28.11.2025
RFID-based ski passes have fundamentally simplified everyday life on the slopes: once tucked away in a jacket or trouser pocket, the card opens the gate contactlessly and also serves as a key for other services such as payments, parking, or rentals. The technology is now widespread, particularly in the Alps and Pyrenees, driven by specialized access providers and a robust production chain behind the scenes.
All in all, it’s about convenience, speed, and security: Skiers don’t have to show a code or have their tickets scanned manually. The card is automatically recognized, the gate opens, queues are shorter, and operators receive reliable usage data. In practice, the technology has established itself in over 600 ski resorts in the Alps (and others in the Pyrenees) – a clear sign of maturity and scalability.
RFID also enables the bundling of services on a single carrier: in addition to lift access, payments, parking, rentals, and other services can be added to the card. This reduces media breaks, creates a consistent user experience, and improves process quality from the operator’s perspective.
For an RFID ticket to function reliably, more than just the chip is required: materials, inlays, personalization, segmentation, and testing all play an integral role. One component in this chain is segmenting machines, which precisely separate the inlays and prepare them for further production steps.
According to the trade publication ThinkWIOT, access control provider Axess has been using several segmenting machines from Rinas in ticket production for over 20 years. The long-term feedback has been particularly positive – an indication of high robustness and system availability in series production.
For guests, the RFID ski pass means above all convenience: insert the card and off you go. Contactless access speeds up throughput, and additional functions such as cashless payment or parking permits are linked to the same data carrier.
For operators, it’s the combination of performance and data that counts: passes per hour, utilization patterns, peak times – everything can be controlled more precisely. At the same time, a standardized ticket format ensures predictable processes in production and logistics.
Behind the ski pass card lies a spectrum of media and processes. On the production side, continuous or pre-cut ticket webs are used, among other things, which are coded, printed if necessary, and checked. Systems such as the RFE from Rinas are designed precisely for this task: They encode continuous or pre-cut tickets in various lengths/widths and support common RFID standards – alternatively, magnetic encoding (ISO 7811, HICO/LOCO) is also possible. This is particularly relevant where existing infrastructure must be operated in parallel.
For graphic or alphanumeric personalization, operators also set up print modules (e.g., inkjet/UV or thermal transfer). Inline quality assurance is crucial: reading/checking, comparing with job data and, if necessary, rejecting faulty tickets. This results in robust series processes that run stably even at high cycle rates.
If you want to use (or expand) RFID tickets on a large scale, it pays to look at three levels:
Media Strategy & Use Cases
Define which services really belong on the card: access, payment, parking, rental – and which data flows are associated with them. Industry reports from the field provide good guidance on established scenarios. wiot-group.com
Production & Quality
Pay attention to precise segmentation, stable coding processes, and inspection and documentation chains. Machines that have been in use for many years in an industrial environment are a strong indicator of reliability – especially during seasonal peaks. wiot-group.com
Front end & migration
Decide whether (and how) to add smartphone tickets: pilot areas, compatibility with existing gates, user guidance in the app. Hybrid-capable solutions facilitate the transition.
RFID ski passes have become the standard in the Alps and Pyrenees—and their use extends far beyond mere access. By bundling services on a secure data carrier, guests and operators alike benefit from faster processes, less friction, and better controllability. At the same time, digital tickets are opening up new avenues for interaction and revenue management. The basis for this is reliable card production – from segmentation and coding to quality assurance. This is precisely where many years of industry experience pay off.