IDTS-1204 UHF On-Metal RFID PCB Tag 12 x 4 x 2.8 mm Anti-Metal Micro Tag for Tools & Electronics

The IDTS-1204 is a fingertip-sized passive UHF on-metal RFID tag built on a PCB body measuring just 12 x 4 x 2.8 mm. It is designed for the items most RFID tags are simply too big for — circuit boards, hand tools, instruments, jigs and small metal parts — while still delivering an anti-metal read of approx. 1.5 m on metal. The black rectangular bar form factor with solder pads at both ends lets it sit discreetly on or inside compact assemblies.

Key Specifications

• SKU: IDTS-1204 (IDentium / IDTS)
• 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
• Air-interface protocol: ISO18000-6C
• Chip: U8 / M781 (as specified)
• EPC memory: 128 bit
• TID memory: 96 bit
• User memory: 0 / 512 bit
• Read distance: approx. 1.5 m on metal
• Anti-metal: Yes — intended for mounting on metal surfaces
• Material / substrate: PCB
• Dimensions: Length 12 mm x Width 4 mm x Thickness 2.8 mm (2.8 mm is the thickness at the highest point)
• Shape: Small rectangular bar
• Colour: Black
• Operating temperature: -20 C to +150 C
• Construction notes: Black rectangular body with a metallic element in the centre and solder pads at both ends; no mounting hole is provided

Applications

• PCB and electronics traceability — tagging individual boards, modules and sub-assemblies through production, test and RMA, where a 12 x 4 mm footprint fits alongside components.
• Tool cribs and small hand tools — issue-and-return tracking of spanners, drivers, drill chucks, torque tools and cutting tools in workshops and MRO stores.
• Surgical, dental and laboratory instruments — item-level identification of small stainless instruments in hospital CSSD and pharma lab inventories.
• Jigs, fixtures, moulds and dies — identifying tooling on the shop floor in automotive, engineering and manufacturing units.
• IT asset audits — discreet tagging of laptops, servers, switches, routers and other metal-cased equipment for annual physical verification.
• Test and calibration equipment — linking gauges, meters and probes to calibration due dates in utilities, railways and QA labs.
• Small metal components and fittings — valves, connectors, couplings and spares that need identification but offer very little flat surface area.

Why Choose This Tag

• Genuinely miniature. At 12 x 4 x 2.8 mm it goes on assets that cannot accept a standard on-metal tag, and it can be placed where a larger label would foul moving parts or block a working surface.
• Built for metal. The tag is an anti-metal design and is specified for mounting on metal surfaces, delivering approx. 1.5 m on metal — ample for handheld reader audits and gate-side checks in aisles and stores.
• Wide -20 C to +150 C operating range.
• ISO18000-6C with usable memory. 128-bit EPC and 96-bit TID support standard passive UHF deployments, and the 0 / 512-bit user memory option allows on-tag data where your application needs it.
• Practical PCB construction. The black rectangular PCB bar carries solder pads at both ends, giving integrators a straightforward way to fix the tag into compact electronic and mechanical assemblies.

Read range is an approximate figure and will vary in practice with the reader and its output power, the antenna used, the mounting surface and the surrounding environment. We recommend a site trial on your own assets before finalising quantities.

Frequently asked questions

What read distance does the IDTS-1204 achieve on metal?

It delivers an anti-metal read of approximately 1.5 m, which is a useful distance from a tag that is only 12 x 4 x 2.8 mm. That makes it practical for circuit boards, hand tools, instruments, jigs and small metal parts. Your actual range will depend on reader power, antenna and the surrounding metalwork.

How is it attached to a small assembly?

The black rectangular bar has solder pads at both ends, so it can sit discreetly on or inside compact assemblies rather than protruding like a conventional hard tag. The rigid PCB body keeps the tag stable on the metal surface it is identifying, which is what allows it to keep working where a label tag would not.

Does the IDTS-1204 work on Indian and European frequencies?

Yes. It is a passive UHF tag for the 865 to 867 MHz band that India uses, which is WPC approved and licence free within notified limits and falls inside ETSI 865 to 868 MHz. The same tag therefore reads on Indian deployments and on ETSI systems across the EU, UK, GCC and much of Africa.

What is the price for a bulk order of IDTS-1204 tags?

Pricing is quantity dependent, so please use the price listed on this page as your reference or ask us for a bulk quote. Identium is a BIS and WPC certified Indian manufacturer, which means bulk and OEM pricing, custom encoding, sample units for testing and pan India shipping are all available on request.

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