AccuformNMC, the safety signage and identification division of Justrite Safety Group, has turned to Graph-Tech USA’s RFID-Runner system to overhaul its UHF RFID label production line. The encode-and-print platform, installed in late 2025, has delivered production speeds up to 20 times faster than traditional thermal transfer printers while cutting consumable costs by more than half.
The RFID-Runner is built around Graph-Tech’s proprietary eZ-Inkjet print engine, which uses drop-on-demand inkjet technology to deliver consistent 600 dpi print quality across text, graphics and barcodes. Unlike thermal systems that often waste labels during setup and calibration, the RFID-Runner achieves zero-waste printing from the first label to the last on every roll. That alone represents a significant saving on materials for high-volume converters.
Quality assurance is handled inline at full production speed. The system uses a three-reader Impinj architecture to verify each UHF RAIN RFID inlay is encoded correctly, while an integrated camera performs real-time barcode readability checks. The result is 100% quality control without any compromise on throughput.
Production Manager Jaime Guzman said the RFID-Runner has exceeded expectations at AccuformNMC. He highlighted the reduction in consumable costs as a key factor, noting that spending less than half of what the company previously paid on consumables has significantly improved overall production economics.
The timing of the investment reflects broader market trends. Retailer-driven RFID mandates, most notably from Walmart, continue to push demand for UHF RFID labels across supply chains. Walmart’s phased rollout now spans multiple product categories, requiring suppliers and their label converters to scale up encoding and printing capacity. For companies like AccuformNMC, investing in faster and more cost-effective production technology is not just an advantage but a necessity to keep pace with growing order volumes.
Graph-Tech USA plans to showcase the RFID-Runner at LOUPE Americas 2026, taking place September 15 to 17 in Chicago. Visitors can find the company at Booth 6133 to see the system in action and discuss how inkjet-based RFID label production compares to legacy thermal approaches.
As UHF RFID adoption accelerates in retail, logistics and asset tracking, the pressure on label converters to produce higher volumes at lower cost per tag will only intensify. Systems like the RFID-Runner point to where the industry is heading: faster encoding, better print quality and tighter inline verification, all without the waste penalties of older printing methods.