Smart label printers

Zebra's R402 printer enables users to create smart labels on demand and encode variable information in the tags. The printer uses label stock that incorporates blank RFID integrated circuits, sandwiched between the face stock and the adhesive layer. These smart label printers can function as traditional printers when creating barcodes, graphics and human-readable text. However, they also have RFID encoders and readers embedded inside.

Before the label is printed, the RFID data is encoded on the tag. Data for encoding is selected by application design and automatically managed by system software. It goes through a stringent accuracy verification process to ensure 100% accuracy in data and readability of the tag produced.

Over time, specifications and standards which describe the manner in which tags communicate with readers will probably change. That is why these RFID-capable printers not only support multiple communication protocols, they can be easily upgraded in the field to support new protocols.