RFID antennas for logistics and industry

Overview - Which antenna suits your requirements?

With antennas from Kathrein, Turck, Sick and Flexiray, we rely on proven technologies. We mainly use the UHF RFID antennas listed below, sorted by manufacturer.

Kathrein antennas

WRA 7070

Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
300 x 300 x 48 mm	IP67	Flexible polarization switching, compact size	Portal applications, in industrial environments

[Translate to English:] WRA70 Antenne Front

[Translate to English:] Kathrein WRA70 Perspektive

[Translate to English:] Kathrein WRA70 Antenne Back

[Translate to English:] Kathrein WRA70 Antenne Anschluss

WRA 3070

Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
610 x 320 x 77 mm	IP67	Circular polarization, very good reading range	Portal applications or vehicle identification, outdoor and indoor

WIRA-40-Linear

Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
480 x 480 x 25	IP67	Linear polarization, 4 high-power LEDs for visualization	For vehicle identification, outdoor use

[Translate to English:] Kathrein WIRA40 Front

[Translate to English:] Kathrein WIRA40 Back

[Translate to English:] Kathrein WIRA40 Side

Turck antennas

TN-UHF-ANT-Q150

Size	Protection class	Area of application
150 x 150 x 14,5 mm	IP67	A compact and robust solution for RFID reading tasks in industrial environments with limited space

TN-UHF-ANT-Q250

Size	Protection class	Area of application
250 x 250 x 30 mm	IP67	For applications requiring greater ranges and wider detection fields

TN-UHF-ANT-Q300

Size	Protection class	Area of application
300 x 600 x30 mm	IP54	Far-field antenna for applications requiring a very long range

SICK antennas

RFA630-000

Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
239 x 239 x 64,3 mm	IP67	Robust in environments with higher temperatures	For industrial and logistics applications such as container identification, incoming and outgoing goods gates (due to high reading range)

[Translate to English:] SICK RFA630 Front

[Translate to English:] Sick RFA630 Side

[Translate to English:] Sick RFA630 Anschluss

RFA630-100

Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
239 x 239x 64,3 mm	IP67	A multicolored process feedback LED in the front center	For industrial and logistics applications such as container identification, incoming and outgoing goods gates

RFA621-000

Antenna	Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
RFA621-000	35,1 x 125,9 x 170,5 mm	IP67	Compact, for limited installation space	For industrial and logistical applications where space is limited

[Translate to English:] RFA 621 Anschluss

Flexiray antennas

SFR-530x and SFR-540x

Antenna	Size	Protection class	Special features	Area of application
SFR-530x	14 x 140 x 800 mm	IP65	Modular, slim and robust antenna in a high-quality design	for industrial and logistics projects: with limited space in entrances and exits, corridors, doors and gates, indoors and outdoors
SFR-540x	14 x 140 x 1020 mm	IP65	Modular, slim and robust antenna in a high-quality design	for industrial and logistics projects: with limited space in entrances and exits, corridors, doors and gates, indoors and outdoors

Criteria for differentiating between RFID antennas

Criteria	Areas of application	Explanation
Field of application	Outdoor or indoor Logistics and goods tracking Access control systems Portal applications Vehicle identification Animal identification Healthcare	Heat resistance in strong sunlight Weather resistance Liquid in the object (e.g. water bottles) Difficult substrates (oily surfaces, concrete, etc.)
Performance	Applications with precise alignment Applications with RFID tags that occur at different angles and positions Reinforcement	Narrow opening angle: energy is directed in a specific direction (precise alignment) Wide opening angle: wider coverage (imprecise alignment) Reinforcement: narrower focus
Reading the objects	Bulk detection Individual recognition	Bulk: Wide coverage required Single: Precise coverage required
Reach	Depending on the tag properties and the environment	For example, ranges of 12 m, 20 m or more, depending on the application.
Protection class	Depending on the environment: IP65/IP67	Protection against environmental influences in special areas of application
Design	Robust design for industrial applications	Resistant to impacts and suitable for harsh environments
Polarization options	Circular: for exceptional reliability, regardless of the orientation of the tag Linear: for optimum reception of weak transponders	Dynamic or static switching of polarization depending on application requirements

Best practices for implementing RFID antennas

Positioning and alignment of the antennas

The antennas should be positioned in such a way that they cover the desired area and achieve a maximum reading range. For example, the WRA 3070 UHF RFID antenna from Kathrein is designed for outdoor use as well as indoor use in logistics and retail and offers a reading range of up to 20 meters. It is particularly suitable for detecting a large number of objects as they pass through and for very large gates.
The polarization of the antennas should be selected to match the transponders. The WIRA-40 linear antenna with linear polarization is ideal for receiving weak transponders if the alignment of the transponders matches the alignment of the antenna.
The aperture angle of the antennas is also important. The WRA 7070 antenna, for example, offers an aperture angle of 65° in both planes and is optimized for portal applications.

Avoidance of interference from other readers

The use of various algorithms can help to avoid interference from other readers. These analyze the reading data from other readers and identify the transponder with the highest reading accuracy. If another reader has captured the transponder better, it is identified and not considered the best tag.
It is important that the “blocking” readers are configured so that they read independently and do not influence the reading behavior of other readers.

Configuration of the readers

The readers should be configured to meet the requirements of the application. The RRU 4500 reader from Kathrein supports up to four external antennas and offers a maximum reading range of up to 20 meters. It is designed for use in harsh environments and offers various connectivity options.
The readers should be updated to the latest firmware versions in order to benefit from improvements and new features.

Use of sensor technology

Optionally, sensors can be added on each side of the gate to detect passage and support direction detection. This can improve the accuracy of RFID readings and reduce interference.

Protection class of the components

The protection class of the components should be suitable for the area of use. Most Kathrein components, such as the antennas and the RRU 4500 Reader, have a protection class of IP67, which makes them suitable for outdoor use.

Application of RFID antennas in various industries

Logistics sector

Bulk detection of objects: RFID antennas in RFID gates enable bulk detection of objects, which ensures fast and efficient detection of objects in production environments.

Tracking of goods on the store floor: By installing RFID antennas at various points, goods or load carriers can be tracked to record idle times, throughput times and the localization of objects.

Object search and localization: RFID antennas help with the search and localization of parcels or load carriers on the store floor by providing information about the last known or current position.

Vehicle identification: RFID antennas are used in warehouses or logistics centers to monitor the entry and exit of vehicles.

Detection of transponders in portals: Antennas with high read range in gantries enable the detection of transponders as they pass through, which is crucial for tracking objects through different areas.

Retail trade

Inventory management: RFID antennas are used to monitor inventory on the sales floor in real time

Theft prevention: RFID tags on products and antennas at the exits help to prevent theft.

Self-checkout: Customers can pay for their purchases more quickly by passing their purchases past RFID readers, which automatically record all items in the shopping cart.

Manufacturing industry

Tool tracking: RFID antennas can be used to track tools and equipment in a factory.

Process control: Monitoring of manufacturing processes using RFID tags on products and components.

Maintenance management: RFID systems with RFID antennas help with the planning and monitoring of maintenance work on machines.

[Translate to English:] Gesundheitswesen

Healthcare

Patient tracking: RFID wristbands for patients to monitor their movements and ensure they receive the right treatment. The data is recorded via RFID gates with built-in RFID antennas.

Medication management: Monitoring of medication stocks and expiry dates

Device tracking: Ensuring the availability and maintenance of medical devices

Event industry

Access control: RFID wristbands or cards for fast and secure verification of access authorizations.

Interaction with visitors: RFID tags can be used to create interactive experiences for visitors, such as personalized content or games.

Visitor tracking: Analysis of visitor flows and behavior at events.

Future trends

Miniaturization

Improved integration: Smaller RFID antennas allow for more seamless integration into various products and applications. This can lead to wider adoption of RFID technologies in industries that were previously reluctant to use RFID due to space constraints and aesthetic requirements.
Flexibility and versatility: Miniaturized RFID antennas open up new possibilities for applications in areas such as wearable electronics, wearables and embedded systems. They can be integrated into clothing, packaging, medical devices and other small or flexible objects to enable tracking, identification and authentication.
Cost reduction: The miniaturization of RFID antennas can reduce manufacturing costs as less material and energy is required. This could further drive the mass adoption of RFID technology in cost-sensitive industries such as retail and logistics.

Robustness & design of the antennas

Material selection and construction: RFID antenna manufacturers are working to select robust materials and develop durable designs that can withstand the harsh conditions in different environments. This includes the selection of materials that are resistant to moisture, dust, vibrations and temperature fluctuations. In particular, nanomaterials such as graphene or carbon nanotubes, which offer higher conductivity and improved signal transmission, are being researched in RFID technology.
Protection against physical damage: RFID antennas are increasingly being equipped with protective mechanisms to protect them from physical damage caused by knocks, drops or rough handling. This can extend the life of the antennas and reduce downtime.
Design optimization for integration: Manufacturers are working on designs that enable easy integration of RFID antennas into various devices, systems and infrastructures. This includes the development of compact form factors and flexible mounting options to meet the requirements of different applications.

Talk to us!

We will be happy to present solutions for your industry and your processes. Talk to the specialists for SMEs.

request now

Viktor WagnerManaging Director

+49 371 2371-117

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