Zebra RFID labels

Zebra RFID labels are UHF labels with an embedded inlay, an antenna with a chip, that a Zebra RFID printer prints and encodes in a single pass. They are used to tag cartons, pallets, containers, parts and fixed assets, including metal ones. Zebra produces them to order: the typical lead time is 4–6 weeks, and they are sold in full rolls or boxes only.

Key features

• Tested with Zebra printers and readers: inlay placement is matched to Zebra RFID printers, which reduces the number of labels voided during encoding. Zebra still recommends testing in the target application, because reading depends on the item and the environment.
• ZBR2200, ZBR2100, ZBR2000, ZBR4000 and BT781 inlays: the theoretical read range on cardboard is from 10 m (BT781) to 18 m (ZBR2200 with the Impinj M830 chip). These are laboratory measurements in the 865–868 MHz band. Actual range depends on the reader, the antenna and what the label is applied to.
• Advanced version (ZBR4000) for glass and plastics: on glass and some plastics it reads noticeably further than general purpose labels, theoretically 16 m on glass versus 9 m for ZBR2100.
• Silverline II for metal: polyester labels read directly on metal, theoretically from 3 m (Micro II, 45×13 mm) to 15 m (Classic II, 100×40 mm). They withstand washing, water, motor oil, salt water, sulphuric acid and caustic soda. They print only on the ZT410 or ZT411 On-Metal.
• Paper or synthetic material: Z-Select 2000T coated paper suits logistics labels, while matte PP film and gloss polyester suit products and parts where the label needs to last longer.
• 96- or 128-bit EPC memory: 128 bits means 32 hexadecimal characters instead of 24, leaving room for a longer identifier. Silverline Micro II and Slim II add 32 bits of user memory.
• Large rolls for industrial printers: a ZT roll has a 76 mm core and a 200 mm outside diameter, which gives up to 5000 labels of 44×19 mm. ZBR2200 labels are perforated between labels and packed 2 rolls per box.

How to choose a variant

• Printer. Most variants are for the ZT231R, ZT411R, ZT421R, ZT610R and ZT620R industrial printers. For the ZD621R and ZD611R desktop printers there is a separate 44×19 mm variant on 127 mm diameter rolls, packed 2 rolls per box. Silverline II labels require a ZT410 or ZT411 On-Metal printer.
• Surface. General purpose labels are designed for cardboard and non-metal plastics. For glass and more demanding plastics choose Advanced (ZBR4000). For metal, including IT equipment, tools, cages and returnable containers, only Silverline II is designed for the job.
• Size. 102×152 mm and 102×51 mm are shipping and pallet labels. 102×25 mm and 76×25 mm fit cartons, containers and parts. 44×19 mm is a label for smaller products and parts.
• Material and ribbon. Paper labels print with Zebra 2300 wax ribbon, while PP film, polyester and Silverline print with Zebra 5095 resin ribbon. The ribbon number for each label is listed below.
• Memory. 96 bits gives 24 hexadecimal characters in the EPC number, 128 bits gives 32. The choice depends on the identifier your system writes.