In a traceability project, the technology often gets all the attention, yet the identification medium - the label, plate, RFID tag or direct marking - is the real key to reliability. An adhesive that peels off at -30°C, an illegible laser engraving after painting, or an RFID tag embedded in a metallic environment can ruin data capture and cause line stoppages.For over thirty years, CIPAM has been helping manufacturers to match the right automatic identification technology with the right physical medium. This guide will help you define your criteria and secure your choices before going into production.
Understanding your operational constraints
Physical environment
Every workshop poses its own challenges: steam, grease, solvents, fine dust, UV radiation or extreme temperatures. The substrate material – high-temperature polyester, polyimide, anodized aluminum, anti-UV composite – and the adhesive chemistry must withstand these assaults while maintaining barcode legibility or the radio performance of a UHF tag.
Geometry and surface finish
A self-adhesive label is easy to install on smooth cardboard, but loses half its adhesive power on a greased drum or granulated stainless steel tube. When the surface is convex, porous or vibrating, reinforced gluing or mechanical fastening (rivet, screw, zip-tie) becomes the only reliable option. CIPAM has a range of rigid on-metal tags and DPM plates designed for these complex profiles.
Product life cycle
Do you need to identify a logistical packaging that lives for a few hours, or a spare part that needs to remain traceable for twenty years? The answer depends on the choice of material, the thickness of the protective varnish and the memory size of the RFID tag. For long-lasting marking, a laser DPM or a PEEK encapsulated screw-on tag guarantees legibility even after several paint and oven cycles.
Playback mode and frame rate
Visual reading (1D/2D code) or automatic capture (RFID, RTLS)? 300 parts/minute line or spot check at the shipping dock? The higher the speed, the higher the contrast and constant positioning of the printed surface; on the RFID side, the shape of the antenna and the thickness of the dielectric have a direct influence on reading range and density.
Case study: how manufacturers solve their constraints
Agri-food: hygiene and alkaline washes
In a dairy, the bins circulate eight times a day through the 70°C washing tunnel, washed by alkaline detergents. CIPAM has encapsulated washable UHF tags in the injected plastic of the bin; the shell protects the antenna without creating a bacteriological nook, and the medical adhesive withstands 500 wash cycles without loss of readings.
Pharma / Cosmetics: cold chain and regulatory compliance
For a laboratory, the identification must survive -40°C while complying with 21 CFR Part 11. A cryogenic synthetic label combined with a memory-locked UHF inlay ensures compliance. The adhesive has been qualified in a climatic chamber to guarantee adhesion after twenty-four hours of thawing.
Automotive / Aerospace: high temperatures and parts traceability for life
The aluminum cylinder heads are DPM laser-marked before being subjected to a 200°C paint oven. The engraving depth and controlled anodizing maintain the DataMatrix contrast even after heat treatment. High-temperature RFID tags screwed onto the oven racks enable automated tracking in the workshop.
Railway: UV, vibrations and safety
The exterior parts of a train are exposed to UV rays, weather and ballast sprays, and must comply with safety regulations. CIPAM installs an anti-UV composite tag bonded with double adhesive deposits and riveted to secure mechanical strength. The tag integrates the GS1 ID-Rail standard to ensure interoperability with maintenance.
High-speed logistics: speed and cost
In an e-commerce hub, the priority is reading speed and savings per unit. A contrasting direct thermal label + flying UHF inlay at €0.08 enables scanning either visually or by radio frequency. The result: zero slowdown, precise traceability and controlled costs.
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Faq
Frequently asked questions about identification media
A seriously qualified substrate (polyimide, composite or anodized aluminum sheet) retains sufficient contrast for 15 to 20 years, even under UV and washing cycles, provided temperature and chemical agents comply with the technical data sheet.
Yes, if you use an on-metal tag: antenna insulated by a dielectric and ground plane, range maintained up to 8 m. For liquids, a retuned UHF inlay or an encapsulated LF/HF tag remains the best option.
Engraving varies from €0.03 to €0.10 per piece, depending on speed and depth. For large production runs, the cost of tooling is amortized in a few weeks, eliminating the need to buy labels.
We offer explosion-proof RFID tags certified to zone 1/21, as well as laser-marked stainless steel plates compliant with directive 2014/34/EU.
Memory lock, AES-128 encryption, tamper-proof TID: we configure each batch to prevent unauthorized copying or deletion.