SBE Direct blank HF/NFC RFID labels are delivered without encoding or printing: the chip is bare, ready to be programmed and marked according to your internal workflow. Available in Standard version for non-metallic surfaces and On-Metal version for stable reading on metal, they cover the needs of companies equipped with their own NDEF encoding and thermal transfer printing tools. A raw HF/NFC RFID label, designed to integrate directly into your production line or internal identification process. HF/NFC RFID traceability with full technical autonomy.

Blank HF/NFC RFID label: a neutral consumable for your internal processes

Not all companies have the same relationship with HF/NFC labels. Some prefer to receive a ready-to-apply product, already encoded and printed to their brand guidelines. Others have in-house the skills, equipment, and software needed to manage RFID encoding and variable printing themselves.

This product page is aimed at that second audience: RFID integrators, in-house IT teams, production workshops, logistics providers equipped with industrial printers. For companies that prefer a finished product, an encoded and printed version is also available in the catalogue (link to be added).

The blank HF/NFC RFID label is by definition a neutral consumable. The embedded chip is new, unprogrammed, with no NDEF content or pre-written identifier in the user memory area.

Upon delivery, you receive a roll of labels that you can immediately encode via your RFID software, your printer, or your NFC mobile application, then mark using thermal transfer printing as needed. This neutrality is precisely what makes it such a flexible product.

To explore the full SBE Direct RFID ecosystem (readers, software, accessories), the RFID technology and traceability category brings together complementary products and solutions.

Blank Standard HF/NFC RFID inlay: flexibility for non-metallic surfaces

The Standard version is built on a PET wet inlay, in an 86 × 54 mm format. It is fitted with either an NXP NTAG213 or Fudan F8213 chip — two widely deployed references within the ecosystem, recognised by all compatible Android and iOS smartphones as well as HF/NFC readers on the market that comply with the ISO 14443 standard.

This wet inlay construction ensures excellent adhesion on flat, clean non-metallic surfaces: cardboard, packaging, plastic containers, documents, furniture, indoor signage, and promotional media. The label remains thin, allowing application without any perceptible added thickness on virtually all surfaces.

The 40 mm core is the standard for industrial thermal transfer printers. You can therefore load the HF/NFC RFID label roll directly onto your SATO, CAB, Zebra, or equivalent printer, with no adapter or mechanical reconfiguration required. The catalogue size of 86 × 54 mm can also be adapted to your target substrate as part of a custom manufacturing order.

On-Metal HF/NFC RFID labels — blank On-Metal versions

Applied directly onto steel, aluminium, or stainless steel, a standard HF/NFC label will see its read performance drop to zero: metal absorbs and reflects radio waves at 13.56 MHz, detuning the antenna. The blank On-Metal range corrects this issue through a technical PET substrate specifically calibrated to decouple the antenna from the metallic surface. The result is stable, reproducible reading where a Standard version would be non-functional.

Three formats are available in the catalogue, each calibrated for a specific use case:

• 40 × 25 mm (antenna 37 × 22 mm), NXP NTAG213 chip: compact format for marking tools, small equipment, or metallic spare parts.
• 56 × 18 mm (antenna 55 × 12 mm), Fudan FM1108 chip: elongated format for cables, instruments, profiles, or narrow metallic supports.
• 86 × 54 mm (antenna 76 × 45 mm), Fudan 216 or NXP NTAG216 chip: card-sized format for IT asset management (servers, racks, network equipment), machine labelling, and traceability of metallic logistics equipment.

All On-Metal references are supplied in rolls of 1,000 labels on a 40 mm core, with an indicative lead time of 9 to 10 working days after order confirmation. The PET construction ensures good mechanical durability and adequate resistance to common industrial operating conditions.

Autonomous HF/NFC RFID traceability: encoding and printing on the client side

A blank label only has value through what you write onto it. The SBE Direct blank HF/NFC range is designed to integrate into an existing client-side workflow.

On the encoding side, the chip's user memory is completely free. You can write a standard NDEF message (URL, plain text, vCard, unique identifier) using an RFID encoding software package, a printer equipped with an HF/NFC module, or simply an NFC mobile application for low-volume use. The NTAG213, NTAG216, F8213, Fudan 216, and FM1108 chips are compatible with the majority of encoding tools on the market that comply with the ISO 14443 standard.

On the printing side, the 40 mm core and the wet inlay format (Standard version) or PET substrate (On-Metal version) enable in-house thermal transfer printing: 1D or 2D barcodes, serial numbers, monochrome logos, internal references. The 86 × 54 mm format provides a comfortable surface area for printing a full visual; the more compact On-Metal formats are suited to printing a short identifier.

This technical autonomy offers a dual benefit: you retain full control over the chain (security of encoded data, agility in content changes, native integration into your information system) and you benefit from an optimised material cost at high volumes.

Blank UHF RFID labels: a high-frequency alternative?

HF/NFC technology at 13.56 MHz operates at short read range (a few centimetres), with native smartphone compatibility and a use profile oriented towards authentication, interaction, and individual item marking. If your requirement instead involves mass reading at several metres (on-the-fly inventory in a warehouse, reading under a logistics gate), the UHF 860–960 MHz band is the appropriate choice. Blank UHF RFID labels are available in the SBE Direct catalogue on the same principle: new chip, free user memory, industrial roll packaging, ready to be encoded and printed on the client side. The choice between blank HF/NFC and blank UHF depends exclusively on the required read range and the reading environment.

Custom formats for blank HF/NFC RFID labels

Beyond catalogue formats, SBE Direct supports custom blank HF/NFC RFID label manufacturing projects: specific format, HF/NFC chip selection, adapted technical substrate, custom memory configuration.

Manufacturing conditions:

• Minimum quantity: 10 rolls per reference.
• Additional tooling fees: €600 excl. VAT, charged once for the creation of the specific tooling.
• Lead time communicated after validation of the technical specification.

This option covers requirements for non-standard formats (round label, reduced format for premium packaging, integration into a finished product) or alternative chip selection depending on your application (NTAG215, ICODE SLIX, MIFARE).

Looking for a quote on blank HF RFID labels?

For large-volume orders, multi-site deployments, or any personalised quote request for blank HF/NFC RFID labels, contact the SBE Direct technical team for support on every project:

• Compatibility study with your encoding and printing environment.
• Recommendation of the most suitable HF/NFC chip for your use case (memory size, security functions, read speed).
• Quotes for specific volumes and custom manufacturing.
• Samples available on request for field validation before series order.

Available HF/NFC RFID label formats and references

SBE Direct offers several HF/NFC RFID label references for identification, traceability, and contactless interaction applications. The range includes standard models as well as On-Metal versions specifically developed for metallic surfaces. The table below presents the main available formats and the integrated RFID technologies.

These references can be supplied as blank labels or integrated into a customisation project including variable data printing, barcodes, QR codes, or RFID/NFC encoding. Other dimensions, chips, materials, or technical specifications can also be considered depending on the constraints of your application.