Working with Tyco Electronics’ Global Application Tooling Division, Graphic Solutions International (GSI) has developed its own RFID inlay system for the assembly of semiconductor chips, surface mount devices and printed batteries onto a continuous web of printed antennas, adding radio frequency identification (RFID) capability to tags and labels.

Tyco provided a reel to reel system that allows GSI to mount flip chips, surface mount devices and printed batteries on a continuous web of printed antennas and conductive traces. The system is capable of the high speed mounting of electronic components on 20″ (500 mm) wide material. After conductive printing, the roll is fed into the Tyco machine where components are added along with one or two printed batteries. Upon completion, the roll can be slit into individual streams and rolled, or supplied in production web width rolls for delivery. A typical circuit is inlaid with batteries, an RFID chip and a printed antenna. The speed of the machine allows for production levels up to 26 million inlays per year.

 “There currently is no other machine like this available in the marketplace,” says Jim Parker, director of engineering for GSI, of Burr Ridge, IL, USA.

In operation for more than 21 years, Graphic Solutions International has been printing conductive circuit elements since 1995, and is dedicated to the development and printing of innovative products such as batteries, electroluminescent lamps, RFID antennas, and biosensors in addition to its award winning label, nameplate and polycarbonate tag and label designs.