RFID printers are used to replace manual coding and adding visible characters to RFID tags. You could say that this device is a combination of an RFID reader and a printer. It is possible to encode UHF, HF or NFC tags on surfaces such as paper, foil and metal labels. They can print not only "information", but also 1D and 2D graphics and barcodes.

The printer has a built-in RF encoder that transmits data to the chip and encodes it. The printer then checks them to make sure they are encoded correctly. Depending on your needs, there are:

Industrial printers – designed to be as durable as possible. Designed for the toughest applications and the toughest challenges. They can work non-stop for a whole day, a week or even a month. They can print over 10000 tags per day.
Office printers- are used to print an average number of tags (over 500 per day). Designed to be noisy, they can be used in the office.
Mobile printers- portable RFID printers are not as common as industrial or office printers, but they are very convenient. Especially for use in large areas, e.g. warehouses. They are usually prepared to print 200 tags a day.

We can distinguish two main types of printing used in RFID printers:

Thermal printing – this requires special paper that darkens upon contact with the heated printer head. Please note that this type of print is sensitive to sunlight and high temperature, which shortens its durability. However, the advantage is the printing speed and relatively low cost.
Thermal transfer printing – this printing requires a special ink ribbon which, when heated, sticks to the material to be printed, ensuring long-lasting printing. Unfortunately, this type of printing is more expensive and its operation is noisier than thermal printing

RFID printers and the smart labels they print can be used, for example, at airports to track luggage and facilitate its sorting. They can also be used in warehouses or retail outlets to trigger an alarm in the event of theft. To sum up, purchasing an RFID printer is an investment that allows you to reduce the costs and time needed for manual label coding.