NFC series
Near field communication devices for asset tracking and inventory management
With the Xerafy NFC series, technology meets cutting-edge design and durability.
The industry-grade NFC tags are crafted to enable asset tracking and inventory management in diverse environments.
“We love Xerafy’s range of special metal tags, which never let us down in any of our projects, especially for demanding production environments.”
NFC Tags That Stand Out
The NFC series of near field communication tags are engineered to offer tracking solutions optimized to perform in complex systems
Smartphone
Infrastructure-light technology
Battery-free
Long-life passive tracking devices
Durable
Designed for industrial durability
Read-Range
Combined with UHF RFID for longer range
Customization
Printed and encoded for unique identification
Cost-Effective
Solutions available for a variety of assets
NFC RTI Outdoor
Dual-Frequency For Asset Tracking
The NFC RTI Outdoor is a dual-frequency NFC+UHF tag designed for legacy tracking systems.
The durable tag is UV and IP68-proof and offers long-range performance in a nimble size.
Its dual frequency makes it perfectly suited for HF tracking systems and for open-loop inventory management.
NFC Circular TRAK
Dual-Frequency For Consumer Applications
The NFC Circular TRAK is a dual-frequency NFC+UHF tag designed to power consumer-facing tracking applications.
The durable tag is wash- and detergent-proof and is designed to be used on metal containers.
With its dual-frequency, it enables new levels of tracking and interactivity for the circular economy.
Metal Skin® Titanium
25 HF
Durable HF Labeling
The Metal Skin® Titanium 25 HF offers a durable HF labeling solution for tracking applications where size is critical.
Designed for versatility, it operate s effectively on various surfaces with its industry-strength adhesive.
The printable label is ideal for high-value assets, including electronic devices, IT equipment, medical supplies. The Metal Skin® Titanium label combines a compact design with durable identification, ensuring precise and reliable asset tracking.
How to Print, Mark, Encode
The NFC Tags?
All tags in the NFC series can be fully
personalized to support the deployment of your tracking system
Silk-screen printing options include logo, serial numbers
Marking
Durable engraving with case color optimized for optical readability
Encode
User memory versions for
encoding and programming
Engineering
Custom options: Industrial adhesives, mounting systems...
Case Studies
Dual-frequency NFC+UHF combine a consumer technology with an established industrial standard, to enable new tracking applications.
- RTI Management
- Circular Economy
- Oil and Gas
- Logistics
FAQs NFC Tracking with NFC Series
What is near field communication (NFC)?
NFC stands for Near Field Communication.
It is a wireless technology that enables contactless communication and secure data transmission at short range and with extremely low energy consumption.
The growing interest in NFC technology owes to it being a standard feature on the billions of smartphones in use worldwide.
Technically, NFC is regulated by standard protocols like ISO/IEC 14443 A, ISO/IEC 14443 B, and JIS X6319-4, that ensure NFC is universally accessible across all vendors (for more, see: https://nfc-forum.org/).
Are NFC and HF RFID the same?
NFC operates on the same frequency as HF RFID, which is 13.56 MHz.
It can be seamlessly integrated into existing HF RFID infrastructure.
However, NFC offers additional functionalities, like two-way communication and secure data exchange, making it particularly suitable for applications such as contactless payments.
What are NFC tracking applications and uses?
NFC was developed with contactless payments (Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, etc…), transport, and ticketing in mind.
Other consumer applications include smart home, wearable, and consumer electronics (e.g. Apple AirTag).
Brands have since started leveraging the ubiquity of NFC devices for product authentication and brand protection, while developing new channels for customer interactions at the point of sale.
NFC technology sees increasing adoption beyond consumer applications, into industry 4.0 and IOT:
- Access control, user identification, and attendance tracking
- Industrial asset tracking and management
- Tracking of returnable transport packaging
- Condition monitoring in complex supply chains
NFC chips
An NFC chip is the integrated circuits (IC) at the heart of a tag or sticker. Similar to UHF RFID chips, an NFC chip is passive and gets its power from the device that reads it (such as a smartphone), through magnetic induction.
Leading manufacturers of NFC chips include NXP, EM Microelectronic, Texas Instruments…
New ICs are coming to market that enable new use cases such as tamper-detection on sealed products, or condition-monitoring features (moisture sensing).
NFC vs RFID: Key differences for asset tracking
NFC devices operate at the same frequency as high-frequency RFID readers and tags — 13.56 MHz. But unlike RFID devices and tags, NFC does not have a range from 25 meters to 100 meters. Instead, NFC takes advantage of the short read range limitations of its radio frequency.
NFC asset tracking:
- Frequency – Global (13.56 MHz)
- Battery – No (passive)
- Read range – Very short distances (typically 10 centimeters)
- Data transmission – Two-way communication (encrypted, maximum speed 424 kbit/s), one NFC tag at a time
- Readers – NFC-enabled mobile phones, readers
The specificity of UHF RFID lies in its reading performance: it is possible to identify hundreds of UHF tags at the same time in just a few seconds and up to 20 meters away. On the other hand, reading an NFC tag is done almost on contact – about ten centimeters maximum.
RFID for asset tracking:
- Frequency – Standard passive UHF (RAIN RFID) regional and global frequencies
- Battery – No (passive)
- Read range – Short to long ranges (20+ meters)
- Data transmission – One-way communication, allowing for simultaneous reads
- Readers – RFID readers
Dual-frequency NFC+UHF tags combine the two standards for optimal performance in complex logistic operations and supply chains.
Types of NFC tags
There are several types of NFC tags used for asset tracking and inventory management, each with its own features and capabilities.
When selecting NFC tags, factors to consider are the type of assets to track, the environment they are in, any specific requirements for data storage capacity or security, as well as compatibility with the tracking system deployed.
NFC Stickers – These are disposable adhesive labels with an embedded NFC chip. They are versatile and can be easily attached to assets such as equipment, inventory items, or even documents.
NFC Labels – These are larger disposable labels that are printable and are embedded with NFC technology, making them suitable for larger assets or packaging.
NFC Tags – These are more robust devices with a sturdy outer shell that safeguards them against washing, shocks, UV exposure, and ensures reusability. The tags typically come with multiple mounting options with diverse levels of scalability and durability for asset tagging.
NFC Cards – Similar to NFC stickers, these are plastic cards with embedded NFC chips. They are most often used for access control, but can also be employed in asset tracking by attaching them to items.
In metal-intensive industrial settings, traditional NFC tags may face challenges on metal surfaces due to interference. Therefore, specialized NFC metal tags are designed specifically for use on or near metal objects, similar to metal RFID tags and delivering reliable performance in such environments.
How to read an NFC tag?
To read the information stored on an NFC tag requires:
- NFC-enabled device – A smartphone, tablet, reader, or other device with NFC capabilities. Most modern smartphones come with built-in NFC.
- Software – The device should have the necessary software to read and interact with NFC tags. For many smartphones, this functionality is built into the operating system. On Android, you can use apps like “NFC Tools” or “NFC Reader.” On iPhones, the NFC functionality is usually integrated into the system, and apps can utilize it.
- Physical contact – NFC requires close proximity between the device and the NFC tag to as to top and make contact, for the information stored on the tag to be read and processed by the device.
