Durable Industrial Barcode Labelling: The Basics

Barcodes have revolutionised the industrial environment, from the way we manage assets and inventory, to helping us create streamlined, automated production processes. Barcode labels can be applied to virtually any surface, hugely increasing the speed and accuracy of tracking and identifying machinery, equipment and components either temporarily or permanently.

WHAT ARE BARCODES?

Barcodes are specific patterns that contain information about the items they’re attached to. These patterns can be in a range of formats; either a series of parallel lines (linear barcodes), or in a grid of squares, triangles, dots or hexagons (2D barcodes). When the stored data is required, a scanner or imager can be used to “read” the patterns, and relay the decoded contents back to your computer system. Barcoding is one method of AIDC, “automatic identification and data capture”, or “Auto ID”.

Hose labels with linear barcodes and human-readable element

WHY SHOULD I USE DURABLE BARCODE LABELS?

Using AIDC with properly printed barcodes will significantly increase your productivity while lowering business costs, particularly compared to manual data-logging processes. After all, computers don’t get tired, distracted or need coffee breaks! The risk of typos, illegible handwriting and mis-reading data is virtually eliminated, allowing for fewer interruptions to your production lines, more accurate equipment monitoring and reliable asset management.

In the harshest conditions, barcodes on the correctly matched durable label won’t fade, smudge or become unstuck – including use in infrared ovens, constant handling, solvent exposure (toluene, acetone, MEK etc.) or in outdoor environments.

WHAT KIND OF BARCODE LABELS SHOULD I USE?

The first step is considering the amount of space you have for a label, and how much data it’s critical to include. You should also check your industry regulations or best-practices guides. Lastly, when choosing the specific label material, make sure you know exactly what your barcode will need to stick to and the conditions it will need to withstand.

Generally favoured by the automotive and defence industries, Code 39 supports the characters A-Z, 0-9 and punctuation symbols: -, ., $, /, +, % and ‘space’. Due to its low density format, it’s recommended for storing relatively low amounts of data, but is readable by nearly all barcode scanners.

 

The Code 128 symbology is one of the most common barcode types, due to its compact size and ability to support all 128 ASCII characters. They are particularly prevalent for barcode labels in the transportation and logistics industries.

Often found on electronic component labels, Code 93 barcodes work in a similar way to Code 39 but with a more condensed symbology allowing for more data in a given area. They are sometimes used to provide complementary data to that which is stored in a corresponding Code 39 barcode.

2D barcode labels can offer the most data-per-millimetre, and are designed for fast but accurate scanning and decoding. They are particularly useful when space is at an absolute premium, which is the reason they are usually chosen for small-scale electronic component labelling (such as printed circuit board assembly). If necessary, the 2D codes can be paired with a corresponding linear barcode or human-readable label, for areas where space is at less of a premium. The Datamatrix and QR code formats are most popular - a Datamatrix symbol can hold up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters. However, 2D codes will require a more sophisticated imager, rather than the laser scanner used for linear codes.

HOW DO I START BARCODING MY EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS?

If you already have access to a quality thermal transfer printer and a good label design software (such as NiceLabel), then printing in-house may be an economical option. However, you may save a lot of time (and frustration) by outsourcing your label printing, which also saves the investment into a printing system if you don’t already have one in place. That, combined with the convenience of receiving quality-tested, ready-to-use durable labels, makes it an option worth considering.

 

PCB labels with linear and 2D barcodes

Remember, a crisp, sharp barcode is the key to effective scanning, so if you choose to print your labels in-house, keep the following in mind:

• Providing the printer ribbon is correctly matched to your label, thermal transfer printing may offer a more durable barcode than laser printing.
• Printing at 300dpi or greater will ensure the sharpest barcodes, particularly at small sizes.
• Low-contrast printing, or voids in the print may impair the readability of your barcode. Make sure your printer is properly maintained to prevent this. 
• Consider including a human-readable element as a back-up in case scanning fails.
  
  

Linear barcodes used for asset management

Barcode labels are a hugely beneficial tool for monitoring assets and equipment, tracking production processes and identifying products and components throughout their lifetime – ultimately reducing the risk and cost of human error.

To find out how easy it is to switch to barcoding, or how to improve the barcode labelling system you already have in place, contact the CILS Label Technology Centre on 01903 219000, via email or fill out a contact form. Our labelling experts will be happy to help with any queries about durable labels, pre-printed labels, software or thermal transfer printing.