IDTS-0603 Micro UHF On-Metal RFID Tag 6x3x2.8 mm PCB for Small Tools, Instruments & PCBs

The IDTS-0603 is one of the smallest on-metal UHF RFID tags in the IDentium range: a chip-sized rectangular PCB block measuring just 6 x 3 x 2.8 mm. It is built as an anti-metal tag, so it is intended to be fitted directly onto metal assets that are far too small to carry a conventional label or a standard on-metal tag. Where a screwdriver blade, a surgical instrument, a cutting insert or a bare circuit board needs a permanent electronic identity, this is the form factor that fits.

Key Specifications

• SKU: IDTS-0603
• Product type: UHF on-metal (anti-metal) RFID tag
• Category: PCB and Ceramic Tags
• Frequency: 860-960 MHz (global UHF band); India operates in the 865-867 MHz de-licensed band
• Chip: U8
• Protocol: ISO18000-6C
• EPC memory: 128 bits
• TID memory: 96 bits
• Read distance: approx. 0.5 m on metal
• Size: 6 x 3 x 2.8 mm (2.8 mm is the height at the highest point)
• Length: 6 mm  |  Width: 3 mm  |  Thickness / height: 2.8 mm
• Material: PCB
• Substrate class: PCB
• Shape: tiny rectangular PCB block (chip-sized)
• Colour: dark grey/black PCB with silver metallised edges
• Operating temperature: -20 C to +150 C
• Anti-metal: Yes - designed to be mounted on metal surfaces
• Mounting: No mounting hole and no adhesive backing are specified for this model

Applications

• PCB and electronic sub-assembly traceability - give individual boards, modules and control cards a unique electronic identity through assembly, test and rework.
• Surgical, dental and laboratory instrument identification - suits slim stainless instruments in hospital and pharma settings where a printed label has nowhere to sit.
• Tool crib and precision tooling control - tag drill bits, end mills, cutting inserts, spanners and small hand tools for issue-and-return accountability.
• Jigs, fixtures, gauges and moulds - identify small tooling on the shop floor so the right fixture reaches the right machine and setup records stay accurate.
• IT asset audits - mark small metal hardware such as network modules, connectors, mounting brackets and rack accessories that fall outside normal asset-label sizes.
• Calibration and test equipment - attach a scannable identity to probes, adapters and small meters so calibration due dates are traceable to the exact unit.
• Utilities, railways and manufacturing small parts - valves, fittings, couplers and other compact metal components on assets that are inspected in the field.

Why Choose This Tag

• A footprint of 6 x 3 mm, only 2.8 mm tall. This is a chip-sized tag - it opens up asset classes that are simply too small for conventional on-metal tags or printed labels.
• Built as an anti-metal tag with a read distance of approx. 0.5 m on metal. Metal is the intended mounting surface, not an obstacle, and 0.5 m is comfortable for handheld reads at the bench, the tool counter or the instrument tray.
• Rated for -20 C to +150 C operation. A wide operating window that covers cold stores, un-airconditioned Indian warehouses and hot process areas alike.
• ISO18000-6C with a U8 chip, 128-bit EPC and 96-bit TID. Standards-based, so it works with the same UHF handhelds, fixed readers and middleware you already run - and the factory-programmed TID gives every tag a unique, non-rewritable serial for audit trails.
• Supplied and supported in India by India RFID Store. Bulk quantities, pre-encoding to your EPC scheme and application guidance for your specific asset are all available on request.

Please note: read range is a typical figure, not a guarantee. Actual performance varies with the reader and antenna used, transmit power, antenna orientation, the surrounding environment and the metal surface the tag is mounted on. We recommend a sample trial on your own assets before bulk deployment.

Frequently asked questions

How small is the IDTS-0603 and what can it be fitted to?

It measures just 6 x 3 x 2.8 mm, making it one of the smallest on-metal UHF tags in the IDentium range. That footprint suits metal assets that cannot carry a label or a standard hard tag, such as screwdriver blades, surgical instruments, cutting inserts and bare circuit boards that still need a permanent electronic identity.

Does it read while mounted on metal?

Yes. The IDTS-0603 is an anti-metal design, so it is meant to be fitted directly onto a metal surface, where an ordinary label tag would detune and fail. Because it is a micro tag, read distance is naturally shorter than a full size on-metal tag, so please test a sample with your own reader and antenna.

Which frequency band does it operate in?

It works across the global 860 to 960 MHz UHF band. India operates at 865 to 867 MHz, which is WPC approved and licence free within notified limits and sits inside the ETSI 865 to 868 MHz allocation, so the same tag can be used on Indian, European, UK, GCC and African deployments without changing hardware.

How is the IDTS-0603 priced for volume orders?

Price varies with quantity, so please refer to the listed price on this page or ask us for a bulk quote against your requirement. As a BIS and WPC certified Indian manufacturer, Identium offers bulk and OEM pricing, custom encoding of your asset numbers, samples for testing and shipping right across India.

Related guides & resources

• Browse all RFID PCB and Ceramic Tags
• Read: choosing on-metal RFID tags
• Read: RFID for manufacturing & WIP tracking
• Manufacturing case study: manufacturing case study