IDTS-1004 Miniature PCB On-Metal UHF RFID Tag 10x4x2.8mm for Tools, PCBs & IT Assets

The IDTS-1004 is a miniature on-metal UHF RFID tag from IDentium, built as a small rectangular PCB strip measuring just 10 x 4 x 2.8 mm. It exists for the assets most tagging projects quietly give up on: the hand tool, the circuit board, the instrument, the gauge, the fitting that is far too small for a conventional anti-metal tag but still needs to be counted, audited and traced. Black PCB with a black epoxy-encapsulated chip and copper-plated corner holes, it is designed to sit directly on a metal surface and still return a read at approx. 1.2 m on metal.

Key Specifications

• SKU: IDTS-1004
• Category: PCB and Ceramic Tags
• Product type: UHF on-metal (anti-metal) RFID tag
• Frequency: 860-960 MHz (global UHF band); India operates in the 865-867 MHz de-licensed band
• Protocol: ISO18000-6C
• Chip: U8 / M781 (as specified)
• EPC memory: 128 bit
• TID memory: 96 bit
• User memory: 0 / 512 bit
• Read range: approx. 1.2 m on metal
• Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 2.8 mm (length x width x thickness)
• Thickness note: 2.8 mm is the thickness at the highest point, the epoxy dome over the chip
• Material: PCB
• Substrate class: PCB
• Shape: small rectangular bar (miniature PCB strip)
• Colour and finish: black PCB with black epoxy-encapsulated chip and copper-plated holes
• Mounting provision: four plated through-holes at the corners for mounting or soldering; no hole diameter is specified for this tag
• Operating temperature: -20 C to +150 C
• On-metal: yes, anti-metal construction intended for direct mounting on metal

Applications

• Electronics manufacturing: serialising bare and populated PCBs, sub-assemblies and control cards through SMT, test, rework and repair loops.
• Tool cribs and maintenance stores: issue-and-return tracking for hand tools, drivers, bits, sockets and small torque instruments where a large tag would foul the grip.
• Hospital and pharma instrument stores: identifying individual surgical and dental instruments, small stainless trays and reusable metal implements in set-building and stock-count workflows.
• IT asset audits: tagging laptops, server rails, switches, patch panel frames and small network hardware for annual physical verification without covering asset labels or vents.
• Calibration and quality control: tracking gauges, jigs, fixtures, moulds and inspection tooling on the shop floor, where each item has its own due-date record.
• Utilities and metering: identifying small valve bodies, brass fittings, meter housings and compact metal enclosures during field maintenance rounds.
• Railways and heavy manufacturing: marking returnable small metal spares, brackets and line-side components that move between stores and the workshop.

Why Choose This Tag

• Genuinely miniature. At 10 x 4 mm in plan and 2.8 mm at the highest point of the epoxy dome, it fits assets that simply cannot host a standard on-metal tag, so one tagging standard can cover both large and small items in the same audit.
• Made for metal, not merely tolerant of it. Anti-metal construction gives approx. 1.2 m on metal, enough working distance for handheld scanning down a tool rack or an instrument tray without lifting each item.
• Two ways to fix it. Four plated through-holes at the corners allow mechanical mounting or direct soldering, so the tag can be attached the same way as any other component on the line.
• -20 C to +150 C operating range. A wide band that covers cold stores through to hot process areas and heated tooling, so the same part number can be specified across several departments.
• Standards-based data structure. ISO18000-6C with 128-bit EPC, 96-bit TID and a 0 / 512-bit user memory option means it works with mainstream UHF readers and middleware already deployed in Indian warehouses and plants.

Read range is a typical figure, not a guaranteed maximum. Actual performance varies with the reader and antenna used, transmit power, the size and shape of the metal surface the tag is mounted on, and the surrounding environment. We recommend a sample trial on your own assets before committing to volume.

Frequently asked questions

How far does the IDTS-1004 read when placed on metal?

It returns a read of approximately 1.2 m while sitting directly on a metal surface, which is why it works for hand tools, circuit boards, instruments, gauges and fittings that are too small for a conventional anti-metal tag. Real world distance varies with reader power and antenna, so test a sample in your own environment.

How is this tag fixed to an asset?

The 10 x 4 x 2.8 mm black PCB carries copper plated corner holes, so it can be mechanically fixed rather than relying on adhesive alone. The chip sits under a black epoxy encapsulation on the board, which protects it during handling in tool cribs, workshops and IT asset stores where tags take daily knocks.

Is it compatible with Indian UHF RFID systems?

Yes. It is a passive UHF tag for the Indian 865 to 867 MHz band, which is WPC approved and licence free within notified limits and sits inside the wider ETSI 865 to 868 MHz range. That means the same tag can be read by Indian readers and by ETSI equipment in the EU, UK, GCC and Africa.

Can I get bulk pricing and custom encoding?

Yes. Pricing depends on quantity, so check the listed price or request a bulk quote for your volume. Identium is a BIS and WPC certified Indian manufacturer, so we can pre encode your asset numbers, supply samples for testing, and ship anywhere in India as well as export to overseas projects.

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