Production Ian Curle. “The whole RFID production process has passed all our quality and efficiency trials with flying colours. We’re delighted to have this additional facility fully operational for 2006.”

These EPC UHF products complement the HF range already supplied by SATO and are currently manufactured in three standard sizes – 4” x 2” (100x50 mm), 4” x 4” (100x100 mm) and 4” x 6” (100x150 mm). They can be supplied plain, part printed or fully printed in up to six colours.

“SATO has been at the forefront of RFID label development for several years and is already experienced in supplying RFID labelling solutions in Europe and the US, where the uptake of this technology is more advanced than here,” added SATO UK’s Marketing Director, Mike Aiken. “We are able to advise on issues encountered by businesses introducing RFID and ensure they make the most of its many benefits. With our new table top and automatic application systems for printing, encoding and applying RFID labels, we offer the UK supply chain a fully supported, genuine one-stop service for RFID labelling.”