RFID used in industrial laundry

The laundry industry has realized the benefits of applying RFID technology to high-volume laundry operations many years ago. The commercial laundry industry processes thousands of loads of laundry per hour for large numbers of customers. It is estimated that more than 400 million pieces of work uniforms and other apparel are currently on rent in North America and Europe. 20% of workers wear rented uniforms, and this number is increasing by 15% every year. All of these uniforms need to be laundered, and all laundered uniforms must be returned to the correct customer. Now enter the RFID link.

The beginning of RFID use in the laundry industry

When industrial laundry first started to use RFID, the only suitable and only available technology was high-frequency (13.56MHz) RFID technology. Laundryman builds a platform. An RFID platform is a reading point consisting of an RFID Reader and a set of antennas. RFID tags are usually sewn onto clothing. The relevant information is read at each processing stage of the tagged garments, thereby managing the entire flow of uniforms and garments through the laundry equipment. Typically, reading points need to be placed at receiving, sorting, cleaning, drying, ironing, folding, sorting, shipping and distribution areas. The labels must be resistant to the chemicals used in the cleaning process, as well as the high temperatures during washing, drying and ironing. The tags must outlast the clothing.

UHF RFID

In December 2004, a new RFID standard was certified: EPC Gen 2. This new standard brought changes in RFID functionality and price. Compared with high-frequency tags, Gen 2 RFID tags enjoy the characteristics of low price and long reading range, from a few centimeters to several meters (a few feet to a few yards). Much of the new laundry industry takes advantage of this latest development in RFID technology.

Hotel laundry safety

Hotel linens include hand towels, sheets, pillows and many other items. Some hotel guests take one or two of these home. There are also some hotel towel thieves who do this more as a source of entertainment than as a petty crime. The hotel, on the other hand, seems to be taking the matter more seriously.

UHF RFID Laundry Tags can be sewn directly onto towels, bathrobes or sheets to send a report if an item is taken outside the hotel's secured area. When the RFID reader reads the tag on the item that has been taken away, it will sound an alarm, which is usually silent, to remind employees that the hotel item is about to be taken away.

We have all RFID technologies, including high frequency and ultra high frequency technologies. We have a full range of fixed or mobile HF and UHF readers, as well as a wide range of HF and UHF tags specifically suitable for industrial laundry. Our software solutions based on positioning software are valid for all RFID technologies. Whether you need to add tags or readers to an existing system or build a new laundry management facility, we can help.