Cards with NFC (near-field communication) capability
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Do you make cards with NFC (near-field communication) capability?
Unfortunately at this time we do not make cards with NFC or RFID. They do not meet our quality standards as a viable product.
Why do NFC cards not meet our quality standards?
First, we should look at the Credit Card industry that uses EMV/NFC chips. With any of today's credit cards, typically they are not completely made of metal - not even close. This is because most metal works to inhibit or block wireless transmitters. In order to insert EMV and NFC chips, "metal credit cards" are made of a sandwich process of a sheet of metal as a frame with a hollowed out center (not a solid sheet). There are then plastic sheets on both sides to encapsulate the metal frame - with the wireless chips embedded between the two in the center. We only make cards out of stainless steel, and do not do plastic or sandwich processes. An NFC chip would have to be either on the surface, exposed (not recommended) or at best, we have to place a sticker over the chip. We've tried this, by deep engraving a space for the chip and placing a sticker over top to cover it - and while it works, metal blocks the transmission on the backside entirely. The small consumer chips available also have a very weak single, especially with the metal around it working to block/absorb the signal. This makes it very challenging for cellphones to scan the signal, as they don't have as strong of a reading mechanism as the Credit Card Merchant Machines do that're made to read credit cards. Also, the stickers don't last well, so it's an unideal solution. Hopefully this information helps you in your pursuit for NFC cards, and keep in mind our recommendations as some places use the sticker method. We would highly advise you test samples from other vendors using this process to make the best decisions for your project!
Have we tested NFC cards extensively before declining to make them?
Yes - After extensive testing and offering it to a number of customers to test - the technology simply isn't friendly enough to work well in the real world. Namely, users have enough trouble figuring out a QR code - with iPhone and Android, the end user must know exactly where their phones "scanner" is on the physical device that reads the NFC chip, and even then the native operating system doesn't add contact details easily. You can load a URL, but then you must have a mobile forward website that can load the contact details or do other functions you'd like. The issue again, is more in the "how many times do you have to wave the card around the phone to get it to read the chip" and this ended up being a lot more than anyone enjoyed. We're all about the Psychology of networking, and turning a new encounter into an awkward tech experience simply doesn't pay off. Additionally, for a true metal card like we make, embedding the chip isn't ideal (versus a credit card that is layers of plastic with a frame of metal around the edges) – the only way to feasibly do it currently, is to mill out a hole, place the chip under a sticker, and have the sticker covering the hole. It's not durable or ideal.
Stainless Steel, and most metals block wireless signals.
Stainless steel naturally blocks NFC signals, so this meant it only would work on one side of the card, and with a dampened or weaker signal. There are a couple companies that offer this, generally with a app download required – which we also feel reduces the experience and success of our products. For these reasons, NFC just isn't good enough to offer and guarantee to our customers at this time – Who wants to download an app just to get your phone number? And why pay almost double the cost for your cards, for a technology most won't use and those that do will be frustrated with it. Perhaps that will change in the future as the technology improves, we are keeping a close eye on it.
QR Codes are the Better Solution for cellphone interactivity.
QR codes have been around since the 80's! After Covid's use of them – they work well and the customer base finally adopted them, and now know how to use them. Without any apps required – this is the best way to go to electronically share your information on a metal card.