Can I order X-RAY TAGs?
No, not for now.
However, if you travel a lot by plane and would be interested in testing X-RAY TAGs, we may provide you with a free customised X-RAY TAG.
Please contact us via: contact@x-ray-tag.com.
Please tell us a bit why you would qualify as product tester. If you are located outside the EU, we would ask you to cover shipping costs.
Are the X-RAY TAGs still readable even if they are placed under other objects?
That depends on the objects. The X-RAY TAGs are designed to block approx. 75% of the X-ray radiation (140 keV). This corresponds to a steel plate approx. 1 cm thick. Thick metal screws, steel sheets, batteries or electrical appliances as well as gold jewellery could interfere, but the other contents of a suitcase, such as clothing or books, are less likely to do so.
The X-RAY TAGs should therefore be placed in areas with as few metal objects as possible.
Find out more here.
Are X-RAY TAGs only available with black plates?
No, in principle the plates of the X-RAY TAGs can be any colour, even transparent. However, the black material has clear advantages in the current manufacturing process.
On request, X-RAY TAGs could also be produced from other coloured plastic plates or even alumium, but this would require a different production process that would be more expensive.
Are X-RAY TAGs only available for black and white images, or also in shades of grey?
We can also do grey, in around 50 shades. However, we use a different manufacturing process for this than for tags with text. The results are quite impressive, but the grey tone tags only really come into their own on high-resolution X-ray systems, such as those used in medicine or for material testing. An example of this can be found here.
We are currently working on a second method for imaging greyscale images as X-RAY TAGs. The results so far are promising, but the process has yet to be further optimised and tested. Some examples here.
Do the X-RAY TAGs contain toxic materials such as lead?
No, the X-RAY TAGs only contain non-toxic materials.
X-RAY TAGs can therefore also be used for labelling pharmaceutical or food deliveries.
How big are X-RAY TAGs?
In principle, tags from approx. 0.5 x 0.5 cm up to approx. 40 x 40 cm can currently be produced.
However, the minimum size of address tags depends on the minimum size of the letters, which still allows the texts to remain legible on the baggage control displays.
A typical size of address tags is therefore 8 x 11 cm, or slightly larger.
Why do the X-ray images from the baggage scanners and the high-resolution X-ray machine look so different?
The high-resolution system displays X-ray images in the same way as medical X-ray machines: areas with high material density and absorption of radiation are displayed in light grey or white.
In baggage scanners, high-density areas are displayed in dark colours, using a false colour system that allows different types of objects to be better distinguished.
More about this here.
Is the use of X-RAY TAGs legal?
As far as we are aware, there do not appear to be any regulations that would prevent the use of X-RAY TAGs.
In addition, enquiries with the German authorities have also not revealed anything in this regard.
The testers of the X-RAY TAGs have not yet reported any problems.
Of course, no X-RAY TAGs that could look like weapons or other dangerous objects on an X-ray device must be placed in luggage. Warning signs for ‘radioactive’ or ‘biohazard’ could also alert the authorities.
However, as it cannot be completely ruled out that there are regulations in some country that would restrict the use of X-RAY TAGs, their use is strictly at your own risk.
If you are aware of any such restrictions, please let us know!
Here are some links on the subject: