125kHz LF · HID Compatible · Industrial Grade
125kHz ABS RFID Clamshell Card
Heavy-duty 1.8mm thick ABS RFID card engineered for industrial access control, warehouse entry, and harsh-environment identification. Available with T5577 (HID-compatible), TK4100, and EM4100 chips. Pre-punched vertical slot for lanyard or keyring attachment.
Chips
T5577 · TK4100 · EM4100
Read Range
2–12 cm (1–5 in)
Product Overview
The 125kHz ABS RFID Clamshell Card is a thick, rigid access control card built for environments where standard 0.84mm PVC cards cannot survive. At 1.8mm thickness — more than double that of a thin PVC card — the ABS construction provides superior impact resistance, heat tolerance, and structural integrity that prevents bending or cracking under daily use.
The clamshell design sandwiches the RFID antenna between two ABS halves, creating a naturally waterproof and dustproof enclosure without additional sealing. Unlike thin PVC cards that rely on lamination layers, the ABS shell provides inherent environmental protection rated for -40°C to +80°C — making it suitable for cold storage facilities, outdoor gates, and factory floors.
T5577 is the most popular chip choice for clamshell cards because it supports HID proximity formats (26-bit Wiegand H10301, 37-bit H10302), enabling direct replacement for HID 1326 ProxCard II at a significantly lower cost. Read-only options (TK4100, EM4100) are available for simple access control where card IDs are managed at the system level. All variants come with a pre-punched vertical slot for lanyard attachment and are not designed for direct-to-card printing — silkscreen or adhesive label overlays are used instead.
Key Features
Heavy-Duty ABS Construction
1.8mm thick ABS shell — over 2x thicker than thin PVC. Impact-resistant and rigid. Won't bend, crack, or delaminate in demanding environments.
HID-Compatible T5577 Chip
T5577 chip supports HID 26-bit Wiegand format. Direct replacement for HID 1326 ProxCard II. Read-write memory with password protection for secure encoding.
Extreme Temperature Tolerance
Operates from -40 to +80 degrees C. Cold storage, outdoor gates, factory floors. ABS material handles heat and cold that would warp PVC cards.
Pre-Punched Vertical Slot
Built-in slot for lanyard, keyring, or badge clip. No need for additional hole punching. Ready to wear straight out of the box.
Waterproof & Dustproof Shell
Clamshell construction seals antenna inside two ABS halves. No lamination gaps. Reliable in wet, dusty, or greasy industrial environments.
Cost-Effective HID Replacement
Same functionality as branded HID cards at a fraction of the cost. T5577 encodes to match existing reader formats. Bulk pricing for large deployments.
Product Specifications
| Parameter |
Specification |
| — RFID PARAMETERS — |
| Frequency |
125 kHz (Low Frequency) |
| Protocol |
ISO 11784/11785 |
| Available Chips |
T5577 (Read-Write, HID Compatible) · TK4100 (Read-Only) · EM4100 (Read-Only) |
| UID |
Factory-programmed read-only UID (TK4100/EM4100) · Programmable with password protection (T5577) |
| Memory (T5577) |
330-bit EEPROM (7 x 32-bit data blocks + 32-bit password) |
| Memory (TK4100 / EM4100) |
64-bit ROM (32-bit ID + 20-bit manufacturer code + parity) |
| Modulation |
ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) |
| HID Compatibility |
T5577: 26-bit H10301 / 37-bit H10302 / 40-bit C10106 (Wiegand output) |
| Anti-collision |
Not supported |
| Read Range |
2–12 cm (1–5 in), depending on reader antenna power |
| Pre-encoding Options |
Serial numbers or Wiegand format data (T5577 only) |
| Data Retention |
10+ years |
| Write Endurance |
100,000 cycles (T5577) |
| — PHYSICAL PARAMETERS — |
| Size |
CR80: 85.5 x 54 mm (3.375 x 2.125 in) |
| Thickness |
1.8 ± 0.1 mm (clamshell thick card) |
| Material |
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) |
| Construction |
Two-piece clamshell shell encapsulating RFID antenna |
| Color |
White (standard) · Blue, Yellow, Red, Green (custom) |
| Pre-Punched Slot |
Vertical slot (top center) for lanyard or keyring |
| Printing Options |
Silkscreen printing · Adhesive PVC label overlay for photo ID |
| Operating Temperature |
-40°C to +80°C (-40°F to +176°F) |
| Storage Temperature |
-40°C to +85°C |
| Humidity |
20% – 90% RH |
| Weight |
Approx. 10 g |
| Packing |
100 pcs/box, 20 boxes/carton |
Applications
Industrial & Warehouse Access
Rigid ABS shell survives drops, impacts, and oily surfaces. T5577 chip encodes to match existing Wiegand readers at loading docks and restricted zones.
Outdoor Gate & Parking Entry
-40 to +80 degree C operating range handles extreme weather at parking lots and perimeter gates. Waterproof construction prevents moisture damage from rain or snow.
Cold Storage & Freezer Entry
Standard PVC cards warp and crack in sub-zero environments. ABS clamshell cards operate reliably down to -40 degrees C for cold chain facilities and freezer room access.
Forklift & Equipment Authorization
T5577 read-write chip enables operator-specific credential encoding. Controls who can operate forklifts, fuel dispensers, and industrial machinery.
Event Security & Crowd Control
Thick, rigid cards are easy to spot and hard to lose. Color-coded by access level with pre-punched slot for lanyard distribution at concerts and conferences.
Construction Site Access
Dustproof and impact-resistant for harsh construction environments. Survives concrete dust and rough handling. Low per-unit cost for temporary contract workers.
Why Choose RFIDSU?
0+
Years in RFID Manufacturing
OEM/ODM
Full OEM/ODM Custom Service
Free
Samples & Technical Support
Shenzhen RFIDSU Technology Co., Ltd. is a professional RFID clamshell card manufacturer with 10+ years of experience in thick ABS RFID cards and industrial-grade access control products. We supply 125kHz clamshell cards, keyfobs, and wristbands to system integrators and OEM/ODM partners worldwide. Our T5577 cards are tested for HID reader compatibility and available with custom Wiegand format encoding. Every order includes full customization — chip selection, color, silkscreen printing, and packaging — backed by free samples and technical support.
Customization Options
We offer full OEM/ODM service for 125kHz ABS RFID clamshell card orders. Tell us your requirements — we handle chip selection, encoding, color, printing, and packaging.
Chip Selection
T5577 for HID-compatible read-write encoding. TK4100 or EM4100 for cost-effective read-only access. EM4305 available for higher memory applications. Match your reader format.
HID Format Encoding
T5577 chip can be encoded to 26-bit H10301, 37-bit H10302, or 40-bit C10106 Wiegand formats. Send us your facility code and card range — we encode before shipping.
Color & Shell Customization
White is standard. Blue, yellow, red, green for color-coded access levels. Custom Pantone colors for corporate branding. Logo embossing available.
Printing & Label Overlay
Silkscreen printing for logo, text, and serial number. For photo ID, we provide printable adhesive PVC label overlays that stick onto the clamshell surface.
Slot & Wearable Options
Standard vertical slot for lanyard. Custom horizontal slot, dual slot, or keyring hole available. Pair with lanyard, badge reel, or badge holder for wearable deployment.
Pre-encoding & Packaging
T5577 chips support pre-encoding with your serial numbers, Wiegand format, or facility code. Standard 100 pcs/box. Custom box printing and individual OPP bags available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a clamshell card and a thin PVC proximity card?
A 125kHz ABS RFID clamshell card is 1.8mm thick — more than double the 0.84mm of a standard PVC card — and made of rigid ABS instead of flexible PVC. The two-piece ABS shell encapsulates the RFID antenna, providing inherent waterproof and impact-resistant protection without lamination. Clamshell cards cannot be printed directly with a card printer; silkscreen or adhesive label overlays are used instead. For most applications in industrial or outdoor environments, the added durability outweighs the printing limitation.
Is the T5577 clamshell card compatible with HID readers?
Yes. The T5577 chip can be encoded to HID proximity formats including 26-bit H10301 (the most common Wiegand format), 37-bit H10302, and 40-bit C10106. This makes our T5577 clamshell card a direct, lower-cost replacement for HID 1326 ProxCard II. Send us your facility code and starting card number — we encode before shipping. You can also order blank T5577 cards and encode them yourself with a compatible writer.
Why would I choose an ABS clamshell card over a thin PVC card?
Choose ABS clamshell when your cards will face harsh conditions — cold storage, outdoor gates, factory floors, construction sites, or any environment with moisture, dust, or physical impact. The ABS shell operates from -40 to +80 degrees C (vs. -25 to +70 degrees C for PVC) and will not bend, crack, or delaminate. If you need photo ID printing directly on the card surface, a thin PVC or composite card may be a better choice.
Can clamshell cards be printed with employee photos?
Not directly — the ABS surface is not compatible with standard ID card printers. However, there are two solutions: (1) silkscreen printing for logos, text, and serial numbers on the card surface, or (2) adhesive PVC label overlays that you print with a card printer and stick onto the clamshell surface. Many organizations use the clamshell card for RFID access and a separate photo ID badge in a badge holder.
What read range can I expect from a 125kHz clamshell card?
Typical read range is 2–12 cm (1–5 in), depending on the reader antenna power. Some high-power readers can achieve up to 15 cm. 125kHz LF proximity cards are designed for intentional, close-range presentation — which is a security advantage for access control because it prevents accidental or remote scanning. The 1.8mm thick ABS shell does not reduce read range compared to thin PVC cards.
