On-metal tags
Flexible PET on-metal tags
Short answer
1.0Construction
How this family is built
PET is polyethylene terephthalate, the film used for many labels. The records for these two models state a PET body 1.7 to 1.8 mm thick and tape mounting. They describe neither the layers behind the film nor the antenna, so this page makes no claim about them.
Labels that flex are not the same thing as tags made to conform to a curved surface. The records give no bend radius, so the honest position is that the flexibility of the body is unquantified. If your surface is curved, ask the team before you plan around these models, and put a sample on the real part.
2.0Choosing
Choose this family, or look elsewhere
Choose this family for
- Flat metal surfaces where a 3 mm high FR4 tag is too tall. These two models are 1.7 and 1.8 mm high.
- Tags that carry a printed barcode or a logo. Both list barcode printing, logo printing and pre-encoding.
Look elsewhere when
- The temperature range is narrow. Storage and operating are both stated as -20 to +70 C.
- Neither record states a bend radius or a curved-surface figure, so this page makes no claim that the tags follow curved metal.
- Tape is the only fixing listed, so surface preparation and adhesion are yours to test.
Selection rules
- Choose the 103 x 25 mm model for the longer stated distance, 3.5 m against 3 m for the 73 x 25 mm model, both at EIRP 4 W on metal and both supplier-stated. Choose the 73 x 25 mm model when the shorter body fits better.
- Both list Monza 4QT with 128 bit of EPC memory and 496 bit of user memory.
- If the surface is curved, or the tag runs warmer than 70 C, look at the FR4 or plastic-housed families instead.
3.0Models
The 2 flexible PET on-metal tags
| Model | Size | Height | Chip options | Mounting | Bands | Stated read distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible PET on-metal tag 73 x 25 mm MFL-73x25-T | 73 x 25 x 1.7 mm | 1.7 mm | Impinj Monza 4QT | Adhesive tape | FCC, ETSI | up to 3 m EIRP 4 W, on metal. Supplier-stated. |
| Flexible PET on-metal tag 103 x 25 mm MFL-103x25-T | 103 x 25 x 1.8 mm | 1.8 mm | Impinj Monza 4QT | Adhesive tape | FCC, ETSI | up to 3.5 m EIRP 4 W, on metal. Supplier-stated. |
How to read the distances in this table
Every distance is the supplier's upper figure, stated under the conditions in the last column, and TagBrio has not tested it. All the models state their leading distance on the same footing, so the figures may be compared with each other. A read on your own part with your own reader is the only reliable check.
4.0Compared
How it differs from a neighboring family
| Family | Models | Height | Fixing methods listed | Operating range | Storage range | Lists user memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible PET on-metal tags (this page) | 2 | 1.7 to 1.8 mm | Adhesive tape | -20 to +70 °C | -20 to +70 °C | 2 of 2 |
| FR4 on-metal tags | 19 | 1.6 to 3.4 mm | Adhesive tape, screw, rivet and glue | -25 to +85 °C | -40 to +180 °C | 11 of 19 |
| Printable on-metal tags | 1 | 1.25 mm | Adhesive tape | -40 to +85 °C | – | 0 of 1 |
5.0Questions
Questions about this family
Answers quoted from the records
How big are flexible PET on-metal tags?
The 2 models range from 73 x 25 mm (MFL-73x25-T) to 103 x 25 mm (MFL-103x25-T) in footprint, and from 1.7 mm to 1.8 mm in height. The model page of each gives its full size.
How far can flexible PET on-metal tags be read?
2 of the 2 models state a distance under one footing (EIRP 4 W, on metal), from 3 m to 3.5 m. All figures are supplier-stated and TagBrio has not tested them. A read on your own surface with your own reader is the only reliable check, and the request page offers a test kit.
How are flexible PET on-metal tags attached?
Across the family the records list adhesive tape. The methods differ by model, so check the mounting row of the model you choose.
What temperatures do flexible PET on-metal tags state?
The supplier states operating ranges within -20 to +70 °C and storage ranges within -20 to +70 °C across the models; individual models differ. Both are supplier-stated, and a storage range is not an operating range.
Can a flexible PET tag be bent around a pipe?
The 2 records state no bend radius and no curved-surface figure, so this page makes no bending claim. Ask the team before you plan a curved surface.
Test it on your own surface
Samples are handled per request. The team confirms availability and terms by email.