The defects of washing on RFID Source Tagging

Still remember we are talking about the basic information about RFID on my last chapter? What is RFID? You exactly got it, it’s Radio Frequency Identification. We talk about what it composes of, how it works and the most important is: why it works better than traditional barcode. On the last paragraph, we mention that: The RFID chips are loaded with electronic information. Today we would like to talk about if washing workable on RFID Source Tagging.(only refer to pocket label here)

Source tagging is not strange to us: it’s the application of delivering sew-in soft labels from tag factory to apparel manufacturers. Then, the apparel manufacturers sew the tags to the clothes during the sewing production. The last step is from the apparel manufacturers to customers store with the sew-in labels on the apparel. Obviously, the streamline tag factory-apparel manufacturers-customer stores saves the time of not sewing the tags to the apparel in the retail stores. RFID Source Tagging shares the same streamline, the only difference is that the RFID pocket labels are with RFID chips inside.

So what’s the defects of washing on RFID Source Tagging?

Firstly, we need to know the washing process of the apparel factories. There are some main types of apparel washing which share some main points during the washing process for the clothes: A lot of water, additive agents, special elements, high temperature at lasting time.

Secondly, based on the definition of RFID, we know that the RFID pocket labels are with the RFID chips which are loaded with electronic information. Usually speaking, the RFID chips not allowed to be immersed inside the water for long time although we say that the RFID chips are water-proof and satin-proof. When the RFID labels are splashed or dropped by water, it won’t have any affects on the RFID chips and it’s still workable. However, it’s still under a certain range. After the apparel factories sew in the RFID pocket labels to the clothes, the clothes need to be under washing process and it’s not what we understand about the water-proof. It’s not little water but mass water inside washing machine and rolling at high speed with different additive agents and lasting a certain time over 15minutes at least.

Though there are pocket labels that are specially made with anti-water function, the RFID chip inside the labels are still easy to be affected by the high temperature and corrosion at a certain lasting time. It’s just like the cellphone we use everyday, if it’s splashed or dropped by rain or unexpected water, the cellphone is still workable. But if you immerse the cellphone inside the water for some time, the electronics will be destroyed, too.

Washing process is not good for the RFID Source Tagging and it will damage the electronics inside the RFID chips to some extent. We know that the washing process is necessary for the apparel factories not only for the function, colors or safety. What we can suggest is that to put the process of sewing RFID pocket label after the washing process in the apparel factories.