Barcode Equipment and Labeling Solutions

Tips and Reviews Covering Barcode Scanners, Printers, Labels and Equipment

Consecutive Numbered & Barcode Labels

October 26, 2009 – 11:18 am

Consecutive Numbered & Barcode Labels

Initially developed to help speed up grocery store checkout speed, consecutively numbered, barcode labels and variable data labels have since become a large part of our retail industry.  Now a staple point of any company who needs to ship their products, and keep accurate inventory, barcode labels have exploded into one of the greatest business tools availible.

From the first barcode scanned over 35 years ago on JuicyFruit gum, barcodes have become a large part of our retail industry, and having products without barcode labels of some kind on them are simply at a disadvantage. To get a registered barcode label for your company, please register with GS1 US, the Barcode regulator. More information on creating a unique barcode can be found in our article “How to Create a Barcode”.

Once used just to speed up checkout times, reduces errors and to improve inventory management, barcode labels have now become a commonsight on almost any product in our market today. All you need to look for to find a barcode, are black and white lines accompanied by numbers on the back of your product.

Consecutively numbered labels have many uses, commonly they are used for parking permits, inventory management, electronics, medical equipment and more. A consecutively numbered label can come in varying sizes, materials and adhesives for different jobs.

Variable Data Labels can be utilized for other unique jobs, some that may require labeling, but perhaps not sequential labeling. There are instances where random barcodes might be used, or numbers that or too large for normal.

Barcode labels have a huge variety of uses and applications, and only more are sure to come. If you feel that your business would benefit from better inventory management and fewer errors with sales, get the barcode labels you need today from Adazon

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Equipment Ideas, Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, Barcode Scanners, How to Information, New Barcode Equipment | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

UPC Codes Show Country Of Origin

October 22, 2009 – 9:17 am

UPC Codes Show Country Of Origin

With all the tainted products being imported these days, its hard to trust out of country products. Often times in recent memory, Chinese products have been the focus of many of these investigations as manufacturing standards and laws are simply out of date. With so many problems, Americans have begun looking elsewhere for some products.

A few of these tainted products in recent memory have been mercury in childrens toys, childrens foods containing chemicals, paints with lead or other harmful chemicals, automobile parts and phony electronics… to name just a few.

Now, what if there was a way that by simply looking on the back of a product you could tell the country of origin? On older products, there used to be a mark somewhere that would indicate “Made In China” or “Made In Taiwan”, however Chinese companies have noticed that the average American consumer has recently had a declining demand for asian-made products, and so they have stopped placing these markings accordingly.

One way to help determine a products country of origin has been found, and it is all related to the barcode label or UPC code. On any product, the prefix to the barcode, those little black lines that the cashier scans, can reveal the answer.

For example, an American or Canadian based company will have a barcode prefix of 0-9, while a possible competing Asian based companys products would have a barcode label prefix of  690-692.

Although these barcode prefixes do tell you what country a company is located, even if that company is located in China, they might still manufacture from anywhere around the world. This means that all that the barcode prefix can tell you is origin of the company, not point of manufacture.

For the entire list of barcode prefixes, please visit GS1 US’s official website, and stay alert with where the products in your house are from.

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, How to Information | Tagged , | Comments (3)

What is a UPC Code?

October 20, 2009 – 12:26 pm

What is a UPC Code?

You know how every time you go to the grocery store, the clerk has to scan those little black lines into his computer before you can pay? Well those little black lines, or the UPC code, plays a vital role in today’s world.

Almost every product on the market today now has some form of a Universal Product Code (UPC) or Barcode symbology somewhere on the product. The reason for this being, that UPC codes can do more than simply tell you how much your pack of gum will cost. The largest UPC codes can contain up to 1,000 characters of information, that can include company, product, country of origin and more.

A key function of UPC codes is also for inventory purposes. If an entire store for example, has UPC codes on all of their products, then without having a clerk manually go around the store and take inventory, instead the computer system will automatically manage your stock or inventory every time a UPC code is scanned.

UPC codes come in a variety of forms, they are all similar in a few ways: they are all read by machines, or barcode scanners. Also, all barcodes do the same job; the only real differences in forms is usually associated with the amount of information a UPC or barcode label needs to hold.

Although technically all that is required to create a UPC code is a barcode printer, however, in order for your UPC code to become legitimate and legal in our market today, you have to have a UPC code approved by GS1 US, the UPC regulator.

The reason behind a universal UPC group is simple. If we have an international system that can be used anywhere, then products across the global market can be bought and sold regardless of currency, language, culture differences etc

. Marking your products with EAN/UPC barcodes ensures their acceptance at retail point-of-sale terminals on a worldwide basis, speeds data collection, and improves inventory data for retailers by eliminating errors. The improved inventory data drives more efficient operations for trading partners throughout the supply chain.

In order to create a UPC code for your products or company’s products, please visit our article on “How To Create a UPC Code” under our articles section.

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Equipment Ideas, Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, Barcode Scanners, How to Information | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Microscan Reveals First Liquid Lens Barcode Imager – QX Hawk

October 20, 2009 – 8:28 am

Microscan Announces the World’s First Liquid Lens Barcode Imager

 

The QX Hawk is the world’s first Barcode Imager to be fully integrated with new liquid lens technology, enabling infinite focus flexibility. Bridging the gap between ease of use and performance, the QX Hawk features a high resolution modular optical zoom system, aggressive X-Mode decoding, and simple plug and play connectivity to allow the highest quality barcode imager available.

The QX Hawk is able to read all of your barcode labels or 2D symbols, including challenging 2D direct part marks (DPM), in any environment, within seconds of installation. And with the new liquid lens technology, the Advanced imaging includes a high resolution modular optical zoom system that enables the QX Hawk to read marks at distances from 20 mm to 2 m and beyond. Combined with patent pending liquid lens autofocus, the QX Hawk can easily cover almost any auto ID application.

Some of the tech-specs for the QX Hawk are:

Decodes/second: up to 60
• Read range: 1” (30 mm) to infinity
• Liquid lens autofocus & modular zoom
• Integrated Ethernet networking

MECHANICAL
Height: 1.59” (40.5 mm)
Width: 2.27” (57.6 mm)
Depth: 3.79” (96.3 mm)
Weight: 10 oz. (280 g)

LIGHT SOURCE
Type: High output LEDs

LIGHT COLLECTION OPTIONS
Progressive scan, square pixel.
Shutter: Software adjustable 1/60 to 1/100,000
WVGA: 752 by 480 pixels

Worried about being able to read damaged or broken barcode labels? Not anymore, with the QX Hawk barcode imager you can take advantage of the best-in-class X-Mode decode algorithms, the QX Hawk consistently captures everything from low contrast, damaged, or otherwise challenging direct part marks, to a high density 3.3 mil Data Matrix, to a very large linear barcode. The QX Hawk can read almost any Symbol, and with unmatched efficiency.

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Equipment Ideas, Barcode Industry, Barcode Scanners, Latest Barcode Scanners, New Barcode Equipment | Tagged , | Comments (0)

The 35th Anniversary of the Barcode

October 12, 2009 – 10:25 am

You know those black and white lines on the back or side of your drink you bought at the store? Or maybe those weird lines on your pack of gum? Those lines, are called a Barcode or U.P.C code.  Well, today is the 35th anniversary of the Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) Barcode and will be celebrated Wednesday by GS1 US, the developer and administrator of the U.P.C. for more than 200,000 businesses in the United States.

The organization will mark the event with a giant U.P.C.-adorned birthday cake for more than 800 attendees at its annual U Connect Conference in Orlando Florida.

The barcode, one of the world`s best-known symbols, the U.P.C. comprises a row of 59 machine-readable black and white bars and 12 human-readable digits. Both the bars and the digits convey the same information: the identity of a specific product and its manufacturer.

This barcode or U.P.C, is then able to be read by a barcode scanner, or a machine that is able to decipher the white and black lines into a product name and price.

Originally developed to help supermarkets speed up the checkout process, the first live use of a U.P.C. took place in a Marsh Supermarkets store in Troy,
Ohio, on June 26, 1974, when a cashier scanned a package of Wrigley`s gum. It ushered in extraordinary economic and productivity gains for shoppers, retailers and manufacturers alike, with estimated annual cost savings of $17 billion in the grocery sector alone, according to one study.

Replacing individual price-labeling with the U.P.C. resulted in faster, more accurate checkouts, saving consumers time and money. Shelves were replenished more quickly, and stores were able to increase the frequency and variety of sales incentives. It also simplified product returns and rebates.

The U.P.C. was quickly adopted by other industries, which sought to capture the benefits it had delivered to the grocery industry. Today U.P.C.s are scanned more than 10 billion times a day in applications spanning more than 25 industries, including consumer packaged goods, apparel, hardware, food services, healthcare, logistics, government, and high-tech.

Integral to the U.P.C.`s success are its flexibility – usable on myriad surfaces – and the foresight of the people who decided to design it with the capacity to
identify millions of unique items. Although the range of its use today was not envisioned in 1974, when supermarkets carried a fraction of the inventory they carry today, the U.P.C. nevertheless accommodates the creation each year of tens of thousands of new products.

The U.P.C. is equally important to small entrepreneurs, who sell their products through large retailers, which require the barcode for both sales and recall
purposes. GS1 US helps several thousand such businesses create their U.P.C.`s annually.

Contrary to one popular myth, the U.P.C. does not contain a product`s country of origin. But the U.P.C. is one manifestation of the Global Trade Item Number, a foundational aspect of the GS1 System that enables consistent, standard identification of products and other items in the supply chain globally.

“The U.P.C. really is fundamental to commerce,” said Bob Carpenter, chief executive officer of GS1 US. “It took time to build momentum, but it has
succeeded because it benefits everyone: consumers, retailers, and manufacturers. And it has a lot of life left in it.”

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, Barcode Scanners | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Beauty & Personal Care Labels

September 29, 2009 – 8:28 am

Beauty & Personal Care Labeling

Beauty. To some, it’s only skin deep, but to the specialty label maker, it represents an important role of the labeling industry. In the competitive market we live in today, a label can be all that sets you apart from your competition. Within the beauty & personal care industry, products can generally be separated into two categories. You have the “mass” products, and the “prestige” products.

Specialty Labels

Specialty Labels

Under the “mass” category, as the name implies, products are targeted for the general population, or your average consumer. Examples of these products can easily be found on the shelves of your local supermarket or department store.

For the “prestige” products on the other hand, are usually purchased in specialty stores, or at the higher-end department stores. And often times instead of a cashier, there’s a “beauty-consultant” or “technician” there to assist you in your purchase.

Now, according to James Leyden and Anthony Rawlings, in their book Skin Moisturization,  they talk about not only the differences between “mass” and “prestige” products, but also the difference and important role that packaging plays.

Although “prestige” products often are sold as the more expensive choice, promising better results, the true deciding factor is the labeling.  The label on your products reflects how you would like your customers to view your products and company.

One of the biggest challenges for label converters, whether they are printing specialty labels, “mass” or “prestige”, is to tap into the emotions of the consumer. If you are able to emotionally connect with your customers on your labels, you have a nice chance of making a sale, and hopefully a returning customer as well.

What kind of specialty labeling is being used the most in the Beauty & Personal care industry these days? The answer is Foil. And in just seven seconds, a foil specialty label can be applied.  In those short seven seconds, as a producer you have a small window of opportunity to make your product stand out above the rest.

Accord to Jeff Salisbury, president of Label Impressions of Orange, CA,  foil labels are making a comeback in the beauty and personal care industry. As technology improves, we are able to add more designs, color and finer detail into our specialty labels than ever before.

Cold foiling in particular, has emerged as the choice for most major beauty and personal care companies today. A few of the reasons behind this include costs of ink and stamps, as keeping costs low is a major priority for any major business these days.

With our economy in recession, it is now more important than ever to make sure your beauty and personal care products have their labels looking their best, as your business may now depend on it.

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, Bath & Body Labels, Custom Labels | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Mobile Computing Gets 3G Networking

September 24, 2009 – 1:08 pm

Mobile Computing Gets 3G Networking

What could make a wireless mobile computer more efficient than any of the competition? How about a wireless 3G Network to pair with your mobile computing hardware. AT&T has just announced a new option for those using the CN50 and CN4 rugged mobile computers. With the same great network that the iPhone and other Smartphones run on, now your barcode scanners and mobile computers can access that same network as well.

The Intermec CN50 and CN4 were recently pronounced to be the first rugged mobile computers to meet the Mil Spec standards testing requirements, certified to operate on the new AT&T GSM/HSPA network, the nation’s fastest 3G network.

Users of the CN50 and CN4 can now transmit and receive cell phone quality voice calls while simultaneously using data speeds that are faster than that of any other rugged mobile computers on the market today, enhancing the mobile computer user experience with large data file transfers and interactive video applications.

 When you combine a rugged mobile computer with the nations fastest 3G network, you get more than just an internet connection, you get connectivity. You can now track shipments, re-order inventory, make important calls, check the web and more all from your barcode scanner.

The ruggedness of the CN50 and CN4 combined with the reliability of the AT&T network reduces downtime from damaged systems, enabling businesses to lower the total cost of owning a mobility solution. By joining forces Intermec and AT&T customers can leverage even the most intensive enterprise applications more quickly, efficiently, and reliably, ultimately maximizing overall service and delivery.

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Equipment Ideas, Barcode Industry, Latest Barcode Scanners, New Barcode Equipment | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Sewn-In Barcodes

September 21, 2009 – 1:03 pm

Sewn-In Barcodes

Have you ever bought a new couch, or bed and noticed the little label that says “It is Illegal to remove this tag”? Well, it’s actually not illegal for the end-consumer (you) to remove the tag, however it is in fact illegal for the manufacturer to remove that tag before the product is sold. Now barcode labels are being put use to keep your household furniture legal.

Because of this law, manufacturers needed to find a way to label their products with small tags, that wont effect the product or without becoming a hassle. In the search for durable, washable, legible and rugged tag that would fit this bill, the answer is the Intermec Duratran II Synthetic Tag.

This tag most commonly contains a unique barcode label for the furniture companies, allowing an quick, cheap, efficient way to become IABFLO complaint, as well as easy inventory stock checks.

The Duratran II Synthetc tag, which has been tested and approved by the International Association of Bedding and Furniture Law Officials (IABFLO), providing a safe and durable way to properly label mattresses, pillows, and other household items.

Without this approval, there can be large fines given by the Federal Government to furniture companies.

The Intermec Duratran II Synthetic tag offers a smooth finish and best in class thermal transfer print quality, eliminating barcode scan failures. In addition, the tags are very easy to sew, ensuring manufacturers that their existing equipment will be compatible with Intermec’s material, despite the extremely high tear strength of the tag. In addition, the tags offer:

Excellent print quality that outperforms many competing products

Competitive pricing

Thermal transfer printability

Support for high resolution barcodes with crisp graphics and fonts

For more information regarding the Intermec Duratran II Synthetic tag, you can learn more at www.AdazonUSA.com today!

 

 

 

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, Custom Labels | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Using Barcodes as Train Tickets

September 15, 2009 – 12:14 pm

Using Barcodes as Train Tickets

           Train riders across England will soon be able to purchase their tickets using their cell phones, and use them without having to print or copy. The Department of Transport (DfT) today released a consultation document, inviting comments on the development of its future smart ticketing strategy for public transport in England.

While smart ticketing schemes have sprung up in isolation in a number of towns and cities in the UK, the consultation marks a major step in the creation of a nationwide, electronic ticketing system. Electronic ticketing takes advantage of bar code labels, which can store all of the tickets information in a row of lines creating a bar code. Bar codes can be read by any barcode scanner, and most smartphones. This means that train riders in England will no longer have to carry a paper copy of their ticket.

The Department is hoping to introduce integrated ticketing over the next five to 10 years – allowing consumers to purchase a single ticket to travel on any mode of transport across any number of transport operators – an idea it believes can be aided through the introduction of smart ticketing and bar coding.

Smart ticketing, where a ticket is held on a chip or bar code rather than a piece of paper, was popularised in the UK by London’s contactless Oyster card scheme, introduced in 2003. The government is now looking at other smart ticketing options, including tickets sent in barcode form to travellers’ phones and print-at-home tickets.

The DfT is also considering the promotion of NFC (near field communications) for ticketing. NFC, used in the Oyster card, allows users to tap a card or other device on a reader and pay for a ticket automatically using stored credit or a pre-purchased ticket.

Among the NFC options being examined by the government are NFC bank cards and mobile phones.

The consultation paper also floats the idea of extending the smart tickets to make them multifunctional: as well as using them to pay for travel, holders could use them to pay for parking or bicycle hire as well as a library card. Local authorities could also see the cards double up as ‘entitlement cards’ or ‘citizens’ cards’ – cards used by holders as proof of entitlement to benefits and services.

The smart tickets could also be used in e-money schemes, such as for car clubs, and form part of loyalty or reward schemes.

This is another great example of how barcodes can impact our everyday lives, and as this trend catches on around the world, I can assure you that more barcodes will be used throughout the next few years, possbily in other industries.

For more information on Barcode labels, please visit us at www.AdaZonusa.com today!

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Industry, Barcode Label Information, Barcode Software Ideas | Tagged , | Comments (0)

RFID Technology Improves Efficiency For Tomato Producers

September 10, 2009 – 12:48 pm

RFID Technology Improves Efficiency For Tomato Producers

Around the globe, more companies are beginning to implement RFID technology to their businesses to improve efficiency and reduce downtime. In Australia, d’Vineripe, a tomato producer, has begun to take advantage of RFID technology to better manage staff productivity, ultimately making tomato picking easier and more efficient. With the new RFID system in place, management is able to know what their staff of well over 100 is doing in the greenhouses at any given moment, which tasks have been completed, and how long they took.

And since d’Vineripe has four massive 80,000 square-foot greenhouses, each with thousands of tomato plants, it typically can take anywhere between 50-120 employees to work on the plants every day. The tomato plants need to be checked for pruning, pollinating, de-leafing, pest/disease control, and picking.

Before the installation of the RFID based system, all of the work was managed manually, using clipboards. All employees had to manually sign in and were then assigned tasks. Details of the tasks were written down on paper and d’Vineripe had no way of keeping track what tasks were being completed by a worker within a particular team, or how quickly each task was done, thus they were operating inefficiently.

RFID Technology offers great advantages, and at a low cost. With the ability to track, manage and record accurate employee actions, RFID has allowed d’Vineripe to grow into a more efficient company.

Now, each greenhouse contains 120 rows of tomatoes and with each row requiring up to eight tasks to be completed at different intervals. In order to make this possible, a worker arrives at a workstation at the beginning of their shift and presents their ID badge. The badge contains a 13.56 MHz RFID transponder embedded inside it, and its unique ID number is linked to the individual’s name in the database. As the worker completes their daily tasks, the greenhouse’s station manager reads their RFID tag, linking the individual to their assigned task and row.

By implementing an RFID system, d’Vineripe was able to better manage their workers, thus creating a more organized, efficient company, ultimately saving both time and money. d’Vineripe is a great example of how RFID technology can provide great benefits for any company.

For more RFID information or products, please visit us at www.Adazonusa.com today!

By Tommy Schweller | Posted in Barcode Equipment Ideas, Barcode Industry | Tagged , | Comments (0)