EUROPEAN CONVERTING Converterreports on the major
issues European perspective The role of barcodes in modern product identification: Marcus Geigle, marketing manager Atlantic Zeiser
(Article in English and German) M
odern inkjet printing has established a role in high-value labelling, personalisation and serialisation and now has few limits in terms of material and product versatility. In particular, industrial digital printing is a cost-efficient production method contributing to product identification, as cost-efficient as the barcode itself and widely used as a means of identification.
When the first barcodes were tested on products in 1968 in selected branches of the Swiss Migros supermarket chain, it was by no means certain that machine-readable codes in bar form would be used globally for the identification of every product. The barcode was developed to help identify the origin and life of a product. These inconspicuous black bars with combined series of numbers have globally revolutionised the entire sector of goods logistics, up to POS (Point of Sale). As consumers, we perceive when a product barcode is read by an infrared scanner acoustically via a beep at the cash register. What the consumer might not be aware of is the continuing development and innovative technology research taking place for cost-efficient production identification
Standardised barcodes
Barcodes have developed on a multiple basis over the last five decades. Today, hundreds of different types of barcodes are used globally. Moreover, companies in different sectors have evolved their own barcode structures for different sectors. Thus, Post AG, German Post and parent company of DHL worldwide (in the post and logistics sector) uses both a datamatrix code and a special yellow-orange 1-D barcode with the most important address information for letter postage worldwide. The exceptional selection of colours enables Post AG alone to read this barcode with special reading devices. The pharmaceutical sector also uses general valid standards based on the stipulations of GS1 (Global Standards 1) for its specially created datamatrix code.
Machine identification with limits
1D (multi-position barcode) or 2D barcodes (‘Pixel images’) are common today. 2D barcodes are understood, for example, as meaning the QR code, Datamatrix and others. These 2D barcodes can have error correction data so that incorrect readings can be corrected independently. Datamatrix codes can display more information and data by a factor of 100 than a 1D barcode. As a result, durability and expiry data, series and product numbers as well as comprehensive manufacturing information can be represented and read on the smallest space. The versatile bar and pixel code is distinguished from the outset by its machine readability and the compression of large quantities of data on a small space on packaging and labels. Machine identification and assignment of products based on low production costs are the order of the day.
However, these identification characteristics also come up against limits. Open access for everyone conceals a security risk. The codes are
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easy to copy and read. The barcode has to be printed on a contrast-rich, reflection-free surface so that that it is easily readable. This is compounded by the fact that contamination and poor printing quality can make the features unusable. Encryption options exist in order to guarantee security.
Industrial digital printing offers the required quality on the most divergent substrates in order to make the data and information legible on a product, label or packaging.
Benchmark for cost efficiency
A range of advantages emerges with digital printing for printing barcodes. Today, inkjet printers achieve high levels of quality and can achieve significantly smaller readable fonts of 2 points. In addition, the latest ink developments allow for printing of packaging, product or label on almost any surface. Atlantic Zeiser has developed inks which reliably adhere to cardboard, plastic, artificial surfaces, metals and even glass. Digital printing offers the possibility of achieving a 100% test quality through re- legibility within the process, with the help of camera test systems. Finally, digital printing with late-stage customisation offers the greatest possible cost efficiencies through direct data and information adaptations in the printing process. Long waiting and preparation times are completely eliminated. Therefore industrial digital printing is the benchmark of cost efficiency during the application of test characteristics, just as the barcode itself is the least expensive solution for machine product identification
Alternative RFID chips
One important and developing alternative is product identification with RFID chips (Radio Frequency Identification Device). RFID is the technology of the future with regard to security and data volume. The barcode is and remains the least expensive method in the area of cost efficiency. It has to be mentioned that RFID technology still has practical deficits when a maximum reading distance has to be achieved in goods stores in order to guarantee time savings during the capture of more distant products on pallets. RFID chips are not only used extensively today in goods logistics, but also in the passport sector. For example, biometric data in passports is saved on RFID chips. Atlantic Zeiser recognised this future oriented technology early and has already integrated the programming and description of RFID chips in its end-to- end system solutions within its card-system skills area.
When is digital printing worthwhile Digital printing is the number-one choice when print assignments are requested with personalised data or variable content such as numbers or barcodes and the assignment has a very short deadline for delivery. Manufacturer Atlantic Zeiser has many years experience in modern digital printing methods and particular expertise in personalized narrow
Website:
www.convertermag.co.uk
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