Avery Dennison Introduces Sterilization-Ready RFID Inlays

Avery Dennison is debuting a new way to track medical devices and surgical instruments through the entire sterilization process without compromising RFID functionality. 

The solution enables “tagging at source,” which enables medical devices, surgical instruments, and pharmaceutical products to be tracked throughout their entire lifecycle without compromising data integrity. By eliminating manual retagging, the technology helps to prevent human error, thereby improving accuracy in distributing medical items to more than 99%. This solution could help support key healthcare priorities, including more time to focus on patient care, safety, regulatory compliance with UDI (Unique Device Identification) requirements, and streamlined inventory management.

“The key to surviving these extreme sterilization conditions lies in the precise combination of adhesive and face materials,” said Barbara Van Rymenam, senior director of healthcare at Avery Dennison. “Avery Dennison brings together both worlds effectively. By combining our deep materials science and digital identification expertise, we create solutions that simplify workflows, cut out manual post-sterilization tagging, and reduce the mistakes that come with it.”

Applications span hospitals, surgical centers, medical device manufacturing, central sterile supply departments, and pharmaceutical operations. Crucially, the technology reduces procurement complexity and enhances durability under harsh sterilization conditions.

The portfolio includes three new RFID inlay products: AD Minidose U9 Steri, AD Accessory U9 Steri and AD Shelter Steri, all of which withstand autoclave and ethylene oxide gas sterilization. Each product has undergone successful testing on various common substrates such as PP Syringe, Glass Vial, PP Panel and Glass Panel substrates. 

Avery Dennison has developed a single portfolio that works across the three most common sterilization methods, enabling healthcare facilities to better standardize their RFID infrastructure regardless of their sterilization processes.

Avery Dennison Corporation is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company. Its products and solutions help optimize labor and supply chain efficiency; reduce waste and mitigate loss; advance sustainability, circularity, and transparency; and better connect brands and consumers. The company designs and develops labeling and functional materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, software applications that connect the physical and digital, and offerings that enhance branded packaging and carry or display information that improves the customer experience. Serving industries worldwide Avery Dennison employs approximately 35,000 workers in nearly 60 countries. Its reported sales last year were $8.9 billion.