Current RFID solutions do not fit with many applications. The thick and rigid structure made of PET, protects the antenna and limits the possibility of packaging and embedding applications such as laundry and plastic lamination. It costs 0.09-0.12 €/unit to produce the current tags, so it is expensive and not suitable for disposable use. Furthermore, the manufacturing process etched PET antenna is a dirty chemical process, and it generates PET plastic waste.
SNAPTAG is capable of producing highly adaptive RFID technology with an innovative production process. The new RFID tag will be more effective than current ones, and the related production process will make them cheaper too. SNAPTAG results are trans-sectorial since it can be applied to every industrial sector that needs tags from retail, to medical application. Additionally, it will accelerate innovation boosting the coming internet of things revolution, and create social benefits such as waste & energy consumption reduction.
The objectives of our innovation project, during Phase 2, are to further develop current SNAPTAG prototype that is at TRL6, in order to design and build 4 new customised machines for 4 new applications - Adhesive label, Ticket-Hang tag, Thermoplastic laminated tag and Heavy duty tag for embedding a protected tag. In parallel, we will improve RFID antenna design, and its manufacturing process to optimise the 4 different RFID tagged products. Moreover, full integration and automation (turn-key process) are required to reach TRL9.