Zebra is extending the RFID capabilities of its card printer line with the ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) Gen 2 RFID encoding option for its most popular performance class card printers—the P330i and P430i. Previously released in January 2008 to a select group of partners in the U.S. under the printer model names R3i and R4i, this UHF RFID capability is now offered as an option on the P330i and P430i printers. These printers are available through distribution to Zebra Card Partners and Zebra RFID Solution Providers who successfully complete the required training.

The UHF option supports a wide variety of sophisticated access control, border control, and people and asset tracking applications in wide variety of vertical markets. The UHF encoding solution—available on Zebra’s single- and double-sided printers—provides increased read-range compared to typical smart card technology.

Zebra’s market-leading UHF solution includes UHF printers, high-performance cards and integration software. Zebra’s UHF cards, with NXP Gen 2 chip and Zebra’s proprietary UHF antenna, offer significantly increased range and security options not readily available in the market. These cards offer a longer read range of up to 20 feet from the reader, compared to just inches for standard RFID cards (e.g., Philips’ MIFARE® and HID’s iCLASS). The PVC 30 mil UHF card is offered blank or with magnetic stripe.

Ideal Applications Include

• Improved people tracking at entrances and exits in high-security premises such as enterprises, data centers, and government and healthcare facilities.
• Efficient process for streamlining access to ski lift and other resources and improving the guest experiences in ski resorts, amusement parks, cruise ships, etc.
• School applications for ensuring students are evacuated in an emergency or for confirming if all the right students are on school bus.
• Retailers can also easily produce RFID-enabled customer loyalty cards to increase customer recognition and services.
• Work-in-process tracking and tracing, tools, equipment, and reusable assets (such as drums, totes and containers) to save costs on repeated purchase of RFID tags/labels.