RFID antennas are used in relatively specialized application scenarios. At present, there are generally three main manufacturing processes. This article provides a brief analysis of these processes, including their production methods as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
1. Coil Winding Method
When manufacturing RFID tag antennas using the coil winding method, the antenna wire is wound around a dedicated winding tool and then fixed in place. This process requires a relatively high number of turns in the antenna coil. The coil can be formed into either a circular loop or a rectangular loop.
This method is generally used for RFID tags operating in the 125–134 kHz frequency range.
The disadvantages of this manufacturing approach are quite evident, mainly including:
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High production cost
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Low manufacturing efficiency
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Inconsistent product uniformity after processing
2. Etching Method
The etching method typically uses copper or aluminum to fabricate the antenna. The production process is similar to the etching process used in flexible printed circuit boards (FPC).
Etching can be applied to the mass production of electronic tags operating at 13.56 MHz and in the UHF frequency band. Its advantages include:
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Fine circuit patterns
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Low resistivity
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Good weather resistance
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Stable signal performance
However, the drawbacks are also apparent, such as:
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Complex manufacturing procedures
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Relatively low production capacity
3. Printing Method
Printed antennas are created by directly printing conductive ink onto an insulating substrate (or film) to form conductive antenna circuits. The printing techniques have evolved from traditional screen printing to include offset printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and other methods.
The printing method is suitable for large-scale production of electronic tags operating at 13.56 MHz and in the UHF RFID frequency band.
Its main characteristic is high production speed. However, because conductive ink forms circuits with relatively higher resistance, its application range is somewhat limited.
Advancements in printed antenna technology have effectively reduced the cost of RFID tags, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of RFID applications.
Post time: Feb-26-2026